Dionysius Adrianus Petrus Norbertus Koolen

Dionysius Adrianus Petrus Norbertus "Dion" Koolen (21 January 1871 – 24 March 1945) was a Dutch Roman Catholic politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1905 until 1925, as minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry between 1925 and 1926, and as a member of the Council of State from 1926 until his death in 1945. He was a member of the General League of Roman Catholic Electoral Associations and its successor, the Roman Catholic State Party (RKSP).

Early life and career Dionysius Koolen was born in Rijswijk on 21 January 1871 to Petrus Norbertus Koolen, a civil servant of Staatsspoorwegen, and Maria Gezina Kooimans. He attended a gymnasium in Utrecht and studied at Utrecht University, obtaining a doctorate on 2 October 1894 with a thesis entitled De Kapitaalrente ("Capital Interest"). He settled in the same city as a lawyer and public prosecutor in 1897, and was appointed as school inspector the following year. In 1903, he was appointed to the Central Board of Appeal, and later served as its chairman. In 1904, he carried out preparatory work for the founding of the General League of Roman Catholic Electoral Associations on 15 October of that year. He would subsequently chair the party until 1918.

On 4 August 1925, Koolen was appointed Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry in the short-lived Colijn I cabinet. He was subsequently appointed to the Council of State, taking office on 1 May 1926. He remained in this office until his death on 24 March 1945.

Decorations + Honours Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment 80px Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 1923 Elevated from Knight (1913) 80px Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great Holy See 1927