Willem den Toom (11 July 1911 – 13 December 1998) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

Willem den Toom
Den Toom in 1971
Minister of Defence
In office
5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971
Prime MinisterPiet de Jong
Preceded byPiet de Jong
Succeeded byHans de Koster
State Secretary for Defence
In office
25 November 1963 – 14 April 1965
Serving with Joop Haex
Adri van Es
Prime MinisterVictor Marijnen
Preceded byMichael Calmeyer
Succeeded byJan Borghouts
Personal details
Born
Willem den Toom

(1911-07-11)11 July 1911
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died13 December 1998(1998-12-13) (aged 87)
Amersfoort, Netherlands
Political partyPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(from 1963)
Spouse
Mijntje van Toorn
(m. 1930; died 1990)
Alma materRoyal Military Academy
OccupationPolitician · Air Force Officer · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Author · Editor · Political pundit · Activist · Lobbyist
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/serviceRoyal Netherlands Army
(1933–1953)
Royal Netherlands Air Force
(1953–1965)
Years of service1933–1963 (Active duty)
1963–1965 (Reserve)
Rank Lieutenant general
Battles/wars

Decorations

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Military decorations
Ribbon bar Decoration Country Date Comment
  War Memorial Cross Netherlands 5 May 1946
  Mobilisation War Cross Netherlands 1 June 1945
  Distinction sign for Long-term, Honest and Loyal Service Netherlands 1 May 1963 Honorable discharge
Honours
Ribbon bar Honour Country Date Comment
  Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 20 April 1965
  Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 17 July 1971

References

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Official
Political offices
Preceded by State Secretary for Defence
1963–1965
Served alongside:
Joop Haex
Adri van Es
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defence
1967–1971
Succeeded by
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
Office established
Chairman of the
Institute for Peace Issues

1969–1983
Succeeded by
Henk Neuman
as Chairman of the
Clingendael Institute