Johan Kremers
Encyclopedia
Dr. Johan Kremers (May 10, 1933) was the Queen's Commissioner
of the Dutch province of Limburg
from 1977 to 1990.
, a village in the province of Limburg
, in the very south of The Netherlands. His father was a miner
who worked 37 years underground in the Laura mine in Eygelshoven
.
From 1951 to 1957 he studied psychology
at the Catholic University of Nijmegen (presently known als the Radboud University Nijmegen
). In 1960 he obtained his doctorate in social sciences
at the Nijmegen University. He was a scientific research worker at the psychological laboratory of the University of California
at Berkeley
in the United States
from 1960 up to 1961. From 1961 until 1972 he worked at the Catholic University of Nijmegen.
In 1972 Dr. Kremers became a member of the Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid, an independent think tank
for the Dutch government.
of the Dutch province of Limburg
. The province of Limburg was in turmoil then, because of the government-initiated mine closures
.
Unemployment within the province was extremely high, because many miners had been dismissed, but also because of the deteriorating (inter)national economic situation. In 1977 unemployment within the province of Limburg was twice as high as in The Netherlands as a whole.
As Queen's Commissioner Dr. Kremers conducted an active economic policy
to reduce the effects of the mine closures and to push back unemployment
.
The economic restructuring policy for the province of Limburg was aimed at:
In 1975 the provincial government commissioned an independent company, the Industriebank LIOF to support existing employment and attract alternative employment. Since 1975 this organization has brought over 100 companies to the province of Limburg.
In 1982 the provincial government drew up a plan to stimulate tourism in South Limburg. The plan was aimed at four specific fields: conference tourism, holiday tourism, water sports and recreational facilities for a day trip. Conference tourism was given a considerable boost with the building of the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC).
On May 16, 1990 Dr. Kremers resigned as Queen's Commissioner. The economy of the province of Limburg, although still weak, is in line with the national economy. Because of the successful economic policies Dr. Kremers is affectionately known in the province of Limburg as "Der Sjeng".
Group, a Dutch portfolio company
. He retired in December 1997.
Queen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
of the Dutch province of Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
from 1977 to 1990.
Early life
Johan Kremers was born on May 10, 1933 in NieuwenhagenNieuwenhagen
Nieuwenhagen is a former village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is now a part of the municipality of Landgraaf.Nieuwenhagen was a separate municipality until 1982, when it became a part of Landgraaf....
, a village in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
, in the very south of The Netherlands. His father was a miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
who worked 37 years underground in the Laura mine in Eygelshoven
Eygelshoven
Eygelshoven is a small village near the town of Kerkrade in the southeast of the Netherlands, close to the German and Belgian borders.It has two former coal mines, Laura and Julia, which were named after the wives of the two owners...
.
From 1951 to 1957 he studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the Catholic University of Nijmegen (presently known als the Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen
Radboud University Nijmegen is a public university with a strong focus on research in Nijmegen, the Netherlands...
). In 1960 he obtained his doctorate in social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
at the Nijmegen University. He was a scientific research worker at the psychological laboratory of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
at Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1960 up to 1961. From 1961 until 1972 he worked at the Catholic University of Nijmegen.
In 1972 Dr. Kremers became a member of the Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid, an independent think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
for the Dutch government.
Queen's Commissioner of the province of Limburg
On August 1, 1977 Dr. Kremers was appointed as Queen's CommissionerQueen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
of the Dutch province of Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
. The province of Limburg was in turmoil then, because of the government-initiated mine closures
Mining in Limburg
Coal mining in Limburg, a province of the Netherlands, has taken place since the 16th century.Near the Augustinian Abbey of Rolduc, coal is found very close to the surface. The abbey owned the coal, and beginning in the 16th century hired local miners to extract the coal for sale as fuel...
.
Unemployment within the province was extremely high, because many miners had been dismissed, but also because of the deteriorating (inter)national economic situation. In 1977 unemployment within the province of Limburg was twice as high as in The Netherlands as a whole.
As Queen's Commissioner Dr. Kremers conducted an active economic policy
Economic policy
Economic policy refers to the actions that governments take in the economic field. It covers the systems for setting interest rates and government budget as well as the labor market, national ownership, and many other areas of government interventions into the economy.Such policies are often...
to reduce the effects of the mine closures and to push back unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
.
The economic restructuring policy for the province of Limburg was aimed at:
- the creation of alternative employment within the already existing chemical factories of the mines.
- the stimulation of new industries.
- the relocation of a number of large government services form the seat of the government in The HagueThe HagueThe Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
to the province of Limburg.
In 1975 the provincial government commissioned an independent company, the Industriebank LIOF to support existing employment and attract alternative employment. Since 1975 this organization has brought over 100 companies to the province of Limburg.
In 1982 the provincial government drew up a plan to stimulate tourism in South Limburg. The plan was aimed at four specific fields: conference tourism, holiday tourism, water sports and recreational facilities for a day trip. Conference tourism was given a considerable boost with the building of the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC).
On May 16, 1990 Dr. Kremers resigned as Queen's Commissioner. The economy of the province of Limburg, although still weak, is in line with the national economy. Because of the successful economic policies Dr. Kremers is affectionately known in the province of Limburg as "Der Sjeng".
Later life
After his resignation as Queen's Commissioner Dr. Kremers became vice-chairman of the RobecoRobeco
Robeco is a Dutch asset management firm founded in 1929 as the Rotterdamsch Beleggings Consortium . By year end 2009, the company had over € 130 billion of assets under management. It was acquired in 2001 by the Rabobank Groep.Robeco offers assets management services to both institutional and...
Group, a Dutch portfolio company
Portfolio company
A portfolio company is a company or entity in which a venture capital firm, buyout firm, holding company, or other investment fund invests. All of the companies currently backed by a private equity firm can be spoken of as the firm’s portfolio....
. He retired in December 1997.
See also
- Queen's CommissionerQueen's CommissionerThe Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...