Jan Anthonie Bruijn will resign on September 5 as Chair of the Senate because he will become Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in the caretaker Schoof cabinet. Bruijn has been Chair since July 2, 2019. From 2012 to 2019, he was a senator for the VVD party and vice-chair of the permanent Senate committee for Health, Welfare and Sport. In addition to his work for the Senate, Bruijn was a professor of immunopathology at the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden.
Princes Day
Bruijn was elected Chair of the Senate twice. He presided over more than 230 plenary debates on meeting days. He did this at three locations: the Binnenhof in the years before the renovation, the Ridderzaal during the pandemic, and at Kazernestraat 52, the current temporary accommodation of the Senate. Additionally, he chaired the United Assembly on Princes Day six times, in recent years at the Royal Theatre due to the renovation of the Binnenhof.
International
As Chair, Bruijn received various high-ranking guests on behalf of the States General, from King Felipe VI of Spain to President Macron of France. Memorable was the visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister Zelensky in 2023. In his speech, Bruijn said that the way the Ukrainian people defended their territorial integrity and autonomy filled him with awe. Bruijn undertook several parliamentary trips. He visited the parliaments of Belgium, Germany, and Sweden with House Chair Vera Bergkamp and House Chair Martin Bosma and participated in chair conferences in Budapest and Mallorca. In the spring of 2025, he made a working visit to Caribbean Netherlands on behalf of the States General, together with House Chair Bosma.
Enthusiasm
‘I have fulfilled the role of Chair with incredible pleasure and enthusiasm,’ says Bruijn. ‘The debates in the Senate are conducted in a civilized manner and are of a high substantive level. It was an honor to lead the debates as Chair. Princes Day and state visits were also special to experience. I finally have good memories of the annual Third Chamber debates, where students accompanied by senators debate topics that are close to them. This shows how important it is to involve everyone from young to old in the work of the Senate. After all, decisions are made here about laws that affect us all.’
Vice-Chair Mei Li Vos (GroenLinks-PvDA) will be the acting Chair from September 5. She will also lead the United Assembly on Princes Day. An election will be organized this fall for a new Senate Chair.