View source for Piet de Jong

{{Short description|Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1967 to 1971}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Family name hatnote|lang=Dutch|de Jong|wrong=Jong}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[Excellency|His Excellency]]
| name                = Piet de Jong
| image               = Piet de Jong 1970.jpg
| caption             = De Jong in 1970
| office              = [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]]
| term_start          = 5 April 1967
| term_end            = 6 July 1971
| monarch             = [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Juliana]]
| deputy              = [[Johan Witteveen]]<br/>[[Joop Bakker]]
| predecessor         = [[Jelle Zijlstra]]
| successor           = [[Barend Biesheuvel]]
| office1             = [[Parliamentary leader]] in the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]]
| term_start1         = 11 May 1971
| term_end1           = 17 September 1974
| predecessor1        = [[Jan Niers]]
| successor1          = [[Jan Teijssen]]
| parliamentarygroup1 = [[Catholic People's Party]]
| office2             = [[Senate (Netherlands)|Member of the Senate]]
| term_start2         = 11 May 1971
| term_end2           = 17 September 1974
| office3             = [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|Member of the House of Representatives]]
| term_start3         = 23 February 1967
| term_end3           = 5 April 1967
| office4             = [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands|Minister of Defence]]
| term_start4         = 24 July 1963
| term_end4           = 5 April 1967
| primeminister4      = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=[[Victor Marijnen]] (1963–1965)<br/>[[Jo Cals]] (1965–1966)<br/>Jelle Zijlstra (1966–1967)}}
| predecessor4        = [[Sim Visser]]
| successor4          = [[Willem den Toom]]
| office5             = [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary for Defence]]
| term_start5         = 25 June 1959
| term_end5           = 24 July 1963
| alongside5          = [[Michael Calmeyer]]
| primeminister5      = [[Jan de Quay]]
| predecessor5        = [[Harry Moorman]]
| successor5          = [[Adri van Es]]
| birthname           = Petrus Jozef Sietse de Jong
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=y|1915|04|03}}<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2015/07/portret-piet-de-jong |title= Onderschat vaderfiguur |author= Roel van de Wiel |date=10 April 2015|website= Defensiekrant |publisher=Defensie.nl |language=Dutch}}</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Apeldoorn]], Netherlands
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=y|2016|7|27|1915|04|03}}
| death_place         = [[The Hague]], Netherlands
| party               = [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] <br/> (from 1980)
| otherparty          = [[Catholic People's Party]] <br/> (1959–1980)
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = [[Royal Netherlands Naval College|Royal Naval College]]
| occupation          = Politician · Diplomat · [[Officer (armed forces)|Naval officer]] · Businessperson · [[Board of directors|Corporate director]] · [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit director]]
| signature           = 
| allegiance          = {{flag|Netherlands}}
| branch              = [[Royal Netherlands Navy]]
| serviceyears        = 1931–1959 ([[Active duty]]) <br/> 1959–1963 ([[Military reserve force|Reserve]])
| rank                = [[File:Nl-marine-vloot-kapitein ter zee.svg|15px]] [[Captain (naval)|Captain]]
| unit                = [[Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Service|Royal Netherlands <br/> Navy Submarine Service]]
| commands            = [[HNLMS O 24|HNLMS ''O 24'']] <br/> HNLMS ''De Zeeuw'' <br/> [[HNLMS Gelderland (D811)|HNLMS ''Gelderland'']]
| battles             = 
{{tree list}}
* [[World War II]]
** [[Battle of the Netherlands]]
** [[Battle of France]]
** [[Battle of the Atlantic]]
** [[Pacific War]]
* [[Cold War]]
** [[Korean War]]
{{tree list/end}}
| awards              = [[Order of Orange-Nassau]] <br/> (Knight Grand Cross) <br/> [[Bronze Cross (Netherlands)|Bronze Cross]] (2) <br/> [[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Cross]] <br/> [[Ereteken voor Orde en Vrede|Medal for Order and Peace]] <br/> [[Oorlogsherinneringskruis|War Memorial Cross]]
| military_blank1     = [[Aide-de-camp]]
| military_data1      = [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Queen Juliana]] <br/> (1955–1958)
| military_blank2     = [[Chief of staff]]
| military_data2      = [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Inspector General of the Navy]] [[Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld|Prince Bernhard]] <br/> (1955–1958)
}}

'''Petrus Jozef Sietse''' "'''Piet'''" '''de Jong''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈpeːtrʏ ˈɕoːzəf ˈsitsə ˈpi(d) də ˈjɔŋ}}; 3 April 1915 – 27 July 2016)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vg09ll213ezn/p_j_s_piet_de_jong|title=P.J.S. (Piet) de Jong|website=www.parlement.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D6HKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA580|title=Heads of States and Governments Since 1945|first=Harris M.|last=Lentz|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-26490-2|page=580}}</ref> was a Dutch politician and naval officer who served as [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] from 1967 to 1971.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.nrc.nl/nieuwsthema/mei68/article1891625.ece/De_oorlog_was_de_oorzaak_van_geduvel_in_68 ‘De oorlog was de oorzaak van geduvel in ’68’], NRC Handelsblad, 10 May 2008</ref><ref>{{in lang|en}} [http://www.nndb.com/people/098/000164603/ Piet de Jong AKA Petrus Jozef Sietze de Jong], NNDB, 6 May 2006</ref> He was a member of the [[Catholic People's Party]] (KVP), later merged into the [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] (CDA).

