Cals cabinet

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Dutch cabinet, 1965 to 1966

title: "Cals cabinet" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cabinets-of-the-netherlands", "1965-establishments-in-the-netherlands", "1966-disestablishments-in-the-netherlands", "1966-in-the-netherlands", "cabinets-established-in-1965", "cabinets-disestablished-in-1966"] description: "Dutch cabinet, 1965 to 1966" topic_path: "geography/netherlands" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cals_cabinet" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Dutch cabinet, 1965 to 1966 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox government cabinet"]

Field	Value
cabinet_name	Cals cabinet
jurisdiction	the Netherlands
image	Kabinet 1965-04-14 - SFA003001471.jpg
image_size	300px
caption	The installation of the Cals cabinet on 14 April 1965
image2	ZetelsCals.svg
image_size2	250px
date_formed
date_dissolved
in office
(Demissionary from )
government_head	Jo Cals
deputy_government_head	Anne Vondeling
Barend Biesheuvel
state_head	Queen Juliana
members_number	14
former_members_number	1
total_number	15
political_party	Catholic People's Party
(KVP)
Labour Party
(PvdA)
Anti-Revolutionary Party
(ARP)
legislature_status	Centre-left
Majority government
legislature_term	1963–1967
incoming_formation	1965 formation
outgoing_formation	1966 formation
previous	Marijnen cabinet
successor	Zijlstra cabinet
state_head_title	Monarch
government_head_title	Prime Minister
deputy_government_head_title	Deputy Prime Minister
::

The Cals cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 14 April 1965 until 22 November 1966. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP) and Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and the social-democratic Labour Party (PvdA) after the fall of the previous Cabinet Marijnen. The cabinet was a Centre-left coalition and had a substantial majority in the House of Representatives; prominent Catholic politician Jo Cals, a former Minister of Education, served as Prime Minister. Labour Leader Anne Vondeling served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Protestant Leader Barend Biesheuvel continued as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the responsibility for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs from previous cabinet.

The cabinet served in the middle of the tumultuous 1960s. Domestically it had to deal with the counterculture and implemented several major social reforms to social security, as well as closing the mines in Limburg and stimulating urban development in the Randstad. Internationally, the protests against the Vietnam War were a major point of attention. The cabinet suffered several major internal and external conflicts, including multiple cabinet resignations. The cabinet fell just 18 months into its term on 14 October 1966, following the Night of Schmelzer when Catholic Leader Norbert Schmelzer proposed a counter-motion that called for stronger austerity measures to reduce the deficit than those the cabinet had itself proposed. Prime Minister Cals saw this as an indirect motion of no confidence from his own party, and announced his resignation; the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Zijlstra.

Formation

Main article: 1965 Dutch cabinet formation

After the fall of the Marijnen cabinet, the confessional parties did not want snap elections because those could centre on the introduction of commercial television, the issue that led to the fall of the former cabinet. So a new cabinet was formed on the basis of the existing situation. A continuation of the Marijnen cabinet was considered to have too narrow a basis, so PvdA was asked to join in. As a result, CHU stepped out. But previous frictions between PvdA and KVP were overcome because there was a desire to form a cabinet fast, which was indeed done, in just over a month.

Term

After two decades of economic growth, this cabinet experienced a slight recession. Plans to build sports halls, roads and houses had to be tempered. In Limburg the coal mines were closed, and plans were devised to educate and re-employ the former miners.

There was also social unrest, which became apparent in the Provo movement, construction worker protests, riots over the marriage of Princess Beatrix in Amsterdam and the rise of new parties: the Farmers' Party (BP), the Pacifist Socialist Party (PSP), the Reformed Political League (GPV) and the Democrats 66 (D'66). The last party, especially, wished to change the political order..

On 14 October 1966 Norbert Schmelzer the Leader of the Catholic People's Party and Parliamentary leader of the Catholic People's Party in the House of Representatives proposed a Motion of no confidence against the cabinet and Prime Minister Jo Cals. A shocking and surprised action in Dutch politics, it marked the first time that a motion of no confidence was proposed against a cabinet of the same party. The cabinet resigned that evening.

