Dirk Stikker

Dirk Stikker GCVO GBE
Stikker in 1964
3rd Secretary General of NATO
In office 21 April 1961 – 1 August 1964
Preceded by	Paul-Henri Spaak
Succeeded by	Manlio Brosio
Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to NATO and the OECD
In office 15 June 1958 – 21 April 1961
Preceded by	Eelco van Kleffens
Succeeded by	Hugo Scheltema
Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom
In office 10 September 1952 – 15 June 1958
Preceded by	Edgar Michiels van Verduynen
Succeeded by	Herman van Roijen
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952
Prime Minister	Willem Drees
Preceded by	Pim van Boetzelaer van Oosterhout
Succeeded by	Johan Beyen
Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 28 January 1948 – 7 August 1948
Leader	Pieter Oud
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Pieter Oud
Leader of the Freedom Party
In office 23 March 1946 – 28 January 1948
Leader	Himself
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office discontinued
Chairman of the Freedom Party
In office 23 March 1946 – 28 January 1948
Leader	Himself
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office discontinued
Member of the Senate
In office 20 November 1945 – 7 August 1948
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (1948) Freedom Party (1946–1948) Liberal State Party (1945–1946)
Personal details
Born	Dirk Uipko Stikker (1897-02-05)5 February 1897 Winschoten, Netherlands
Died	23 December 1979(1979-12-23) (aged 82) Wassenaar, Netherlands
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1948)
Other political affiliations	Freedom Party (1946–1948) Liberal State Party (1945–1946)
Spouse	Catharine van der Scheer ​ ​ (m. 1922)​
Children	Uipko Dirk Stikker (born 1924) Allerd Stikker (born 1928)
Alma mater	University of Groningen (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · civil servant · Businessman · Banker · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive

Dirk Uipko Stikker GCVO GBE (5 February 1897 – 23 December 1979) was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the defunct Liberal State Party (LSP), co-founder of the defunct Freedom Party (PvdV) and of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), and businessman. Stikker was known for his abilities as a manager and negotiator. Stikker continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death. He holds the distinction as the first Secretary General of NATO from the Netherlands.^[1]