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Ruud_Lubbers_1986. Photo By Nationaal Archief –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Ruud Lubbers

Ruud Lubbers, Rudolphus Franciscus Marrie Lubber, is a businessman and politician from Soyh Holland, Rotterdam. He was born in May 1939 and served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1982 – 1994.

Ruud majored in economics in his undergraduate and master’s programme. After his undergraduate, Lubbers joined the family construction business despite his plan to be an academician.

He became the youngest and longest-serving prime minister in the Netherlands until August 2022 when Mark Rutte overtook his record. After retiring from politics, Lubbers worked as an advocate and activist for sustainable development and climate change.

Ruud married Ria Hoogeweegen in 1962. He was the father of 3 children, Paul, Bart, and Heleen. He grew ill and passed away at the age of 78 at his own home.

1. He Was Anonymously Appointed Prime Minister Twice

Lubbers made a come back in parliament in 1977 as a senior deputy parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). In 1978, Willem Aantjes unexpectedly handed over the role of Parliamentary leader for CDA to Lubbers after he was accused of being part of A German political organization in World War II.

After winning the general elections of 1982, Dries Van Agt announced his step down as Prime minister in his third term. Lubbers was again, appointed to the political seat anonymously.

2. Lubbers Was A Jerk of All Trades

Ruud Lubbers Photo By Rob Bogaerts / Anefo –

Ruud first began as a corporate director at Hollandia in 1963. He worked for Hollandia for 10 years and became the trade association executive for an association party until 1973.

In politics, he was elected as Minister of Economics Affairs (1973), Member of the House Representative (1977), Minister of House and Spatial Planning (1977), succeeded Parliamentary Leader Willem Aantjes (1978), and Prime Minister (1982 – 1994).

After his retirement from politics, Ruud served in State Commissions and Councils. He became a professor for 5 years at 3 universities, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Tilburg University, and Harvard University (Cambridge).

He was United Nations High Commissioner from 2001 – 2005. Afterward, he became an activist for humanitarian and environmental issues.

3. Lubbers Revitalized The Netherlands Economy After The 1980 Recession

Ruud led 3 successive governments from 1982-1994. The recession occurred when the 1979 energy crisis caused by the Iranian War decreased the global oil supply. This led to inflation and an increase in unemployment in UK, US, Canada, and West Germany to name a few.

Lubbers reduced the country’s deficit by decreasing the spending on social welfare programs. He was termed Netherlands Margaret Thatcher’ because of his successful impact on the economy.

4. Lubbers Led His Team In The 1983 Hague Demonstration

Demonstration. Photo By Niek Verlaan –

During his time as prime minister, Lubbers led a massive demonstration against the planned installations of nuclear-armed cruise missiles. The 1983 Hague demo contributed to the cancellation of the proposed project after arms reduction talks between the Soviet Union and the USA.

5. He Was Passionate About The Environment

Environmental Conservation. Photo By annca –

Lubbers worked together with Mikhail Sergeyevich, a soviet politician, and Maurice Strong, a Canadian Diplomat, during the consultation of the Earth Charter Initiative. Boutros-Ghali, then Secretary General of UN World Commission on Environment and Development, championed the need for the charter during the Earth Summit in 1992.

The Charter was launched in June 2000 was a guide on sustainable development. Lubbers was keen to spread knowledge of the Earth Charter to the youth in the Netherlands and became a professor in Tilburg University, Netherlands teaching globalization Studies.

6. He Was A Student To The First Person To Be Awarded The Nobel Memorial Prize In Economic Science

Ruud studied at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He majored in economics and was a student to Jan Tinbergen. In 1969, Jan Tinbergern and Ragnar Frisch were awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences

Tinbergen was considered one of the most influential economists in the 1900s. He was also the founder of econometrics, developing the first macro-econometric models. He also solved the identification problem and dynamic model.

7. Lubbers Was Able To Reduce The Number of Refugees Worldwide

Banner of UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Photo By Adam Jones, Ph.D. – Lubbers was appointed Secretary General of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) by Kofi Annan in January 2001. UNHCR is responsible for protecting refugees, stateless people, and forcibly displaced communities.

In his term as Sec-Gen, the percentage of worldwide refugees decreased by 22%, an estimated 4.7 million! He stabilized the financial status of the organization, increased the financial means for the sheltering refugees, and made an annual donation of $300,000.

He served for 4 years before his resignation due to an internal investigation on a harassment case filed by one of the employees of UNHCR.

8. He Successfully Defended Himself Against A Harassment Allegation

In 2004, an employee of UNHCR, Cynthia Brzak, accused Lubbers of sexually harassing her during one of their official meetings. Lubber denied the accusations and officially responded to the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) stating that the report that had been filed was flawed and was based on an irregular statutory basis.

The High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van Der Stoel, backed up his defense and stated the report made by the OIOS was ‘deficient in objectivity and impartiality. The case was shut down due to a lack of evidence.

9. Lubber Was Awarded The First UNHCR Achievement During His Resignation From The Organization

Despite the Sec General putting off the sexual harassment case, the story ran once again in the media in 2005. Lubber handed in his resignation letter 3 weeks later claiming he did it in the interest of the organization and had become a victim to defamation.

During his farewell meeting the same year, Lubbers was awarded the UNHCR Achievement Award. This was the first of its kind to be awarded. He was recognized for his services to the organization and refugees.

10. He Believed Refugees Were An Important Human Resource For The Netherlands

Lubbers and Pal Van Seters collaborated in an ESB article that focused on the impact of refugees on the economy of the Netherlands. The 2017 article discussed the benefit of having refugees as a source of human labour since the aging population of Netherlands was on the high.

His opinions faced criticism from other economists stating that the refugees couldn’t cope with the Dutch labour market.