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Mark Harbers | |
|---|---|
 Harbers in 2020 | |
| Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management | |
| In office 10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Barbara Visser |
| Succeeded by | Barry Madlener |
| State Secretary forJustice and Security | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 21 May 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Klaas Dijkhoff |
| Succeeded by | Ankie Broekers-Knol |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 11 June 2019 – 10 January 2022 | |
| In office 1 December 2009 – 26 October 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1969-04-19)19 April 1969 (age 56) |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Residence | Rotterdam |
| Occupation | Communication employee, politician |
Markus Gerardus Jozef "Mark" Harbers (born 19 April 1969) is a Dutch politician who served asMinister of Infrastructure and Water Management in theFourth Rutte cabinet from 10 January 2022 to 2 July 2024. A member of thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), he previously servedState Secretary forJustice and Security in theThird Rutte cabinet from 26 October 2017 until 21 May 2019.
Harbers was born inEde,Gelderland. He studiedeconomics atErasmus University Rotterdam but dropped out before graduation.
A former communication employee, Harbers served as a member of the district council ofKralingen-Crooswijk from 1992 to 1998 andmunicipal councillor ofRotterdam from 2002 until 2007. He was analderman from 2007 to 2009, in charge of Economic Affairs, the Port of Rotterdam and the Environment.
During the2006 general election, Harbers occupied the 26th place on the list of VVD candidates; the party obtained 22 seats. On 1 December 2009, he entered theHouse of Representatives following the resignation ofArend Jan Boekestijn. He was reelected in2010,2012 and2017.
On 26 October 2017, Harbers resigned from the House of Representatives to becomeState Secretary at theMinistry of Justice and Security, dealing with Asylum and Migration Affairs under the supervision of MinisterFerdinand Grapperhaus.
Effective 21 May 2019, Harbers resigned from his position following the publication of a report minimising the crimes committed by asylum seekers in the Netherlands. He was replaced by Senate PresidentAnkie Broekers-Knol and returned to the House of Representatives shortly thereafter.
Early in his tenure, Harbers closed the Netherlands' airspace to Russian aircraft in response to the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[1] He took over the responsibilities of Minister of the EnvironmentVivianne Heijnen during hermaternity leave starting 25 May 2024.[2] Harbers's term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when theSchoof cabinet was sworn in.[3]
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| Year | Body | Party | Pos. | Votes | Result | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party seats | Individual | |||||||
| 2021 | House of Representatives | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 7 | 4,438 | 34 | Won | [4] | |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | State Secretary for Justice and Security 2017–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
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