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Joseph Luns in the Pentagon. Photo by Robert Ward.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Joseph LunsJoseph Luns was a popular Dutch politician and diplomat who was born on 28^th August 1911in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He was one of six siblings.

His father’s name was Hubert, a Dutchman born in Â鶹APP who was a painter and a professor of art. His mother came from Belgium where Joseph Luns had a decidedly un-Dutch affection.

Joseph Luns attended the University of Leyden and Amsterdam, London, and Berlin where he pursued his career in law to the doctoral level.

Before joining the Foreign Service he served one year as a conscript. After spending two years in foreign ministry he flew the German invasion in 1940.

He belonged to the Catholic People’s Party (KVP) which later emerged to be Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).

He served as the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands and later became the secretary general of NATO. This led him to become an international figure for about 32 years and an unshakable friend of Britain.

Below are the top ten interesting facts about Joseph Luns

1. Joseph Luns was Well Educated

Joseph Luns attended his secondary school in Amsterdam for six years after which he was enrolled in the Royal Netherlands Navy as a warrant officer.

He later joined the University of Amsterdam where he majored in law. He then moved to Leiden University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in law and later graduated with a master of law degree.

He also joined the University of London for postgraduate education in economics and obtained a bachelor’s degree in economics.

He worked as an attaché for the diplomatic service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bern, Switzerland.

2. He Served in Different Cabinet Drees

Joseph Luns. Photo by Sjakkelien Vollebregt.

Joseph Luns was appointed the Minister for Foreign Policy after the elections of 1952 during the second Drees cabinet.

After the elections in 1956, he was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives. During the same year, a cabinet was formed and he was also appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs during the cabinet Drees 3.

Joseph Luns remained the Minister of Foreign Affairs after the fall of the cabinet Drees 3 which was shortly replaced by Caretaker Cabinet Beel 2.

3. He remained a Practicing Catholic Throughout his Life

All his life Joseph Luns remained a practicing catholic until he passed on and he generally had compassion for the Traditionalist Catholic. He used to attend the Traditional Latin Mass which was held by priest Winand Kotte.

4. He Declined the Position of the Member of the House of Representative

Joseph Luns was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs after the cabinet formation of 1958 where he served in a demissionary capacity.

He was also elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the elections held in 1963. Although he was legally elected, he still declined to take the office.

After the elections that were held in 1963, a cabinet was formed and Joseph Luns continued to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

5. He was Appointed Severally as the Minister of Foreign Affair

Joseph Luns. Photo by Marcel Antonisse.

Joseph Luns was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs following a cabinet formation that took place in 1956.

After the cabinet of 1958 was replaced by caretaker Cabinet Beel 2, he still retained his Ministry position. He continued to serve as the Minister of Foreign Affair in the cabinet Marijnen which was formed in 1963.

Joseph Luns also served as a minister during the Cabinet Cals taking office in 1965. In the Cabinet De Jong that was formed in 1967, he still retained his position.

6. Joseph Luns was Severally Elected as a Member of the House of Representatively 

Joseph Luns was first elected as a Member of the House of Representatives following the elections of 1956. He was reelected after the Dutch general election in 1959 but declined to take office after which he retained his position as the Minister of Foreign Affair.

He was elected again for the same position in the election in 1963 but declined to take the position for the second time.

Following the 1967 elections, he was elected and returned as a Member of the House of Representatives.

7. He was Nominated as the Secretary General of NATO

Luns Secretary of NATO to the right. Photo by Robert Ward.

Joseph Luns was nominated to be the next Secretary General of NATO in September 1971. After the nomination in 1971, he immediately resigned the same day from the position of the Member of the House of Representatives.

He served in the position of Secretary General of NATO from the 1^st of October 1971 to the 25^th of June 1984.

8. Joseph Luns was Known for his Abilities as a Negotiator and Debater

Joseph Luns was well known for his wonderful abilities as a negotiator and a debater. Even after he retired from the Secretary General’s position he continued to serve in the public sector.

Since he was well known for his abilities, he continued to serve as a statesman commenting on political affairs until his retirement in 1996 after suffering a stroke.

9. He served as Deputy Dutch Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Joseph Luns. Photo by arry Pot.

Joseph Luns was also appointed as the deputy Dutch permanent representative to the United Nations. In the position, he worked with, Von Balluseck who was his new chief and he was a political appointee.

He also chaired the Disarmament Commission after the Netherlands joined the Security Council.

10. He was awarded the Order of the Netherlands Lion

Joseph Luns was awarded several high-ranking awards during his term of service. He was awarded the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

It was also referred to as the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands which was founded by King William 1 of the Netherlands. The award is the highest civil decoration of the Netherlands.

Joseph Luns was a well-known politician who played a very significant role in his country. He served in several positions which led him to win several awards for his great work.

He was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives many times but still declined the opportunity. He also retained his position as the Minister of Foreign Affairs several times.