Changes

On 5 February 1966 State Secretary for Defense for Air Force Affairs Jan Borghouts (KVP) died following a debilitating disease at the age of 55. On 22 June 1966 former Chairman of the United Defence Staff lieutenant general Heije Schaper, who until then had been working as Chief Adjutant in extraordinary service to Queen Juliana was installed as his successor.

On 31 August 1966 Minister of the Interior Jan Smallenbroek (ARP) resigned after he was involved in a traffic incident while driving under the influence. Minister of Justice Ivo Samkalden (PvdA) served as acting Minister of the Interior until 5 September 1966 when Koos Verdam (ARP), who until then had been working as a professor of Roman and International Private Law at the VU University Amsterdam was appointed as his successor.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/Staatsbezoek_president_Nyerere_van_Tanzania._Op_vliegveld_Soesterberg,_vlnr_Luns,_Bestanddeelnr_917-6689.jpg" caption="Prince Bernhard]] at [[Soesterberg Air Base]] on 21 April 1965."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/Minister_Luns_,Averill_Hariman(Links)_op_zijn_departement_ontvangen,Hariman(,_Bestanddeelnr_918-1380.jpg" caption="Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] on 3 September 1965."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/West-Duitse_minister_van_Buitenlandse_Zaken_Schröder_in_gesprek_met_minister_Lun,_Bestanddeelnr_918-4029.jpg" caption="Gerhard Schröder]] and Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Joseph Luns]] at a [[Western European Union]] conference in [[Brussels]] on 4 November 1965."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Mevrouw_Vijaya_Lakshmi_Pandit_en_minister_president_Cals_in_gesprek,_Bestanddeelnr_918-4415.jpg" caption="Indian diplomat [[Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit]] and Prime Minister [[Jo Cals]] at the [[Catshuis]] on 12 November 1965."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Receptie_op_Catshuis,Minister_President_Cals(rechts)_gesprek_met_Alain_Poher_e,_Bestanddeelnr_919-1891.jpg" caption="[[President of the European Parliament]] [[Alain Poher]] and Prime Minister [[Jo Cals]] at the [[Catshuis]] on 24 May 1966."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/Russen_te_gast_op_Catshuis,_rechts_naast_Cals_de_Russisch_ambassadeur_de_heer_To,_Bestanddeelnr_919-3094.jpg" caption="Soviet Ambassador [[Ivan Tugarinov]] and Prime Minister [[Jo Cals]] at the [[Catshuis]] on 30 June 1966."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/President_Bourguiba_in_het_Catshuis,_nummer_28_v.l.n.r._Luns,_Bourguiba_en_Cals,_Bestanddeelnr_919-3317.jpg" caption="Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Joseph Luns]], [[President of Tunisia]] [[Habib Bourguiba]] and Prime Minister [[Jo Cals]] at the [[Catshuis]] on 7 July 1966."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Vergaderingen,_ministers,_buitenlandse_betrekkingen,_Buono_Hamengkoe,_Luns,_JA,_Bestanddeelnr_083-0729.jpg" caption="Indonesian Minister for Economic Affairs]] [[Hamengkubuwono IX]] and Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Joseph Luns]] at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague on 5 September 1966."] ::

Cabinet members

::data[format=table]

