Quick Facts
Biography
Johannes Stefanus Joseph "Hans" Hillen (born June 17, 1947) is a former Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Rutte I from 2010 to 2012.
Biography
Early life
Hillen studied sociology at Utrecht University. He has been a (sports) journalist for the Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), teacher and civil servant (in the eighties he was spokesman of minister of Finance Onno Ruding and defender of his outspoken budget cuts) before entering in politics
Politics
From 1990 till 2002 he was a member of the House of Representatives and from 2007 till 2010 a member of the Senate. From October 14, 2010 to November 5, 2012 he was minister of Defence. He is in favor of a strong defence and close ties with NATO.
Other activities
From 2003 till 2007 Hillen was president of CVZ, the Dutch council for the healthcare, and from 2005 till 2010 a member of the executive board of the Dutch employers' organization VNO-NCW. He also did some writing, he wrote columns for Elsevier and Katholiek Nieuwsblad.
Furthermore he is involved in the Edmund Burke Foundation, a Dutch conservative think tank. In 2004 he left the advisory council because a conflict of opinion with prominent co-member Bart Jan Spruyt, who wanted to found a new political party with Geert Wilders.
Personal life
Hillen is married and resides in Hilversum. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.
Decorations
- Order of Orange-Nassau
- Knight (May 22, 2002)
- His father worked in the army.