De Jong applied at the [[Royal Netherlands Naval College|Royal Naval College]] in [[Den Helder]] and graduated as an [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] in the [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Navy]] and joined the [[Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Service|Submarine Service]]. During [[World War II]] he served on the submarine [[HNLMS O 24|HNLMS ''O 24'']] as [[Executive officer|First Officer]] and later as [[commanding officer]] and saw action in both the [[Battle of the Atlantic]] and the [[Pacific War]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Vogelaar |first=L. |date=September 2011 |title=Duikbootcommandant in oorlogstijd  |url=https://www.klaarvooronderwater.nl/kvo/Kvo-117.pdf |magazine=Klaar Voor Onderwater |location=Den Helder |publisher=Onderzeedienst Reünistenvereniging |issue=117|volume=34 |pages=9–13 |language=Dutch}}</ref> After the War De Jong served as a [[Staff (military)|staff officer]] and commanded a [[frigate]] and [[destroyer]]. After the [[1959 Dutch general election|1959 general election]], De Jong was unexpectedly appointed as [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary for Defence]] tasked with Naval Affairs taking office on 25 June 1959. After the [[1963 Dutch general election|1963 general election]], De Jong was appointed as [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands|Minister of Defence]] in the [[Marijnen cabinet]] taking office on 24 July 1963. The Marijnen cabinet fell 19 months into its term and was replaced by the [[Cals cabinet]] with De Jong continuing his office. The Cals cabinet fell just one year later and was replaced by the [[caretaker government|caretaker]] [[Zijlstra cabinet]] and De Jong again retained his position. After the [[1967 Dutch general election|1967 general election]], De Jong was elected to the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] on 23 February 1967. Following several failed coalition attempts De Jong was asked to lead a new cabinet and following a successful cabinet formation formed the [[De Jong cabinet]] and became [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] taking office on 5 April 1967.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/nieuws/2005/december/P-J-S-Piet-de-Jong.html P. J. S. (Piet) de Jong 5 April 1967 – 6 juli 1971], Geschiedenis24, 9 December 2005</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://archive.today/20120801011743/http://www.groene.nl/2005/43/de-putschisten-zijn-onder-ons De putschisten zijn onder ons], De Groene Amsterdammer, 28 October 2005</ref>

For the [[1971 Dutch general election|1971 general election]] the [[Catholic People's Party|Catholics]] declined to nominate De Jong as [[lead candidate]] and shortly thereafter De Jong announced that he would not stand for the election. De Jong left office following the installation of the [[First Biesheuvel cabinet|Biesheuvel I cabinet]] on 6 July 1971. De Jong continued to be active in politics and was elected to the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] after the [[Historic composition of the Senate of the Netherlands|1971 Senate election]] and became [[parliamentary leader]] serving from 11 May 1971 until 17 September 1974.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.katholieknieuwsblad.nl/boek/item/2265-piet-de-jong.html Piet de Jong] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107230335/http://katholieknieuwsblad.nl/boek/item/2265-piet-de-jong.html |date=7 November 2012 }}, Katholieknieuwsblad, 6 July 2012</ref>

De Jong retired from active politics at 59 and became active in the [[private sector|private]] and [[public sector]]s as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several {{ill|State commission (Netherlands)|lt=state commissions|nl|Staatscommissie}} and councils and as a diplomat and lobbyist for several economic delegations on behalf of the government. De Jong was known for his abilities as an effective team leader and skillful negotiator. During his premiership, his cabinet was responsible for several major reforms to [[Education in the Netherlands|education]], social security, [[value-added tax|taxes]], overseeing improvement in relations with the former [[Dutch East Indies]], handling the [[Counterculture of the 1960s]], the fallout of the [[Vietnam War]] and dealing with several major crises such as the [[Maluku Islands|Moluccans incidents]]. De Jong continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death in July 2016 at the age of 101. He holds the distinction as the first prime minister after World War II to complete a full term without any internal conflicts and holds the record as the second longest-lived Prime Minister, after [[Willem Drees]], at {{Age in years and days|1915|04|03|2016|07|27|df=y}}. His premiership is consistently [[Historical rankings of prime ministers of the Netherlands|regarded]] both by scholars and the public to have been one of the best in Dutch history.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/nieuws/2006/januari/Willem-Drees-gekozen-tot-D-premier-na-WO-II.html Willem Drees gekozen tot ‘Dé premier na WO II’], Geschiedenis24.nl, 15 January 2006</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/09/28/nrc-enquete-drees-en-lubbers-beste-premiers-sinds-1900/ NRC-enquête: Drees en Lubbers beste premiers sinds 1900], NRC Handelsblad, 28 September 2013</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.ioresearch.nl/actueel/mark-rutte-gezien-als-beste-premier-sinds-woii/ I&O Research], I&O Research, 13 March 2020</ref>

