D66’s Van Berkel Resigns Amid CV Discrepancies, Entitled to Two Years of Benefits

Nathalie van Berkel has resigned from her positions as a member of the Dutch Parliament (Tweede Kamer) and as a candidate for State Secretary of Finance following revelations of inaccuracies in her curriculum vitae. Despite her short tenure, she is eligible for two years of unemployment benefits.

Resignation and Initial Response

Van Berkel submitted her resignation on February 17, 2026, after discrepancies were reported in her LinkedIn profile and other CVs regarding her educational background. NU.nl reported that she had previously claimed to hold a master’s degree in public administration from Leiden University, but only completed a propedeuse at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and did not finish the admission process for the master’s program.

Van Berkel stated on X (formerly Twitter) that it was never her intention to misrepresent her qualifications. NL Times noted she issued a statement confirming her resignation.

Political Fallout and Party Response

The situation prompted criticism from opposition parties, with JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans calling for her immediate resignation. D66 leader Rob Jetten expressed regret over her withdrawal as a candidate for State Secretary, calling it a “courageous” and “sensible” decision. Social Nieuws highlighted Jetten’s comments on the matter.

Prior to the controversy, Van Berkel had been considered a promising figure within D66, initially positioned as the party’s second candidate during the parliamentary elections in October of the previous year, though she was later placed sixth on the candidate list by party members.

Financial Implications: Unemployment Benefits

Despite serving as a Member of Parliament for just over three months, Van Berkel is entitled to two years of unemployment benefits due to a specific rule regarding parliamentary tenure. Hart van Nederland reported that had she resigned a few days earlier, she would have been eligible for only six months of benefits.

The benefits are calculated as 80% of a Member of Parliament’s annual salary, including a year-end bonus but excluding holiday pay, for the first year, and 70% for the second year. This translates to a maximum of approximately €8,780 gross per month in the first year and €7,682 gross per month in the second year. Any income earned from new employment during this period will be deducted from the benefit amount.