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Hendrik Karel Jan "Henk" Beernink (2 February 1910 – 22 August 1979) was a Dutch politician of the defunctChristian Historical Union (CHU) party now merged into theChristian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and jurist.[1]
Beernink attended aGymnasium inDordrecht from April 1922 until May 1928 and applied at theUtrecht University in June 1928majoring inLaw and obtaining aBachelor of Laws degree in October 1929 and graduating with aMaster of Laws degree in December 1932. Beernink worked as a civil servant for themunicipality ofPapendrecht from December 1932 until February 1939 and for the municipality ofRijswijk from February 1939 until April 1967 and asMunicipal clerk from June 1945 until April 1967.
Beernink was elected as aMember of the House of Representatives after theelection of 1946, taking office on 4 June 1946 serving as afrontbencher chairing the special parliamentary committee for the Financial Relationship Law and thede factoWhip andspokesperson forthe Interior,Social Affairs,Housing and Spatial Planning,Culture,Press media andPostal Services. Beernink also served asChairman of the Christian Historical Union from 9 July 1958 until 19 March 1966. In February 1963 theLeader of the Christian Historical Union andParliamentary leader of the Christian Historical UnionHendrik Tilanus announced his retirement from national politics and that he wouldn't stand for theelection of 1963, theChristian Historical Union leadership approached Beernink as his successor, Beernink accepted and became the Leader of the Christian Historical Union and theLijsttrekker (top candidate) for theelection, taking office on 20 February 1963. The Christian Historical Union made a small win, gaining 1 seat and now had 13 seats in the House of Representatives, Beernink subsequently became Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, taking office on 16 May 1963. The followingsecond cabinet formation of 1963 resulted in a coalition agreement between the Christian Historical Union, theCatholic People's Party (KVP), thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and theAnti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) which formed theCabinet Marijnen with Beernink opting to remain in the House of Representatives instead of accepting a cabinet post in the newcabinet and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as Parliamentary leader. For theelection of 1967 Beernink served for a second time asLijsttrekker. The Christian Historical Union suffered a small loss, losing 1 seat and now had 12 seats in the House of Representatives. The followingcabinet formation of 1967 resulted in a coalition agreement between the Catholic People's Party, thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), theAnti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and theChristian Historical Union (CHU) which formed theCabinet De Jong with Beernink appointed asMinister of the Interior, taking office on 5 April 1967. On 12 April 1967 Beernink announced that he was stepping down as Leader in favor of Parliamentary leader in the House of RepresentativesJur Mellema. In March 1967 Beernink announced that he wouldn't stand for theelection of 1971. Following thecabinet formation of 1971 Beernink was not giving a cabinet post in the newcabinet, the Cabinet De Jong was replaced by theCabinet Biesheuvel I on 6 July 1971.
Beernink semi-retired from active politics and became active in thepublic sector and occupied numerous seats as a nonprofit director on several supervisory boards and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government (Kiesraad,Public Pension Funds APB and theCadastre Agency)
Beernink was known for his abilities as amanager andteam leader. Beernink continued to comment on political affairs until his is death at the age of 69.
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Commander of theOrder of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 17 July 1971 | |
 | Commander of theOrder of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 30 April 1978 | Elevated from Knight (4 June 1958) |
Media related toHenk Beernink at Wikimedia Commons
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Christian Historical Union 1958–1966 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lijsttrekker of the Christian Historical Union 1963 •1967 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Leader of the Christian Historical Union 1963–1967 | Succeeded by |
| Parliamentary leader of the Christian Historical Union in theHouse of Representatives 1963–1967 | ||
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Minister of the Interior 1967–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of the Supervisory board of the Electoral Council 1976–1979 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