==Early life==
Petrus Jozef Sietse de Jong was born on 3 April 1915 in [[Apeldoorn]] in the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Netherlands province]] of [[Gelderland]] in a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] family that originated from [[Friesland]], as the sixth of seven children of Joännes Jans de Jong (24 February 1878 – 28 November 1931), a railroad superintendent, and Gijsberta Adriana Schouten (29 December 1877 – 30 June 1957). After leaving secondary school, de Koninklijke Hogereburgerschool (now de Koninklijke Scholengemeenschap), he joined the [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] as a midshipman in 1931 and subsequently attended the [[Royal Netherlands Naval College]] in [[Den Helder]]. In 1934, he received his commission as a [[sub-lieutenant]].

[[File:Piet de Jong in uniform.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Captain Piet de Jong as commanding officer on [[HNLMS Gelderland (D811)|HNLMS ''Gelderland'']] in 1958.]]
[[File:Minister-president Jack Lynch (links) en premier Piet de Jong, Bestanddeelnr 920-4280.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Taoiseach]] of Ireland [[Jack Lynch]] and Prime Minister Piet de Jong during a meeting at the [[Ministry of General Affairs]] on 22 June 1967.]]
[[File:Minister-presidenten, bezoeken, ministers, Brown George, Luns, J.A.M.H., Groot-B, Bestanddeelnr 083-0797.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Secretary of State for Foreign of the United Kingdom]] [[George Brown, Baron George-Brown|George Brown]], Prime Minister Piet de Jong, [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Harold Wilson]] and Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Joseph Luns]] at [[10 Downing Street]] on 19 February 1968.]]
[[File:Benelux conferentie te Den Haag. De premiers van de drie landen vlnr. P. Werner, Bestanddeelnr 121-0413.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[List of Prime Ministers of Luxembourg|Prime Minister of Luxembourg]] [[Pierre Werner]], Prime Minister Piet de Jong and [[Prime Minister of Belgium]] [[Gaston Eyskens]] during a [[Benelux]] conference in [[The Hague]] on 28 April 1968.]]
[[File:Aankomst Bondskanselier Willy Brandt van Duitsland op Ypenburg. Aankomst Brandt, Bestanddeelnr 923-0345.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Prime Minister Piet de Jong and [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor of West Germany]] [[Willy Brandt]] at [[Ypenburg Airport]] on 1 December 1969.]]
[[File:Minister-president Jonathan van Lesotho spreekt met premier De Jong in Kabinet, Bestanddeelnr 923-9817.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[List of prime ministers of Lesotho|Prime Minister of Lesotho]] [[Leabua Jonathan]] and Prime Minister Piet de Jong during a meeting at the [[Ministry of General Affairs]] on 4 November 1970.]]
[[File:Mark Rutte en Piet de Jong.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Prime Minister [[Mark Rutte]] and Piet de Jong during a meeting in [[Torentje|Het Torentje]] on 7 March 2011.]]
[[File:Piet de Jong 2011 (1).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Piet de Jong in The Hague at the age of 96 on 5 July 2011.]]

