Fred de Graaf

Godefridus Jan "Fred" de Graaf (born 28 February 1950) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and jurist.

Fred de Graaf
Fred de Graaf in 2011
Mayor of Heerde
In office 16 October 2017 – 1 January 2019 Acting
Preceded by	Inez Pijnenburg
Succeeded by	Jacqueline Koops-Scheele
Mayor of Enschede
In office 1 January 2015 – 1 October 2015 Acting
Preceded by	Peter den Oudsten
Succeeded by	Onno van Veldhuizen
Mayor of Amstelveen
In office 1 January 2014 – 3 July 2014 Acting
Preceded by	Jan van Zanen
Succeeded by	Mirjam van 't Veld
Mayor of Bronckhorst
In office 1 October 2013 – 1 January 2014 Ad interim
Preceded by	Henk Aalderink
Succeeded by	Henk Aalderink
President of the Senate
In office 28 June 2011 – 2 July 2013
Preceded by	René van der Linden
Succeeded by	Ankie Broekers-Knol
Parliamentary leader in the Senate
In office 14 October 2010 – 15 February 2011
Preceded by	Uri Rosenthal
Succeeded by	Loek Hermans
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Member of the Senate
In office 10 June 2003 – 9 June 2015
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Mayor of Apeldoorn
In office 16 February 1999 – 1 October 2011
Preceded by	Harm Bruins Slot
Succeeded by	Hans Esmeijer
Mayor of Udenhout
In office 16 September 1996 – 1 January 1997 Ad interim
Preceded by	Wim Dijkstra
Succeeded by	Gerrit Brokx (as Mayor of Tilburg)
Mayor of Helvoirt
In office 1 October 1995 – 1 January 1996 Ad interim
Preceded by	Piet Berkhout
Succeeded by	Hans Haas (as Mayor of Haaren)
Mayor of Vught
In office 16 January 1989 – 16 February 1999
Preceded by	Dirk Reitsma
Succeeded by	Iz Keijzer
Mayor of Leersum
In office 16 June 1981 – 16 January 1989
Preceded by	Hans Goudsmit
Succeeded by	Cokkie Feith-Hooijer
Personal details
Born	Godefridus Jan de Graaf (1950-02-28) 28 February 1950 Roosendaal, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (since 1976)
Spouse(s)	Harma van Buizen ​ (m. 1973)​
Children	2 daughters
Residence	Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Alma mater	University of Groningen (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Jurist · Nonprofit director

De Graaf a jurist by occupation, worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of the Interior from 1975 until 1981. He was as a member of the municipal council of Voorschoten from 1978 to 1981. Afterwards he served as Mayor of Leersum from 16 June 1981 until 16 January 1989 when he became Mayor of Vught, serving until 16 February 1999 when he became Mayor of Apeldoorn, serving until his resignation on 1 October 2011. He served as the Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Senate from 14 October 2010 until 15 February 2011. In the Dutch Senate election of 2011, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy won the most seats and De Graaf was selected as next President of the Senate.[1] De Graaf announced his resignation as President of the Senate of the Netherlands following criticism on his neutrality; he remained in office until Ankie Broekers-Knol was elected as successor.[2] He presided the coronation of King Willem-Alexander on 30 April 2013.