Ministers	Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party	Minister without portfolio	Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Jo Cals 1966.jpg	120px	Jo Cals]]	Jo Cals
(1914–1971)	Prime Minister	General Affairs		14 April 1965 –
22 November 1966	[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Anne Vondeling 1971 (1).jpg	120px	Anne Vondeling]]	Dr.
Anne Vondeling
(1916–1979)	[Deputy
Prime Minister](deputy-prime-minister-of-the-netherlands)	Finance	14 April 1965 –
22 November 1966		Labour Party
Minister
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Barend Biesheuvel 1971.jpg	120px	Barend Biesheuvel]]	Barend Biesheuvel
(1920–2001)	[Deputy
Prime Minister](deputy-prime-minister-of-the-netherlands)	[Agriculture and
Fisheries](ministry-of-agriculture-nature-and-food-quality)		24 July 1963 –
5 April 1967
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Minister
Minister	Interior	• [Suriname and
Netherlands
Antilles Affairs](kingdom-of-the-netherlands)
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Jan Smallenbroek 1965.jpg	120px	Jan Smallenbroek]]	Jan Smallenbroek
(1909–1974)	Minister	Interior		14 April 1965 –
31 August 1966
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Ivo Samkalden 1966 (1).jpg	120px	Ivo Samkalden]]	Dr.
Ivo Samkalden
(1912–1995)	31 August 1966 –
5 September 1966
Labour Party
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Jacob Merkelbach, Afb 010164033006.jpg	120px	Koos Verdam]]	Dr.
Koos Verdam
(1915–1998)	5 September 1966 –
5 April 1967
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Joseph Luns 1966 (1).jpg	120px	Joseph Luns]]	Joseph Luns
(1911–2002)	Minister	Foreign Affairs		13 October 1956 –
6 July 1971
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Ivo Samkalden 1966 (1).jpg	120px	Ivo Samkalden]]	Dr.
Ivo Samkalden
(1912–1995)	Minister	Justice		14 April 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Joop den Uyl (1961).jpg	120px	Joop den Uyl]]	Joop den Uyl
(1919–1987)	Minister	Economic Affairs		14 April 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Piet de Jong 1970.jpg	120px	Piet de Jong]]	Captain
Piet de Jong
(1915–2016)	Minister	Defence		24 July 1963 –
5 April 1967
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Gerard Veldkamp 1964 (1).jpg	120px	Gerard Veldkamp]]	Dr.
Gerard Veldkamp
(1921–1990)	Minister	Social Affairs
and Health		17 July 1961 –
5 April 1967
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst 1966 (1).jpg	120px	Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst]]	Dr.
[Isaäc Arend
Diepenhorst](isaac-arend-diepenhorst)
(1916–2004)	Minister	[Education and
Sciences](ministry-of-education-culture-and-science-netherlands)		14 April 1965 –
5 April 1967
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Ko Suurhoff (1965).jpg	120px	Ko Suurhoff]]	Ko Suurhoff
(1905–1967)	Minister	[Transport and
Water Management](ministry-of-transport-and-water-management-netherlands)		14 April 1965 –
1 May 1966
Labour Party
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Pieter Bogaers 1968 (1).jpg	120px	Pieter Bogaers]]	Pieter Bogaers
(1924–2008)	1 May 1966 –
30 June 1966
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Ko Suurhoff (1965).jpg	120px	Ko Suurhoff]]	Ko Suurhoff
(1905–1967)	30 June 1966 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Pieter Bogaers 1968 (1).jpg	120px	Pieter Bogaers]]	Pieter Bogaers
(1924–2008)	Minister	[Housing and
Spatial Planning](ministry-of-housing-spatial-planning-and-the-environment-netherlands)		24 July 1963 –
22 November 1966
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Maarten Vrolijk (1965).jpg	120px	Maarten Vrolijk]]	Maarten Vrolijk
(1919–1994)	Minister	[Culture, Recreation
and Social Work](ministry-of-education-culture-and-science-netherlands)		14 April 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Theo Bot (1966).jpg	120px	Theo Bot]]	Theo Bot
(1911–1984)	Minister	Foreign Affairs	• [Development
Cooperation](development-aid)	14 April 1965 –
5 April 1967
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Theo Westerhout 1968 (1).jpg	120px	Theo Westerhout]]	Theo Westerhout
(1922–1987)	State Secretary	Interior	• Municipalities
• Provinces	12 July 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Leo de Block 1969 (1).jpg	120px	Leo de Block]]	Leo de Block
(1904–1988)	State Secretary	Foreign Affairs)	• European Union
• Benelux	3 September 1963 –
5 April 1967