==World War II==
After his graduation in 1934, he served a short time in the [[Dutch East Indies]] before he entered service in the Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Service. On 10 May 1940 [[Nazi Germany]] invaded the Netherlands and the [[Dutch government-in-exile|government]] fled to London to escape the [[Netherlands in World War II|German occupation]]. De Jong, then a [[Lieutenant (junior grade)|Lieutenant junior grade]], was giving a [[battlefield promotion]] and command of the nearly finished submarine [[HNLMS O 24|HNLMS ''O 24'']] and was ordered to bring the submarine to the [[HMNB Portsmouth]] naval base in [[Portsmouth]], England. De Jong successfully navigated the HNLMS ''O 24'' through [[English Channel]] and was awarded the [[Bronze Cross (Netherlands)|Bronze Cross]] for bravery on 16 July 1940. De Jong served as [[Executive officer|First Officer]] on the HNLMS ''O 24'' from July 1940 until October 1944 fighting in the [[Battle of the Atlantic]] from July 1940 until July 1942 when the HNLMS ''O 24'' was transferred to the [[Far East Fleet (United Kingdom)|British Eastern Fleet]] to fight in the Pacific War. On 8 July 1943 De Jong was awarded the Bronze Cross for bravery a second time. On 25 October 1944 De Jong was promoted to [[lieutenant commander]] and was appointment as [[commanding officer]] of the HNLMS ''O 24''. Under his command the HNLMS ''O 24'' initially continued in the Pacific War. Following the end of World War II De Jong continued to serve in the Royal Netherlands Navy holding several administrative functions. On 14 November 1951 De Jong was appointment as commanding officer of the frigate HNLMS ''De Zeeuw'' and on 20 October 1951 De Jong was transferred to the [[Allied Command Channel]] at the HMNB Portsmouth naval base in Portsmouth, England as a senior staff officer. In April 1953 De Jong was promoted to [[commander]] and in March 1955 De Jong was appointment as chief of staff to the [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Inspector General of the Navy]] [[Lieutenant admiral]] [[Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld|Prince Bernhard]] and as chief military adjutant and senior ''[[aide-de-camp]]'' to [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Queen Juliana]]. In October 1958 De Jong was promoted to [[Captain (naval)|captain]] and appointment as commanding officer of the destroyer [[HNLMS Gelderland (D811)|HNLMS ''Gelderland'']].<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.trouw.nl/achtergrond/Dossiers/article1432048.ece/Piet_de_Jong___Ik_zag_de_schepen_en_wist_wat_ik_wilde_worden_.html Ik zag de schepen en wist wat ik wilde worden], Trouw, 7 June 2008</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.dichtbij.nl/noordkop/regio/artikel/3518651/dvd-over-verdwenen-onderzeeer-o13-uitgereikt-aan-oudpremier-de-jong-99.aspx DVD over verdwenen onderzeeër O13 uitgereikt aan oud-premier De Jong (99)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715011409/http://www.dichtbij.nl/noordkop/regio/artikel/3518651/dvd-over-verdwenen-onderzeeer-o13-uitgereikt-aan-oudpremier-de-jong-99.aspx |date=15 July 2014 }}, Dichtbij.nl, 15 May 2014</ref>

==Politics==
===State Secretary===
On 7 June 1959, during a [[NATO]] [[Military exercise|naval exercises]] near [[Scotland]], De Jong received an unexpected telegram with the orders that he was to report the next day to Vice Admiral Leendert Brouwer, the [[Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy]] himself, De Jong was summoned because of his "appointment" as [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary for Defence]] in the new [[De Quay cabinet]]. De Jong was [[airlift]]ed from HNLMS ''Gelderland'' by helicopter and transported to the aircraft carrier [[HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)|HNLMS ''Karel Doorman'']]. It was the second time that De Jong was asked for a political office, for the [[1956 Dutch general election|Dutch general election of 1956]] he was approached by [[Carl Romme]] the leader of the Catholic People's Party for a seat in the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] but De Jong respectfully declined his offer, and stated: "I don't have political ambitions, I want to become an admiral".

During that time the independence of the Royal Netherlands Navy in the [[Armed forces of the Netherlands]] was in question, the main focus of the discussion was the new command structure for all the service branches. Both a horizontal-structure and vertical-structure had their proponents and opponents, the Royal Netherlands Navy was historically a proponent of a vertical-structure but the horizontal-structure received increasing support, including from the then [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Minister of War and the Navy]] [[Kees Staf]]. During the cabinet formation for the [[De Quay cabinet]] the decision was made to go with the horizontal-structure and the first step was made with the combining of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Navy. With the combining of the ministries a serious efficiency problem in the Ministry of War was discovered, while the Ministry of the Navy was thought to be in an excellent administrative condition.

After his meeting with Admiral Brouwer, De Jong reported to the incoming [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Minister of Defence]] [[Sidney J. van den Bergh]], who formally asked De Jong to become the new [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary for Defence]]. De Jong was given a few days to think it over and he used that time to speak with Carl Romme. De Jong informed him that he was not a member of the Catholic People's Party but Romme respond by saying: "You are not a member of a different party? No, but you are a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]]? Then we will we see you as one of us." Romme did advise De Jong to become a member of the Catholic People's Party after six months. On 11 June 1959, De Jong reported back to [[Sidney J. van den Bergh|Van den Bergh]] and was told about the new horizontal-structure, De Jong who was a proponent of a vertical-structure was left with a few remarks. The next day the meeting was continued in the presence of the incoming Secretary-General for the [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence]] Duyverman who was going to be responsible for all financial and budgetary affairs for the Ministry of Defence. De Jong objected, he thought he could not be politically responsible as the [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary for Defence]] if he was not responsible for all financial affairs for his own department, [[Sidney J. van den Bergh|Van den Bergh]] became irritated with De Jongs position on the matter and the meeting was adjourned for 16 June 1959.<ref name=biografie>{{cite book |last1=Brouwer |first1=Jan Willem |last2=van Merriënboer |first2=Johan |title=Van buitengaats naar Binnenhof: P.J.S. de Jong, een biografie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oNJoAAAAMAAJ&q=Piet+de+Jong |access-date=3 April 2013 |year=2001 |publisher=Sdu Uitgevers |isbn=9789012087742 }}</ref>

===Minister===
Immediately thereafter, De Jong served as [[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands|Minister of Defence]] in the successive [[Marijnen cabinet|Marijnen]], [[Cals cabinet|Cals]] and Zijlstra cabinets.

