Piet Aalberse Sr.

His Excellency Piet Aalberse
Aalberse in 1918
Member of theCouncil of State
In office 10 November 1937 – 1 April 1946
Vice President	Frans Beelaerts van Blokland
Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 7 May 1936 – 9 November 1937
Preceded by	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
Succeeded by	Josef van Schaik
Leader of theRoman Catholic State Party
In office 31 May 1933 – 11 November 1937
Preceded by	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
Succeeded by	Laurentius Nicolaas Deckers
Parliamentary leaderin the House of Representatives
In office 15 September 1931 – 7 May 1936
Preceded by	Willem Hubert Nolens
Succeeded by	Carel Goseling
Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry
In office 1 January 1923 – 4 August 1925
Prime Minister	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
Preceded by	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck as Minister of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry Himself as Minister of Labour
Succeeded by	Dionysius Koolen
Minister of Labour
In office 25 September 1918 – 1 January 1923
Prime Minister	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Himself as Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry
Member of theHouse of Representatives
In office 15 September 1925 – 9 November 1937
In office 24 February 1903 – 21 June 1916
Personal details
Born	Petrus Josephus Mattheus Aalberse (1871-03-27)27 March 1871 Leiden,Netherlands
Died	5 July 1948(1948-07-05)(aged 77) The Hague,Netherlands
Political party	Catholic People's Party (from 1945)
Other political affiliations	Roman Catholic State Party(1926–1945) General League of Roman Catholic Caucuses(until 1926)
Spouse	Elisabeth Schmier ​ (m.1898)​
Children	Piet Aalberse Jr.(1910–1989) and 7 daughters
Alma mater	Leiden University (Bachelor of Laws,Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician·Civil servant·Jurist·Lawyer·Prosecutor·Researcher·Academic administrator·Nonprofit director·Editor·Author·Professor

Petrus Josephus Mattheus "Piet" Aalberse Sr.(27 March 1871 – 5 July 1948) was a Dutch politician of theGeneral League of Roman Catholic Caucuses,later theRoman Catholic State Party(RKSP) and later co-founder of theCatholic People's Party(KVP) and jurist. He was granted the honorary title ofMinister of Stateon 31 December 1934.

Alberse applied at theLeiden Universityin June 1891, majoring inLawand obtaining aBachelor of Lawsdegree in July 1893. He worked as a student researcher before graduating with aMaster of Lawsdegree in July 1897. Aalberse worked as a lawyer inLeidenfrom August 1897 until April 1901. Aalberse also worked as editor of the Catholic newspapersDe Tijdand theDe Maasbodefrom November 1898 until 25 September 1918. Aalberse served on themunicipal councilofLeidenfrom September 1899 until September 1918, and served as analdermanin Leiden from September 1901 until February 1903. Aalberse became a member of theHouse of Representativesafter the death ofHerman Schaepman,serving from 24 February until 21 June 1916. Aalberse worked as a professor ofAdministrative lawandLabour lawat theDelft Institute of Technologyfrom 21 June 1916 until 25 September 1918. After the1918 general election,Aalberse was appointed as the firstMinister of Labourin thefirst Ruijs de Beerenbrouck cabinet,taking office on 25 September 1918. After the1922 general electionAalberse continued as Minister of Labour in thesecond Ruijs de Beerenbrouck cabinet,taking office on 18 September 1922. On 1 January 1923, theMinistry of Labourand theMinistry of Agriculture,Commerce and Industrywere combined to form theMinistry of Labour,Commerce and Industry,with Aalberse continuing in the post as the newly renamedMinister of Labour,Commerce and Industry.After the1925 general election,Aalberse was not given a cabinet post in the newcabinet,the Cabinet Ruijs de Beerenbrouck II was replaced by theCabinet Colijn Ion 4 August 1925. Aalberse subsequently returned to the House of Representatives as afrontbencher,taking office on 15 September 1925. After the leader of theRoman Catholic State PartyandParliamentary leaderof the Roman Catholic State Party in the House of RepresentativesWillem Hubert Nolensannounced his retirement from national politics,Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouckwas nominated as his successor as leader and Aalberse was selected as Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, taking office on 15 September 1931. After the leader of the Roman Catholic State PartyCharles Ruijs de Beerenbrouckwas elected asSpeaker of the House of Representativeshe subsequently stepped down as leader in favor of Aalberse on 31 May 1933.

Biography

Early life

He was born inLeidentoconfectionerBartholomeus Hendricus Johannes Aalberse and Johanna Kerkvliet. He attended a Catholic elementary school in Katwijk and studied Dutch Language and Jurisprudence atLeiden University.After graduating in 1897, Aalberse became a lawyer and attorney in Leiden.

Politics

Alderman and House of Representatives

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 theHouse of Representativesfor the constituency ofAlmelo.In the House, he was mainly concerned with policy regarding labour, trade and industry. After losing his seat in 1916, Aalberse briefly taught at theDelft University of Technology.

Minister

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 fi xing 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.

Speaker of the House and Council of State

In the House, he was leader of the Catholic group from 1931 to 1936, and served asSpeaker of the House of Representativesfrom 1936 to 1937, when he lost his seat. Aalberse ended his political career as member of theCouncil of State,from 1937 to 1946.

Personal

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" ofDe Nederlandsche Padvindersfrom 1936 till 1947.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knightof theOrder of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	24 February 1911
	Commanderof theOrder of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	31 August 1938	Elevated from Officer (31 August 1911)
HonorificTitles
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Minister of State	Netherlands	31 December 1934	StyleofExcellency

References

• Schemmel, B."Netherlands ministries, etc".Rulers.org.Retrieved2007-02-16.
• Maassen, Joop."Petrus Josephus Mattheus Aalberse".Biografisch Woordenboek van het Socialisme en de Arbeidersbeweging in Nederland(in Dutch). Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis.Retrieved2007-02-16.
• Doel en werkwijze.De Nederlandse Padvinders.

External links

• (in Dutch)Mr. P.J.M. (Piet) AalberseParlement & Politiek