Former Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) has been appointed Minister of State. This is a rarely bestowed honorary title, bestowed by the King on the recommendation of the Cabinet.

Between 2002 and 2010 Balkenende headed four cabinets. Since then he has been Professor of Governance, Institutions and Internationalization at Erasmus University Rotterdam and has worked for the accounting and consulting firm EY.

A minister of state can advise the king on complex political issues. He or she can also represent the cabinet at home and abroad.

Sometimes a minister of state gets a special assignment, like Max van der Stoel, who helped resolve the issues surrounding Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander’s marriage. There are currently eight Ministers of State.