===Prime minister===
From 5 April 1967 to 6 July 1971, he was Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs in the [[De Jong cabinet]]. His cabinet was the first Cabinet of the Netherlands since World War II that served a full four-year term without crises.

His cabinet was confronted with a demand for democratic reforms in the society and it decided to democratise colleges and universities after the famous ''Maagdenhuisbezetting''. Plans were made to modernise politics by establishing an electoral system with districts or a chosen prime minister, but these plans were not implemented. Meanwhile, a pay pause due to the decision of employers and employees to raise wages was partly revoked after anti-government demonstrations and strikes. The [[Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (Netherlands)|Minister of Economic Affairs]] [[Leo de Block]] resigned, officially as a protest against the wage rise in the metal industry, but another reason was his slow reaction to the inflation and rising prices after the introduction of value added tax. More unrest took shape in demonstrations against the [[Vietnam War]]. Internationally, relations with [[Indonesia]] improved, resulting in a visit by president [[Suharto]] which was, however, overshadowed by the occupation of the Indonesian embassy by [[Moluccans]]. The [[Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia]] was seen as a reason to increase the defence budget. During his term as Prime Minister of the Netherlands De Jong met with numeral state leaders, including US President [[Richard Nixon]], Presidents of France [[Charles de Gaulle]] and [[Georges Pompidou]]. He was present in the hospital when [[Prince Claus of the Netherlands|Prince Claus]] announced the birth of his son [[Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange]] on 27 April 1967.

After serving as Prime Minister of the Netherlands De Jong became a member of the Senate, where he served from 1971 to 1974 and as the [[parliamentary leader]] in the Senate.
In 1972, he was passed by the [[Second Biesheuvel cabinet|Biesheuvel II cabinet]] for the position of [[Vice-President of the Council of State (Netherlands)|Vice-President of the Council of State]] In 1973, he passed the mayoralty of [[Eindhoven]].

==After politics==
Following the end of his active political career, De Jong occupied many posts in industry and seats on numerous supervisory boards. In December 1990 he was selected to lead a diplomatic mission to [[Iraq]] to free Dutch hostages, but ultimately the mission was cancelled.

On 25 March 2010, De Jong, still visibly spirituous and active, gave a speech at ''[[Nieuwspoort]]'' about the publication of the biography of former [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[List of NATO Secretaries General|5th]] [[Secretary General of NATO]] [[Joseph Luns]].<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://nos.nl/video/146349-gehele-toespraak-piet-de-jong-over-joseph-luns.html Gehele toespraak Piet de Jong over Joseph Luns], NOS, 25 March 2010</ref> On 24 April 2010 during the annual [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] party conference, De Jong spoke about former [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|deputy prime minister]] and [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]] party leader [[Wouter Bos]] and his actions which led to the fall of the [[Fourth Balkenende cabinet|Balkenende IV cabinet]].<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://nos.nl/video/152945-oudcdapremier-piet-de-jong-haalt-uit-naar-wouter-bos.html Oud-CDA-premier Piet de Jong haalt uit naar Wouter Bos], NOS, 24 April 2010</ref>

After the [[2010 Dutch general election|2010 general election]], the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) suffered a disappointing election result, and ''[[informateur]]'' [[Ivo Opstelten]] announced the formation of a new centre-right coalition cabinet composed of the winner of the election, the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD), and De Jong's own CDA, but with the support of the [[Party for Freedom]] (PVV) of [[Geert Wilders]]. De Jong spoke out against this support and said that the PVV's stand on freedom of religion was a deal-breaker.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.nu.nl/politiek/2318527/kritiek-oud-premier-jong-cda.html Kritiek oud-premier De Jong op CDA], NU.nl, 24 Augustus 2010</ref>

On 30 March 2012, De Jong and several other prominent CDA members, including fellow former prime minister [[Ruud Lubbers]], former Ministers of Foreign Affairs [[Hans van den Broek]], [[Pieter Kooijmans]] and [[Ben Bot]], former [[Minister for Development Cooperation (Netherlands)|Ministers for Development Cooperation]] [[Piet Bukman]] and [[Agnes van Ardenne]], and former ministers [[Wim Deetman]] and [[Ernst Hirsch Ballin]] and former State Secretary [[Karien van Gennip]] all signed a petition of disapproval of the proposed cuts to the [[international development]] budget by the [[First Rutte cabinet|Rutte I cabinet]]. De Jong responded by announcing that he would leave the CDA if the cuts were implemented.<ref>{{in lang|en}} [http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/03/former_cda_ministers_warn_coal.php Former CDA ministers warn coalition not to cut aid budget], Dutchnews.nl, 30 March 2012</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://nos.nl/artikel/357233-waarschuwing-oudcdaministers.html Waarschuwing oud-CDA-ministers], Dutchnews.nl, 30 March 2012</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://nos.nl/artikel/357417-de-jong-dreigt-cda-te-verlaten.html De Jong dreigt CDA te verlaten], NOS, 30 March 2012</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.nu.nl/politiek/2776789/piet-jong-dreigt-cda-verlaten.html Piet de Jong dreigt CDA te verlaten], NU.nl, 31 March 2012</ref> He expressed satisfaction about the fall of the cabinet in 2012, calling it a "lame cabinet".

