Kees Staf

Cornelis "Kees" Staf (23 April 1905 – 10 September 1973) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Christian Historical Union (CHU) party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and businessman.

Kees Staf
Staf in 1950
Member of the Senate
In office 9 June 1959 – 20 September 1960
Parliamentary group	Christian Historical Union
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies
In office 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959
Prime Minister	Louis Beel
Preceded by	Anne Vondeling
Succeeded by	Victor Marijnen as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
In office 1 January 1958 – 13 January 1958 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Willem Drees
Preceded by	Sicco Mansholt
Succeeded by	Anne Vondeling
Minister of Defence
In office 13 October 1956 – 19 May 1959
Prime Minister	Willem Drees (1956–1958) Louis Beel (1956–1958)
Preceded by	Himself as Minister of War and the Navy
Succeeded by	Sidney J. van den Bergh
Minister of Colonial Affairs
In office 18 July 1956 – 16 February 1957
Prime Minister	Willem Drees
Preceded by	Willem Kernkamp
Succeeded by	Gerard Helders
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 3 July 1956 – 3 October 1956
In office 15 July 1952 – 2 September 1952
Parliamentary group	Christian Historical Union
Minister of War and the Navy
In office 15 March 1951 – 13 October 1956
Prime Minister	Willem Drees
Preceded by	Hans s'Jacob
Succeeded by	Himself as Minister of Defence
Personal details
Born	Cornelis Staf (1905-04-23)23 April 1905 Ede, Netherlands
Died	10 September 1973(1973-09-10) (aged 68) Arnhem, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Historical Union (from 1946)
Spouse	Bartha Moll ​ (m. 1931)​
Children	2 daughters
Alma mater	National Agricultural and Forestry College (Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Master of Science in Engineering) Technische Hochschule Breslau (Master of Engineering)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Agronomist · Agricultural engineer · Civil engineer · Economist · Researcher · Businessman · Corporate director · Nonprofit director
Military service
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch/service	Royal Netherlands East Indies Army
Years of service	1928–1929 (Conscription) 1929–1935 (Reserve)
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	Corps of Engineers
Battles/wars	Interbellum

Biography

Staf worked as student researcher at the National Agricultural and Forestry College from June 1926 until July 1928. Staf served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army as a Sergeant in the Corps of Engineers stationed in Sawah Besar from December 1928 until December 1929. Staf worked for the land reclamation Dutch Heidemaatschappij Company from December 1929 until January 1941 and was CEO and Chairman of the board of directors from November 1939 until May 1941, and he also worked as a civil servant for the province of Gelderland from August 1939 until May 1940.

On 24 January 1951 the Cabinet Drees–Van Schaik fell and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of 1951 when it was replaced by the Cabinet Drees I with Staf appointed as Minister of War and the Navy, taking office on 15 March 1951. Staf was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1952, taking office on 15 July 1952. After the cabinet formation of 1952 Staf continued as Minister of War and the Navy in the Cabinet Drees II, taking office on 2 September 1952. After the election of 1956 Staf returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 3 July 1956. Staf was appointed as Minister of Colonial Affairs following the death of Willem Kernkamp and dual served in both positions, taking office on 18 July 1956. After the cabinet formation of 1956 Staf continued in the post as the newly renamed Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Drees III, taking office on 13 October 1956. On 16 February 1957 Staf resigned as Minister of Colonial Affairs following the appointment of Gerard Helders but continued as Minister of Defence. Staf served as acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies following the appointment of Sicco Mansholt as the first European Commissioner from the Netherlands, serving from 1 January 1958 until 13 January 1958. The Cabinet Drees III fell on 11 December 1958 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Beel II with Staf continuing as Minister of Defence and also took over as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies, taking office on 22 December 1958. In January 1959 Staf announced that he would not stand for the election of 1959. Following the cabinet formation of 1959 Staf per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the Cabinet Beel II was replaced by the Cabinet De Quay on 19 May 1959.

Staf remained in active politics, he became a Member of the Senate after the death of Gualthérus Kolff, taking office on 9 June 1959. In August 1960 Staf announced that he would not stand for the Senate election of 1960 and continued to serve as a backbencher until the end of the parliamentary term on 20 September 1960.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Grand Officer of the Order of the House of Orange	Netherlands	11 July 1954
	Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II	Belgium	8 March 1957
	Commander of the Order of Merit	Portugal	17 November 1957
	Grand Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown	Luxembourg	28 April 1958
	Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	9 June 1959
	Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour	France	6 September 1963
	Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	30 April 1966

External links

Media related to Kees Staf at Wikimedia Commons

Official

• (in Dutch) Ir. C. (Kees) Staf Parlement & Politiek
• (in Dutch) Ir. C. Staf (CHU) Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal