Dutch State Secretary Nominee Withdraws Over CV Discrepancies

Nathalie van Berkel, nominated to be State Secretary for Finance in the incoming Dutch cabinet led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten, has withdrawn her candidacy following revelations of inaccuracies in her curriculum vitae. The announcement came on Monday, February 16, 2026, just days before the planned swearing-in ceremony on February 23rd.

CV Controversy

Reports from NL Times and NU.nl highlighted that Van Berkel had claimed on LinkedIn and in her CV to have earned a master’s degree in public administration from Leiden University. This claim proved to be inaccurate. She holds a propedeuse (first-year diploma) in public administration from The Hague University of Applied Sciences and did not complete the admission process for the master’s program at Leiden.

Further investigation by Observatorial revealed inconsistencies regarding her studies at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, where she did not complete her law course or obtain her propaedeutic year.

Political Response and Withdrawal

The discrepancies prompted intense scrutiny from opposition parties, with JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans calling for Van Berkel to step down. Incoming Prime Minister Rob Jetten emphasized the importance of credibility for ministers and state secretaries, particularly in a minority coalition government where securing support for every law is crucial.

Van Berkel stated she was withdrawing “for the sake of a smooth start for the Cabinet.” She maintained that she did not intend to mislead, stating, “In my view, there is nothing to put right if I say that I studied law and public administration. I just did not complete my studies.”

Background

Nathalie van Berkel was born on August 25, 1982, in Tegelen, Netherlands. She was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2025 general election, representing the Democrats 66 (D66) party, according to Wikipedia. Prior to her election, she served on the executive board of the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).