De Jong was present at the ascension of [[Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands|Willem-Alexander]] to the Dutch throne on 30 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web |date= 1 December 2013 |title= Vier premiers onder een dak in het Haagse Catshuis |url= https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/2395747/vier-premiers-onder-een-dak-in-het-haagse-catshuis |trans-title= Four prime ministers under one roof in the Hague Catshuis |website= Omroep West |language= Dutch |access-date= 15 June 2025}}</ref> He was prime minister at the time of the King's birth. At the age of 98 he was the oldest person attending the ceremony.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://nos.nl/koningshuis/artikel/501534-genodigden-naar-nieuwe-kerk.html Genodigden naar Nieuwe Kerk], NOS, 30 April 2013</ref>

On 1 December 2013, De Jong and fellow former prime ministers [[Dries van Agt]] and [[Ruud Lubbers]] were present at the presentation of the book ''Polarisatie en hoogconjunctuur'', a book about Dutch politics in the 1960s. De Jong received the first copy from incumbent prime minister [[Mark Rutte]].<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/az/documenten-en-publicaties/toespraken/2013/12/02/toespraak-rutte-bij-boekpresentatie.html Toespraak Rutte bij presentatie boek over kabinet-De Jong] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214221938/http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/az/documenten-en-publicaties/toespraken/2013/12/02/toespraak-rutte-bij-boekpresentatie.html |date=14 December 2013 }}, Rijksoverheid, 2 December 2013</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.parlement.com/id/vjf9b3m74rg2/nieuws/hechte_team_de_jong_laveerde_soepel_door Hechte team-De Jong laveerde soepel door de roerige jaren zestig], Parlement & Politiek, 3 December 2013</ref>

===Reputation and legacy===
During his time as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, he was accused of not showing enough strength and too little action when needed during the social revolution of the 1960s by some of the counterculture of that time. De Jong was frequently labelled as old-fashioned, and that old-fashioned image was reinforced by his [[bowler hat]], which he wore frequently outside, a custom he picked up during his time living in England during World War II. In contrast the "[[silent majority]]" were reported to be content with the policies of his cabinet. More than forty years later, De Jong is considered by many to have made well thought-out decisions during his time as prime minister and when needed showed enough strength with a far more progressive ideology than he was credited for at the time.

Politicians from the entire political spectrum have labelled De Jong as one of the better prime ministers of the Netherlands. In an episode of the Dutch television programme ''[[Netwerk]]'' aired in 2005, he is even labelled as perhaps the best postwar Prime Minister of the Netherlands. This view has been shared by numerous high-profile current and former Dutch politicians, including former prime minister [[Dries van Agt]]<ref>{{in lang|nl}} {{YouTube|8BjLDiP0Esc|Dries van Agt over de Palestijnse kwestie- Deel 2- Pauw en Witteman-09 09 2009}}, Pauw en Witteman, 9 September 2009</ref> and former deputy prime minister [[Hans Wiegel]], who praised De Jong being perhaps the best prime minister after World War II.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4512/Cultuur/archief/article/detail/2490198/2001/11/28/Na-30-jaar-eindelijk-lof-voor-Piet-de-Jong.dhtml Na 30 jaar eindelijk lof voor Piet de Jong], Trouw, 28 November 2001</ref> Former [[Senate (Netherlands)|Member of the Senate]] and [[Righteous Among the Nations]] [[Johan van Hulst]] said that of all the prime ministers he worked with in twenty-five years, De Jong was the best.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20120122005637/http://altijdwat.ncrv.nl/pagina/gesprek-oud-senator-johan-van-hulst-100 Het Gesprek – oud-senator Johan van Hulst (100)], NCRV, 23 May 2011</ref> On 23 March 2011, the history channel ''Hollanddoc'' devoted an episode about his life with the quote "Attention for the least-known prime minister after World War II, but perhaps the most successful: Piet de Jong"<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.hollanddoc.nl/kijk-luister/documentaire/p/profiel-afl--piet-de-jong.html Profiel Afl. Piet de Jong] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727173918/http://www.hollanddoc.nl/kijk-luister/documentaire/p/profiel-afl--piet-de-jong.html |date=27 July 2011 }}, Hollanddoc.nl, 22 March 2011</ref> In November 2011, the second edition of his in 2001 released biography ''Van buitengaats naar Binnenhof. P.J.S. de Jong'' (From offshore to Binnenhof. P.J.S. de Jong) became well received and further enhanced his reputation: "He showed himself a team leader with perspective and humor. The ideal manager in a time of crisis of authority, polarization and social unrest."<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114037/http://www.uitgeverijboom.nl/boeken/geschiedenis/van_buitengaats_naar_binnenhof__p_j_s__de_jong_9789461055613/ Van buitengaats naar Binnenhof. P.J.S. de Jong], Uitgeverijboom.nl, 25 November 2011</ref>

