Jan Terlouw

Jan Cornelis Terlouw (born 15 November 1931) is a retired Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 (D66) party and physicist and author.

Jan Terlouw
Jan Terlouw in 2014
Member of the Senate
In office 8 June 1999 – 10 June 2003
Parliamentary group	Democrats 66
Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland
In office 1 November 1991 – 1 December 1996
Monarch	Beatrix
Preceded by	Ad Oele (Ad interim)
Succeeded by	Jan Kamminga
Deputy Prime Minister
In office 11 September 1981 – 4 November 1982 Serving with Joop den Uyl (1982)
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Hans Wiegel
Succeeded by	Gijs van Aardenne
Minister of Economic Affairs
In office 11 September 1981 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Gijs van Aardenne
Succeeded by	Gijs van Aardenne
Leader of the Democrats 66
In office 1 September 1973 – 8 September 1982
Deputy	See list Hans van Mierlo (1973–1977) Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (1977–1982)
Preceded by	Hans van Mierlo
Succeeded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 1 September 1973 – 11 September 1981
Preceded by	Hans van Mierlo
Succeeded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst
Parliamentary group	Democrats 66
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 11 May 1971 – 11 September 1981
Parliamentary group	Democrats 66
Personal details
Born	Jan Cornelis Terlouw (1931-11-15) 15 November 1931 Kamperveen, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Democrats 66 (from 1967)
Spouse(s)	Alexandra van Hulst ​ ​ (m. 1956; died 2017)​
Children	Sanne Terlouw (born 1959) Ashley Terlouw (born 1960) 1 other daughter and 1 son
Residence	Twello, Netherlands
Alma mater	Utrecht University (Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Mathematics, Master of Physics, Master of Mathematics, Doctor of Science)
Occupation	Politician · Nuclear physicist · Mathematician · Researcher · Nonprofit director · Political pundit · Author · Professor
Military service
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch/service	Royal Netherlands Army
Years of service	1956–1958 (Conscription) 1958–1961 (Reserve)
Rank	Private first class
Battles/wars	Cold War

Terlouw studied Physics and Mathematics at the Utrecht University simultaneously obtaining Master of Physics and Mathematics degree and worked as a researcher at the FOM before finishing his thesis and graduated as a Doctor of Science in Nuclear physics. Terlouw worked as a nuclear physics researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from February 1960 until April 1962 and for the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) from August 1965 until December 1966. After the election of 1971 Terlouw was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 11 May 1971 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Economic Affairs and Science. After Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Hans van Mierlo announced he was stepping down Terlouw was unanimously selected as his successor on 1 September 1973.

For the elections of 1977 and 1981 Terlouw served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a cabinet formation with Christian-democratic Leader Dries van Agt and Labour Leader Joop den Uyl formed the Cabinet Van Agt II with Terlouw appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs taking office on 11 September 1981. The cabinet fell just seven months into its term and was replaced with the caretaker Cabinet Van Agt III with Terlouw continuing his offices. For the election of 1982 Terlouw again served as Lijsttrekker but shortly thereafter announced he was stepping down as Leader on 8 September 1982.

Terlouw continued to be active in politics and in December 1982 he was nominated as the next Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum (ITF) serving from 30 January 1983 until 15 October 1991. In October 1991 Terlouw was nominated as the next Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland serving from 1 November 1991 until 1 December 1996. Terlouw also became active in the public sector, and worked as a distinguished professor of Urbanization at the University of Amsterdam from January 1997 until January 2000. After the Senate election of 1999 Terlouw was elected as a Member of the Senate serving from 8 June 1999 until 10 June 2003 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for the Interior, Economic Affairs and Defence.

Terlouw retired from active politics at 71 but continued to be active in the public sector as a non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a distinguished professor of Literature at the Tilburg University from September 2003 until September 2004. Following his retirement Terlouw continues to be active as a advocate and activist for Social norms, Sustainable development, Animal welfare and for more European integration. Terlouw is known for his abilities as a skillful consensus builder and effective negotiator and continues to comment on political affairs as of 2021.

Terlouw has been active as a prolific author since the 1970's having written more than dozen young adult fiction books, his 1972 novel Winter in Wartime was adapted and released as a feature film in 2008.