Biography

Kajsa Ollongren: Appointed Minister of Defence in the Fourth Rutte Government

Biography

Kajsa Ollongren was born on May 28, 1967 in Leiden, the Netherlands. She is married and has two children.

Political Career

Ollongren entered politics in 2006 when she was elected to the Amsterdam city council. She served as an Alderman in the city from 2007 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2017.

In 2017, Ollongren was appointed Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. She held this position until 2021, when she was appointed Minister of Defence.

As Minister of Defence, Ollongren has been responsible for overseeing the Netherlands' military response to the war in Ukraine. She has also been a vocal advocate for increased defence spending and cooperation within the European Union.