De Jong said to [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Queen Juliana]], for whom he had served as aide-de-camp, when he was sworn in as State Secretary for Defence, "Majesty, there you see how a person comes down in the world." (Dutch: "Majesteit, zo ziet u maar hoe een mens aan lager wal kan raken.") And in a response to a delicate question of a radio reporter, when asked what his thoughts on pornography were, he said, "As far as I know, pornography is the only working medicine against seasickness." When later a Belgian minister spoke negatively about the [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] ideas of the Dutch on pornography, he responded, "Well, the Belgians aren't a seafaring people, are they?"<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4324/Nieuws/archief/article/detail/1715489/2005/06/11/Na-het-grote-nee-en-de-metamorfose-van-de-VVD-lijken-de-dagen-van-het-kabinet-geteld-Dat-onze-premier-charisma-ontbeert-soit-maar-hij-schiet-tekort-in-de-meest-alledaagse-communicatie.dhtml Na het grote nee en de metamorfose van de VVD lijken de dagen van het kabinet geteld Dat onze premier charisma ontbeert, 'soit', maar hij schiet tekort in de meest alledaagse communicatie], Trouw, 11 June 2005</ref>

==Personal==
After World War II, De Jong married former resistance fighter Anna Geertruida Jacoba Henriëtte "Anneke" Bartels (8 January 1915 – 6 January 2010). At the time when they met Bartels was serving in the {{Interlanguage link multi|Marine Vrouwenafdeling|nl|3=Marine Vrouwenafdeling|lt=women's division}} of the Royal Netherlands Navy. They married on 26 June 1947 and had one daughter and two sons, Maria (born 31 May 1948) Jos (born 31 August 1949) and Gijs (born 15 October 1952). Anneke Bartels died on 6 January 2010 two days before her ninety-fifth birthday after suffering from heart and lung illnesses since 2000.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20160610052433/http://www.sgp.nl/Page/sp762/ml1/from_sp_id=760/nctrue/system_id=12959/so_id=1044/Index.html Pietje], Reformed Political Party, 3 October 2010</ref><ref name="biografie"/><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.allesopeenrij.nl/article.php?aid=736 Huwelijksduur premiers], Allesopeenrij.nl, 21 March 2010</ref>

===Longevity===
{{OR|section|date=June 2022}}
At the age of {{Age in years and days|1915|04|03|2016|07|27}}, De Jong was the oldest living and earliest-serving former prime minister of the Netherlands{{cn|date=June 2022}} and the oldest living former Member of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands overall.{{cn|date=June 2022}} De Jong was the second oldest Prime Minister of the Netherlands by age after [[Willem Drees]] who lived to {{Age in years and days|1886|07|05|1988|05|14}}.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= 1 August 2016 |title= Oud-premier Piet de Jong (101) overleden) |url= https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/oud-premier-piet-de-jong-101-overleden~b71c48c4/ |trans-title= Former prime minister Piet de Jong (101) deceased |website= Volkskrant |language= Dutch |access-date= 15 June 2025}}</ref>

==Death==
Piet de Jong died on 27 July 2016 at his home in [[The Hague]] at the age of 101. Having survived his wife by six years, De Jong was survived by his three children, eight grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadobituary.com/piet-de-jong-dutch-politician-and-naval-officer-died-at-101/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811141526/http://deadobituary.com/piet-de-jong-dutch-politician-and-naval-officer-died-at-101/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=11 August 2016|title=Piet de Jong, Dutch politician and naval officer, Died at 101|date=2 August 2016}}</ref>

==Military ranks==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Promotions
! Rank !! Date
|-
||[[File:Nl-marine-vloot-adjudant onderofficier.svg|35px]] [[Midshipman]] <small>(Adjudant-onderofficier)</small>||1931
|-
||[[File:Nl-marine-vloot-luitenant ter zee der 3e klasse.svg|35px]] [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]] <small>(Luitenant ter zee 3e klasse)</small>||1934
|-
||[[File:Nl-marine-vloot-luitenant ter zee der 2e klasse.svg|35px]] [[Lieutenant (junior grade)|Lieutenant junior grade]] <small>(Luitenant ter zee der 2de klasse)</small>||1936
|-
||[[File:Nl-marine-vloot-luitenant ter zee der 1e klasse.svg|35px]] [[Lieutenant commander]] <small>(Luitenant ter zee der 1ste klasse)</small>||1944
|-
||[[File:Nl-marine-vloot-kapitein luitenant ter zee.svg|35px]] [[Commander]] <small>(Kapitein-luitenant ter zee)</small>||1953
|-
||[[File:Nl-marine-vloot-kapitein ter zee.svg|35px]] [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] <small>(Kapitein-ter-zee)</small>||1958
|-
|}

