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Delta Programme Commissioner

Wim Kuijken appointed Delta Programme Commissioner as of 1 February 2010.

As Delta Programme Commissioner Wim Kuijken will draw up, update and implement the Delta Programme on behalf of the cabinet. Including its financial consequences. The Delta Programme involves the long-term safety of our country and its freshwater supply. Mr Kuijken has been appointed for a term of seven years. 

Responsibilities of the Delta Programme Commissioner
The Delta Programme Commissioner:

  • makes an annual proposal for the Delta Programme and submits this to the coordinating member and other members of the administration involved with the programme;
  • promotes consultation with the administrative bodies, companies and civil society organisations involved;
  • monitors the progress of the implementation of the Delta Programme, reporting to and advising the coordinating member and other members of the administration.       

As Delta Programme Commissioner, Mr Kuijken has the responsibility to bring the parties involved (administrative bodies, companies and civil society organisations) together horizontally (within the Kingdom) and vertically (between the various tiers of government), in order to bolster a decisive approach. The Government Commissioner promotes the effecting and implementation of the Delta Programme and ensures that a support base is created for the measures and for the Delta Programme as a whole. 

As Delta Programme Commissioner, Mr Kuijken monitors and gives impetus to the political-administrative process surrounding the Delta programme but he does not hold any political (final) responsibility. This lies with the coordinating member of the administration, the Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management. The Delta Programme Commissioner will monitor the progress and implementation of the Delta Programme, reporting to the coordinating member of the administration on a regular basis. The Delta Commissioner reports directly to the Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management who – if necessary – submits decisions to the Council of Ministers. 

The Delta Programme Commissioner participates in the Delta Commission Ministerial Steering Group as an expert with an advisory vote (at a later date, this will be set down in mandate decrees).  The ministerial steering group, that is chaired by the Prime Minister, includes the Ministers of: Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM); Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV);  the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK); Economic Affairs (EZ) and Finance, as well as the Vice Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management.    

The Government Commissioner can advise the members of this Steering Group independently and if necessary propose that they use their authority to prevent delays in the progress of the Delta Programme.  

The Delta Programme Commissioner steers the Delta Programme in terms of cohesion and progress. He aims to create and maintain a support base for the measures and the Programme as a whole among all the administrative tiers involved. His focus is not only on the state but on all the parties involved in the Delta Programme. In this regard, the Delta Programme Commissioner regularly consults the administrative bodies involved and, if necessary, he can propose that they use their authority should the progress of the Delta Programme threaten to stagnate.  


The Delta Commissioner and his authority and duties are legally embedded in the Delta Act. The bill was submitted to the House of Representatives on 1 February 2010 and debated on 20 June 2011. On 28 June 2011, the House of Representatives adopted the bill for the Delta Act. On 29 November 2011, the Senate unanimously approved the Delta Act. This meant that the Delta Programme, the Delta Fund and the position of Delta Commissioner have legal status. The Delta Act has become effective on 1 January 2012. The position of Delta Commissioner was set down earlier in a Ministerial Order: Besluit betreffende de instelling van de deltacommissaris (Order Establishing the Position of Delta Commissioner)  dated 1 February 2010; Official Gazette no. 1574. The Council of Ministers appointed Wim Kuijken in November 2009 and, at the request of the House of Representatives, he took office earlier (before the final approval of the Delta Act) in order to start his work as quickly as possible.


Curriculum vitae Wim Kuijken

Name: Wilhelmus (Wim) Johannes Kuijken
Date and place of birth: 29 November 1952, Amsterdam

Education:

  • 1965-1972 Buitenveldert Lyceum; gymnasium [pre-university education] focusing on the sciences 
  • 1972-1978 Degree in Economics at the VU Amsterdam; specialising in Spatial Economics/Transport Economics       

Career:

  • 1979-1982 Policy Officer for spatial planning and provincial affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs;
  • 1982-1985 Ports Head Office, Directorate of Regional Economic Politics, Ministry of Economic Affairs;
  • 1985-1988 Head of the Secretary-General’s Office at the Ministry of the Interior;
  • 1988-1991 Director of Inter-administrative Affairs and Information, Ministry of the Interior;
  • 1991-1995 City Manager in The Hague;
  • 1995-2000 Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations;
  • 2000-2007 Secretary-General of the Ministry of General Affairs;
  • 2007-2009 Secretary-General of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management;
  • 2010-to date Delta Programme Commissioner.        

He is also Chair of the working group that advises the cabinet on more efficient water management and Chair of the Mobility and Water Innovation Council. Since  2006 he has also been Chair of the Secretaries General Council.

 

Oher positions

Secondary functions in addition to the position of Delta Commissioner (Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment; 32 hours a week):

  • ABD Top Consultant (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations; 6 hours a week);
  • Member of the Supervisory Board, De Nederlandse Bank N.V;
  • Member of the Advisory Council, Foundation De Hoge Veluwe National Park;
  • Member of the Board, Foundation Hermitage Amsterdam;
  • Member of the Foundation and Governing Boards, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education