Piet van Zeil

Petrus Hendrikus "Piet" van Zeil (3 August 1927 – 10 November 2012) was a Dutch politician of the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and trade union leader.

Van Zeil worked as an office clerk for Van Gend & Loos from April 1944 until May 1951 and as a trade union leader for the Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions (NVV) from May 1951 until February 1972, serving as General-Secretary from August 1968 until February 1972. Van Zeil served on the municipal council of Hillegom from April 1966 until May 1974.

Van Zeil became a member of the House of Representatives after Gerard Veringa was appointed as a member of the Council of State, taking office on 1 February 1972 serving as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for Kingdom Relations and spokesperson for transport, aviation, Kingdom relations and deputy spokesperson for social affairs. Van Zeil also served as Chairman of the Catholic People's Party from 5 April 1975 until 27 September 1980. After the 1981 general election, Van Zeil was appointed State Secretary of Economic Affairs in the Van Agt II cabinet, taking office on 11 September 1981. The cabinet fell just seven months into its term on 12 May 1982 after months of tensions in the coalition and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the first cabinet formation of 1982 when it was replaced by the caretaker Van Agt III cabinet, with Van Zeil continuing as State Secretary of Economic Affairs, taking office on 29 May 1982. Van Zeil was also appointed State Secretary of Social Affairs and Employment and dual served in those positions, taking office on 12 June 1982. After the 1982 general election, Van Zeil returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 16 September 1982. Following the cabinet formation of 1982, Van Zeil continued as State Secretary of Economic Affairs in the Lubbers I cabinet, taking office on 5 November 1982. After the 1986 general election, Van Zeil again returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 3 June 1986. Following the cabinet formation of 1986, Van Zeil per his own request was not considered for cabinet post in the new cabinet as he was nominated as mayor of Heerlen; he resigned as State Secretary of Economic Affairs and as a member of the House of Representatives on 22 June 1986 and was installed as mayor, serving from 1 July 1986 until 1 September 1992.

Van Zeil semi-retired after spending 20 years in national politics and became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (Netherlands Bible Society, Transnational Institute, and the Catholic Scouts) and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government (Cadastre Agency, Public Pension Funds PFZW and KPN).

Van Zeil was known for his abilities as a debater and negotiator. Van Zeil continued to comment on political affairs until his death at the age of 85.

Decorations + Honours Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment 80px Commander of the Order of Leopold II Belgium 12 February 1982 80px Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown Luxembourg 30 July 1983 80px Officer of the Legion of Honour France 15 November 1985 80px Officer of the Order of Merit Germany 12 April 1986 80px Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 26 August 1986 80px Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 1 September 1992 80px Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great Holy See 15 May 1996 80px Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre Holy See 1 April 2002 Elevated from Knight (12 July 1988)