==Decorations==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|+ Military decorations
! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Decoration !! Country !! Date !! Comment<ref>{{in lang|en}} [http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/men/commanding_officers/2363_p_j_s_de_jong.htm Biography of the Dutch Submarine Commander P.J.S. de Jong] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130122185322/http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/men/commanding_officers/2363_p_j_s_de_jong.htm |date=22 January 2013 }}, Dutchsubmarines.com, 24 December 2006</ref>
|-
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=NLD Bronze Cross bar.svg|width=80}}<span style="position:relative; top: 1px; left: -81px; display: inline-block; width: 0;">[[File:Ribbon numeral 2.png|80px]]</span>
| [[Bronze Cross (Netherlands)|Bronze Cross]] (2)
| Netherlands
| 16 July 1940 / 8 July 1943
| 
|-
| [[File:NLD War Commemorative Cross two clasp.png|80px]]
| [[War Memorial Cross]]
| Netherlands
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:NLD Medal for Order and Peace one clasp.png|80px]]
| [[Medal for Order and Peace]]
| Netherlands
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:UK Distinguished Service Cross BAR.svg|80px]]
| [[Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Service Cross]]
| United Kingdom
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:SVE Svärdsorden BAR.svg|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Commander]] of the [[Order of the Sword]]
| Sweden
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Order of Naval Merit (Argentina) - ribbon bar.png|80px]]
| Order of Naval Merit
| [[Argentina]]
| 
|
|-
| [[File:United Nations Service Medal Korea ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[United Nations Korea Medal]]
| United Nations
| 
| 
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|+ Honours
! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Honour !! Country !! Date !! Comment
|-
| [[File:NED Huisorde van Oranje A2 BAR.png|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Grand Officer]] of the [[Order of the House of Orange]]
| Netherlands
| 1958
| 
|-
| [[File:NLD Order of Orange-Nassau - Knight Grand Cross BAR.png|80px]]
| [[Grand Cross|Knight Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]
| Netherlands
| 17 July 1971
|
|-
| [[File:BEL Order of Leopold II - Grand Cross BAR.png|80px]]
| [[Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of Leopold II]] 
| [[Belgium]]
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:CHL Order of Bernardo O'Higgins - Grand Cross BAR.png|80px]]
| [[Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of Bernardo O'Higgins]] 
| Chile
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Honorary Lieutenant]] of the [[Royal Victorian Order]] 
| United Kingdom
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia) - ribbon bar.png|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Officer]] of the [[Order of the Star of Africa]] 
| [[Liberia]]
| 
| 
|-
| [[File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 7th Class BAR.png|80px]]
| Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver of the <br/> [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria|Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic]]
| [[Austria]]
| 
| 
|-
|}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Brouwer |first1=Jan Willem |last2=van Merriënboer |first2=Johan |title=Van buitengaats naar Binnenhof: P.J.S. de Jong, een biografie |year=2001 |publisher=Sdu Uitgevers |location=Netherlands |isbn=9789012087742 |ref=biografie }}
{{Refend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{in lang|nl}} [https://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/p_j_s_de_jong_kvp P.J.S. de Jong (KVP)] Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jan Niers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Parliamentary leader]] of the <br/> [[Catholic People's Party]] <br/> in the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]]|years=1971–1974}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Jan Teijssen]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Harry Moorman]]|rows=3}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands#List of State Secretaries for Defence|State Secretary for Defence]]|years=1959–1963|alongside=<br/> [[Michael Calmeyer]]|rows=3}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joop Haex]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Adri van Es]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Willem den Toom]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sim Visser]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands|Minister of Defence]]|years=1963–1967}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Willem den Toom]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jelle Zijlstra]]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of General Affairs|Minister of General Affairs]]|years=1967–1971}} 
{{s-aft|after=[[Barend Biesheuvel]]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]]|years=1967–1971}} 
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Wopke Johan de Vries}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commanding officer]] <br/> of [[HNLMS O 24|HNLMS ''O 24'']]|years=1944–1946}}
{{s-aft|after=Jean Charles <br/> Klaas Leeksma}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commanding officer]] <br/> of HNLMS De Zeeuw|years=1952–1952}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-break}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commanding officer]] <br/> of [[HNLMS Gelderland (D811)|HNLMS Gelderland]]|years=1958–1959}}
{{s-vac|unknown}}
{{s-end}}

{{Prime Ministers of the Netherlands}}
{{Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands}}
{{State Secretaries for Defence of the Netherlands}}
{{De Jong cabinet}}
{{Zijlstra cabinet}}
{{Cals cabinet}}
{{Marijnen cabinet}}
{{De Quay cabinet}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jong, Piet de}}
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