Jos Serrarens

Petrus Josephus Servatius (Jos) Serrarens (12 November 1888 – 26 August 1963) was a Dutch politician and judge. From 1920 to 1953 Serrarens was the Secretary General of the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions. He was member of the Senate of the Netherlands and later the House of Representatives. Although not having completed any legal training, he became a judge at the European Court of Justice, where he worked from 1952 until 1958.

Biography Serrarens was born on 12 November 1888 in Dordrecht as the son of a bookkeeper of the department of Defense. In 1907 he became a teacher in Dordrecht, where he worked in that position until 1914. He then started studying law at Leiden University, but dropped out after two years. At the end of that year he was introduced to Catholic socialist movement Katholieke Sociale Actie, Serrarens joined the organization as a librarian. Between 17 September 1929 and 8 June 1937 Serrarens was member of the Dutch Senate. In the Senate he focused on the areas of education, social affairs, finances and foreign affairs. On 8 June 1937 he left the Senate to become member of the Dutch House of Representatives. In both houses he was member of the RKSP. In 1945 the RKSP transformed into the KVP and in the House of Representatives Serrarens distinguished himself as the foreign affairs specialist of the KVP. His term in the House ended on 27 July 1948, but he started a new term on 12 August 1948. He was appointed as judge even though he had not completed any legal training. In 1958 he reached the mandatory age of retirement of 70. On 26 August 1963 Serrarens died in the Berg en Bosch hospital in Bilthoven.

Decorations Netherlands Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau, 30 August 1928 Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, 30 September 1937

Foreign Officer of the Legion of Honour (France), April 1951