Vincent Karremans

Vincent Karremans
Karremans in 2025
Minister of Economic Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 June 2025
Prime Minister	Dick Schoof
Preceded by	Dirk Beljaarts
State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport
In office2 July 2024 – 19 June 2025
Prime Minister	Dick Schoof
Minister	Fleur Agema
Preceded by	Maarten van Ooijen
Succeeded by	Judith Tielen
Member of the House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 November 2025
Alderman of Rotterdam
In office2 September 2021 – 1 July 2024
Member of the RotterdamMunicipal Council
In office29 March 2018 – 2 September 2021
Personal details
Born	Vincent Pieter Geert Karremans (1986-11-12) 12 November 1986 The Hague, Netherlands
Party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Children	2
Alma mater	Erasmus University Rotterdam
Occupation	Entrepreneur Politician

Vincent Pieter Geert Karremans (Dutch:[ˈvɪnsɛntˈkɑrəmɑns]; born 12 November 1986) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He has served as Minister of Economic Affairs since June 2025, and previously served as State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport from July 2024, both in the Schoof cabinet.^[1][2]

Early life and career

A native of The Hague, Karremans was raised in neighbouring Wassenaar. His mother died when he was 16 years old.^[3] He studied financial economics and corporate law at Erasmus University Rotterdam.^[3][4] As a student, he founded a business called Magnet.me, connecting companies with potential employees.^[3]

Politics

Karremans was elected to the municipal council of Rotterdam in 2018 as the VVD's lead candidate. He drew attention during the campaign by appearing shirtless on a horse in a campaign video as a parody of US political ads. The second-largest party in the council, the VVD formed a coalition government with five other parties, bypassing plurality-party Livable Rotterdam. Karremans served as the VVD's leader in the council until he was appointed an alderman in the municipal executive in 2021.^[4] He starred in a campaign video inspired by movies produced by Marvel Studios ahead of the 2022 municipal election, after which he stayed on as the alderman tasked with enforcement, outdoor space, and mobility.^[3][4] During his term, he decided in favour of the construction of a third bridge across the Nieuwe Maas.^[4]

After the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB formed the Schoof cabinet, Karremans was sworn in as State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport on 2 July 2024.^[4][5] His portfolio included medical ethics, World War II veterans, healthcare in the Dutch Caribbean, youth, preventive healthcare, narcotics, sports, mental healthcare, COVID-19, Municipal Health Services, suicide prevention, sustainable healthcare, and food and product safety.^[6] Karremans continued his predecessor's efforts to curb rising youth care costs. He called for a greater societal role in addressing minor issues, suggesting it could ease waiting lists for children with complex needs. As an initial goal, he sought to reduce the proportion of children receiving support from one in seven to one in ten.^[3] During Karremans's term, vaccination againstrespiratory syncytial virus was added to the free National Immunisation Programme.^[7]

Following the PVV leaving the coalition government and the resignation of Economic Affairs Minister Dirk Beljaarts, Karremans was appointed to succeed him on 19 June 2025.

Personal life

Karremans is married, and has two children.^[3]

References

1. "V.P.G. (Vincent) Karremans LL.M., MSc". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2024.
2. "CV dhr V Karremans". Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
3. Karremans, Vincent (27 November 2024). "Pijnlijke periode uit zijn jeugd leverde Karremans een inzicht op dat hem nu drijft als staatssecretaris. 'Ren niet gelijk naar een professional toe'" [Painful period in his youth gave Karremans insight that now drives him as state secretary. 'Don't immediately run to a professional']. NRC (Interview) (in Dutch). Interviewed by Oscar Vermeer. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
4. "VVD'er Vincent Karremans nu wel van Rotterdam naar Den Haag" [VVD member Vincent Karremans will finally move from Rotterdam to The Hague]. NOS (in Dutch). 14 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
5. "Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd" [Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in]. NOS (in Dutch). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
6. "Vincent Karremans". Government of the Netherlands (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2024.
7. Du Pré, Raoul (8 October 2024). "Kabinet zet licht op groen voor vaccinatie tegen RS-virus: eerste prikken vanaf volgend najaar" [Cabinet green-lights vaccination against RSV: First injections starting next year]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 October 2024.