About Mr. Dr. Ab Klink

After completing his secondary education he studied sociology at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, graduating in 1985. In 1991 he was awarded a doctorate in law from Leiden University for his thesis 'Christian Democracy and the State: the Christian Democratic Political Philosophy and its Implications for Constitutional and Administrative Law'.

From 1985 to 1992 Dr. Klink worked for the policy institute of the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA). He subsequently served at the Ministry of Justice, first as a policy officer in the Office of the Secretary-General, then as an adviser to the General Legislation Policy Division, policy coordinator in the Administration of Justice (Development) Department, and finally deputy director of the Administration of Justice Department. In 1999 he returned to the CDA policy institute, this time as director. From 2003 to 2007 he was a member of the Senate of the States General.

Dr Klink has also sat on the board of the association of Protestant secondary schools in Rotterdam.

On 22 February 2007 Dr Klink was appointed Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in the fourth Balkenende government.

Abraham (Ab) Klink was born in Stellendam on 2 November 1958.