Jan Johannis Adriaan Berger

Jan Johannis Adriaan Berger (18 September 1918 – 6 September 1978) was a Dutch politician.[1] During WWII he hid people who were supposed to be shipped off to Germany as forced labourers.[1] In 1946 he became a member of the Labour Party.[1] On 15 July 1952 he became a member of the lower house.[1] As member of the lower house he represented his party in matters of social security.[1] He spent much effort on the creation and passing of the Algemene Ouderdomswet.[1] The minister of social security and health care even proposed to name the bill after Berger but he refused as he feared this would alienate its Christian supporters.[1][2] On 21 September 1954 Berger left the lower house.[1] On 20 March 1959 Berger returned to the lower house, he also was a member of the party leadership in this period.[1] He was approached for the position of parliamentary leader but refused the job.[1] From on 1961 Berger represented the interest of the North Netherlands.[1][3] On 3 July 1962 he became a member for the states-provincial, representing Groningen, he was immediately made parliamentary leader.[1] On 1 June 1965 Berger became mayor of Groningen.[1][4] On 11 May 1971 he became a member of the lower house for the third and final time, this time for DS’70,[4] permanently leaving on 1 April 1975.[1][4] He died on 6 September 1978.[1]

Berger as mayor

Berger was married to Willy Maliepaard, this union produced to sons and a daughter.[1]