Kars Veling

Kars Veling
Leader of the Christian Union in the House of Representatives
In office 23 May 2002 – 12 November 2002
Preceded by	Leen van Dijke
Succeeded by	André Rouvoet
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 23 May 2002 – 12 November 2002
Leader of the Christian Union
In office 17 January 2001 – 12 November 2002
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	André Rouvoet
Member of the Senate
In office 11 June 1991 – 15 May 2002
Leader of the Reformed Political League in the Senate
In office 11 June 1991 – 8 June 1999
Preceded by	Jan van der Jagt
Succeeded by	Egbert Schuurman
Personal details
Born	(1948-06-30) 30 June 1948 Groningen, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Union (from 2002)
Other political affiliations	Reformed Political League (1970–2002)
Residence(s)	The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	University of Groningen (Bachelor of Mathematics, Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy) Leiden University (Doctor of Philosophy)
Occupation	Politician · Theologian · Philosopher · Historian · Researcher · Author · Activist · Nonprofit director · Academic administrator · Professor

Kars Veling (born 30 June 1948) is a retired Dutch politician and philosopher. A member of the Reformed Political League (GPV) and later Christian Union (CU), he served as Leader of the Christian Union from 2001 to 2002.

Education

Veling followed the HBS-B education in Groningen, the town where he was born. After finishing the HBS, he studied Mathematics, physics and astronomy at the University of Groningen, where he received his candidate exam (comparable with a bachelor's degree). After that he studies philosophy and promoted at the faculty of social sciences of the University of Leiden in 1982.

Career

After finishing his study in Groningen in 1969, Veling started as a teacher in mathematics for five years in Groningen. From 1972 until 1987 he taught philosophy at the Gereformeerde Sociale Academie (Reformed Social Academy) in Zwolle. He was vice director of that academy from 1974 until 1980. He was also lector at the theological Kampen Theological University of the Reformed Churches (Liberated) from 1972 until 1987, when he became special professor at the same university (dissertation: Methodologie en de grondslagen van een pluriforme sociologie (methodology and the foundations of a pluriform sociology)).

In 1988 Veling became vice rector of the reformed high school-group Prof.dr. S. Greijdanus in Zwolle for seven years. From 11 June 1991 until 12 November 2002 Veling was member of the Dutch Parliament. Until 16 May 2002 he was member of the First Chamber (Senate) of the Parliament, the rest of the time member of the Second Chamber and president of the fraction of the Christen Union. First, Veling represented the GPV in the parliament, and after the fusion with the RPF he was fraction president of the joint fraction of GPV and RPF and after the May 2002 elections the Christen Union.

After his party lost the elections of November 2002, Veling stepped down from the politics, and returned in June 2003 to education. He became rector of the Johan de Witt College school group in The Hague.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	30 June 2016	Elevated from Knight (12 November 2002)

External links

Official

• (in Dutch) Dr. K. (Kars) Veling Parlement & Politiek
• (in Dutch) Dr. K. Veling (ChristenUnie) Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal