Piet Aalberse

Petrus Josephus Mattheus Aalberse
Minister of Labour
In office 25 September 1918 – 24 November 1922
Preceded by	none
Succeeded by	none
Minister of Labour, Trade and Industry
In office 24 November 1922 – 4 August 1925
Preceded by	none
Succeeded by	Dionysius Adrianus Petrus Norbertus Koolen
Personal details
Born	27 March 1871 Leiden, Netherlands
Died	5 July 1948 (aged 77) The Hague, Netherlands
Political party	Roman Catholic State Party Catholic People's Party
Spouse(s)	Elisabeth Johanna Maria Schmier
Religion	Roman Catholic

Petrus Josephus Mattheus "Piet" Aalberse (27 March 1871 – 5 July 1948) was a Dutch politician, and the first Minister of Labour of the Netherlands, a position which later evolved into the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment.

Early life and education

He was born in Leiden to confectioner Bartholomeus Hendricus Johannes Aalberse and Johanna Kerkvliet. He attended a catholic elementary school in Katwijk and studied Dutch Language and Jurisprudence at Leiden University. After graduating in 1897, Aalberse became a lawyer and attorney in Leiden.

Political career

Aalberse was elected into the municipal council of Leiden in 1899, and became alderman of Marital Status, Social Affairs and Public Hygiene of the city in 1901. He gave up both positions in 1903, when he was elected into the House of Representatives for the constituency of Almelo. In the House, he was mainly concerned with policy regarding labour, trade and industry. After losing his seat in 1916, Aalberse briefly taught at the Delft University of Technology.

In 1918, Aalberse became the Netherlands' first minister of Labour, a position renamed minister of Labour, Trade and Industry in 1922. As minister, Aalberse was responsible for the introduction of child benefits for public servants, the introduction of a subsidy programme to stimulate private construction of residences, and the fixing of eight-and-a-half-hour work days and 48-hour working weeks. His term ended in 1925.

After serving as minister, Aalberse returned to the House of Representatives. In the House, he was leader of the Catholic group from 1931 to 1936, and served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1936 to 1937, when he lost his seat. Aalberse ended his political career as member of the Council of State, from 1937 to 1946.

Private life

On 21 July 1898, Aalberse married Elisabeth Johanna Maria Schmier, with whom he had seven daughters and one son.

He was member of the "Raad der Vereniging" of De Nederlandsche Padvinders from 1936 till 1947.^[1]

References

• Schemmel, B. "Netherlands ministries, etc.". Rulers.org. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
• Maassen, Joop. "Petrus Josephus Mattheus Aalberse". Biografisch Woordenboek van het Socialisme en de Arbeidersbeweging in Nederland (in Dutch). Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
• Doel en werkwijze. De Nederlandse Padvinders.

1. "Biography of Piet Aalberse". Parlement.com. Retrieved 28 April 2011.