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Max van der Stoel 1973 (2).jpg	120px	Max van der Stoel]]	Max van der Stoel
(1924–2011)	• United Nations
• [International
Organizations](international-organization)	22 July 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Wiel Hoefnagels 1965 (1).jpg	120px	Wiel Hoefnagels]]	Dr.
Wiel Hoefnagels
(1929–1978)	State Secretary	Finance	• Fiscal Policy
• Tax and Customs
• [Governmental
Budget](budget-memorandum-netherlands)	31 May 1965 –
22 November 1966	[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Staatssecretaris van Economische Zaken J.A. Bakker - NL-HaNA 2.24.01.05 0 915-3750 WM013.jpg	120px	Joop Bakker]]	Joop Bakker
(1921–2003)	State Secretary	Economic Affairs	• [Small and
Medium-sized
Businesses](small-and-medium-sized-enterprises)
• [Regional
Development](regional-development)	3 September 1963 –
22 November 1966
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Independent Catholic (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Gerard Peijnenburg 1983 (1).jpg	120px	Gerard Peijnenburg]]	[Gerard
Peijnenburg](gerard-peijnenburg)
(1919–2000)	State Secretary	Defence	• Army	13 May 1965 –
5 April 1967
Independent
[Christian Democratic
Catholic](christian-democracy-in-the-netherlands)
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Adri van Es aan boord van Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman.jpg	120px	Adri van Es]]	Vice admiral
Adri van Es
(1913–1994)	• Navy	14 August 1963 –
16 September 1972
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Peterborghouts.jpg	120px	Jan Borghouts]]	Colonel
Jan Borghouts
(1910–1966)	• Air Force	12 July 1965 –
5 February 1966
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Independent (politician)}};"		[[File:Heije Schaper als staatssecretaris.jpg	120px	Heije Schaper]]	Lieutenant general
Heije Schaper
(1906–1996)	22 June 1966 –
5 April 1967
Independent
Conservative Liberal
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:Louis Bartels 1965 (1).jpg	120px	Louis Bartels]]	Dr.
Louis Bartels
(1915–2002)	State Secretary	Social Affairs
and Health)	• [Primary
Healthcare](primary-health-care)
• Elderly Care
• Disability Policy
• Medical Ethics	3 September 1963 –
5 April 1967
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Catholic People's Party}};"		[[File:José de Meijer 1965 (1).jpg	120px	José de Meijer]]	Dr.
José de Meijer
(1915–2000)	• [Occupational
Safety](occupational-safety-and-health)
• [Public
Organisations](publiekrechtelijke-bedrijfsorganisatie)	15 November 1963 –
5 April 1967
[Catholic
People's Party](catholic-people-s-party)
Anti Revolutionary Party}};"		[[File:Hans Grosheide 1963 (1).jpg	120px	Hans Grosheide]]	Hans Grosheide
(1930–2022)	State Secretary	[Education and
Sciences](ministry-of-education-culture-and-science-netherlands)	• [Primary
Education](primary-education)
• [Secondary
Education](secondary-education)
• [Special
Education](special-education)	3 September 1963 –
6 July 1971
[Anti-Revolutionary
Party](anti-revolutionary-party)
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Sijbrandus Auke (Siep) Posthumus (1970).jpg	120px	Siep Posthumus]]	Siep Posthumus
(1910–1987)	State Secretary	[Transport and
Water Management](ministry-of-transport-and-water-management-netherlands)	• Rail Transport
• [Weather
Forecasting](royal-netherlands-meteorological-institute)	4 May 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"		[[File:Cees Egas 1965 (1).jpg	120px	Cees Egas]]	Cees Egas
(1913–2001)	State Secretary	[Culture, Recreation
and Social Work](ministry-of-education-culture-and-science-netherlands)	• Social Services
• Youth Care
• Nature
• Culture
• Art
• Recreation
• Sport	10 May 1965 –
22 November 1966	Labour Party
Source: Rijksoverheid.nl
::

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References

Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
(10 December 2010). "Kabinetscrisis 1966: de Nacht van Schmelzer". Parlement & Politiek.
(12 September 1991). "Misschien waren we allebei teveel boekhouder'". NRC Handelsblad.
{{in lang. nl [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/andere-tijden/afleveringen/2001-2002/50-Jaar-Televisie.html De Nacht van Schmelzer], Geschiedenis24, 15 October 2001
{{in lang. nl [http://www.parlement.com/9291000/modulesf/g1ibk1hl Kabinetscrisis 1966: de Nacht van Schmelzer], Parlement & Politiek, 24 December 2008
{{in lang

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