Dutch Politician Withdraws from State Secretary Role Amid CV Discrepancies
Nathalie van Berkel has withdrawn her candidacy for the position of State Secretary for Finance in the incoming Dutch cabinet, following reports of inaccuracies in her curriculum vitae. The move, announced on Monday, February 16, 2026, comes as the prospective D66-VVD-CDA minority coalition seeks to establish credibility ahead of a challenging legislative agenda. This development underscores the importance of thorough vetting in political appointments, particularly in a government reliant on securing support for each piece of legislation.
Van Berkel, a member of the Democrats 66 (D66) party, was nominated by incoming Prime Minister Rob Jetten for the role. However, discrepancies emerged regarding her educational background, prompting her decision to step down “for the sake of a smooth start for the Cabinet,” according to a statement.
Reports from NL Times and NU.nl detailed that Van Berkel had claimed on LinkedIn to have earned a master’s degree in public administration from Leiden University, which was inaccurate. She actually holds a propaedeuse – a preliminary diploma – in public administration from The Hague University of Applied Sciences and did not complete the admission process for the master’s program at Leiden.
The inconsistencies were initially reported by de Volkskrant, which noted that multiple versions of her CV and LinkedIn profiles implied she had completed a university degree. Van Berkel revised her LinkedIn profile multiple times after being confronted by the media.
While D66 stated they were aware of Van Berkel’s incomplete studies, De Telegraaf reported that she as well provided inaccurate information to the General Administrative Service (ABD) when joining the executive board of the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV).
The opposition voiced strong criticism, with JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans calling for Van Berkel to step down immediately. Jetten emphasized the need for credibility among ministers and state secretaries in a minority coalition, where securing backing for every law is crucial.
Prior to the controversy, Van Berkel was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2025 general election, according to Wikipedia. She previously served on the executive board of the UWV and was chairperson of the Network of Public Service Providers. She has now also resigned from her seat in the House of Representatives, De Telegraaf reported.
