drs. Maxime Verhagen

Chairman of Bouwend Nederland and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs

Maxime has been to many companies, and the wonderful thing is that they are also proud of the products they make and what they achieve. He looks at opportunities instead of problems.

Employability:: Chairperson of the day, Keynote speaker
Languages:: Dutch, English
Categories:: Corporate Governance

Corporate Social Responsibility

Economy

Governance & Management

Government and Politics

Sustainability & Environment

Sustainable Building

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About Maxime Verhagen

“I have always been fascinated by how our small country has been looking beyond the dikes for centuries and trading with the most exotic countries.” The current European cooperation and our relationship with the United States reflect that open perspective, says Maxime Verhagen, who laid the foundation for economic diplomacy and has been able to connect his interest in both policy areas as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. Verhagen now prefers the business sector over a public position, but he has ideas on how the cabinet can help the Netherlands out of the crisis: Eliminate the tax increases for businesses. Better a 3% loss of purchasing power for everyone than a 30% loss of income due to unemployment. According to Verhagen, it is important that we not only look at cuts but also at structural reforms that need to restore growth.

His desire to be active in the business sector comes from the fact that, aside from his network and experiences, he has become immensely intrigued by the entrepreneurial spirit in the Netherlands. Maxime has been to many companies, and the wonderful thing is that they are also proud of the products they make and what they achieve. They look at opportunities instead of problems. No whining, just tackling. They are now even more entrepreneurial than the Americans, and that used to be different!

His extensive career as a CDA politician and his study of contemporary history will serve him well. He was first a staff member of the House of Representatives and a municipal councilor in Oegstgeest. From 1989 to 1994, he was a Member of the European Parliament. After being a member of the House of Representatives for eight years, Verhagen became the faction leader of the CDA in 2002. In 2006, he handed over the chairmanship to Jan Peter Balkenende. He then became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Balkenende-IV cabinet and (until November 5, 2012) Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (and Deputy Prime Minister) in Rutte-I. Verhagen has played a role in almost all cabinet formations (except the last one) this century. Until 2023, he was the chairman of Bouwend Nederland.