Jaap Dijkstra

Jaap Dijkstra
Born
Jacob Dijkstra

(1943-04-03)3 April 1943
Oldelamer, Netherlands
Died7 January 2025(2025-01-07) (aged 81)
Deventer, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Occupationpolitician

Jacob "Jaap" Dijkstra (3 April 1943 – 7 January 2025) was a Dutch was a Dutch politician and administrator. He was a member of the Provincial executive of Overijssel for the Labour Party (PvdA) for fourteen years and temporarily fulfilled the role of acting mayor of Olst.

Career

Dijkstra was elected as a member of the Provincial executive in the province of Overijssel in 1978. He was active there until 1996, including the last fourteen years as a board member.[1] He focused mainly on culture and social policy. In October 1997, Dijkstra was appointed acting mayor of Olst, a position he held until 1999.[2] Dijkstra was present at the opening of the Willy Dobbeplantsoen on 27 November 1997, an initiative of the artist Wim T. Schippers.[3] Dijkstra was succeeded in 1999 by Cees Brekelmans.

After his political career, Dijkstra became director of the health insurer Groene Land in Zwolle, part of the Achmea group, in 2000.[4] He was also director of the Zorgkantoor Drenthe, Flevoland and West-Overijssel. In 2007 he was appointed as project manager for the Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie (Fund for Cultural Participation).[5]

After his retirement during the 2010s, he was leader of the PVDA selection committee in Olstwijhe.[6][7]

Personal life

Dijkste was an art lover and was involved in sculpting. After his retirement as a deputy, he was asked to organize a sculpture exhibition with self-assembled sculptures, which took place from May to June 1997.[1] He was also an advocate for art in public spaces.[2] He was a sculptor and a member of the sculpting group De Wilpse Klei. He exhibited in 2014-2015 together with painter Els Enke in the Holstohus in Olst.[8]

Dijkstra became Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion for his long-term commitment to various social areas, including politics, healthcare and culture.[9]

Dijkstra died in Deventer on 7 January 2025, at the age of 81.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Dat wat blijft gaat niet voorbij". drawingcentre.nl (in Dutch). 1997. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 "discussie avond over kunstwerken in olst". sallandcentraal.nl (in Dutch). 14 January 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Willy Dobbeplantsoen, opening". herensocieteit-olst.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "Spookrijden in de gezondheidszorg". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 20 November 2000. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "BRIEF VAN DE MINISTER VAN ONDERWIJS, CULTUUR EN WETENSCHAP" (PDF). Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). 13 November 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Toon Schuiling lijsttrekker PvdA Olst-Wijhe". PvdA Olstwijhe (in Dutch). 2 December 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "ans otterloo stopt als wethouder". sallandcentraal.nl (in Dutch). 4 July 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Expositie van Els Enke en Jaap Dijkstra in het Holstohus". salland1.nl (in Dutch). 22 November 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  9. 1 2 "death announcement". de Stentor (in Dutch). January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.