Liane den Haan

Natalia Liane den Haan (born 24 August 1967) is a Dutch politician and former nonprofit director. She has been leading the pensioners' party 50PLUS since late 2020, succeeding Henk Krol.

In this Dutch name, the surname is Den Haan, not Haan.
Liane den Haan
Member of the Woerden municipal council
In office
16 March 2006[1] – 11 March 2010[2]
Personal details
Born
Natalia Liane den Haan[3]

(1967-08-24) 24 August 1967
Woerden, Netherlands
Political party50PLUS (since 2020)
Other political
affiliations
Children3

She was the managing director of LGBT rights organization COC Nederland from 2001 to 2004 and subsequently filled that same position at senior advocacy group ANBO. She left the latter organization after she had been elected 50PLUS lijsttrekker in the 2021 general election by its members in October 2020. Den Haan has also held a seat in the Social and Economic Council (SER) and in the Woerden municipal council for four years as a member of Democrats 66 and the Labour Party.

Early life and career

Den Haan was born on 24 August 1967 in Woerden in the province Utrecht.[2] She attended the secondary schools Kalsbeek College and Minkema College, located in the same town, at mavo and havo level.[4][5] She subsequently studied nursery at a university of applied sciences and worked as a hospital nurse.[6][3] Den Haan's father died when she was 18 years old.[7] In 1991, after studying business administration, she took a job as manager at a catering and party service company.[6][8] Thereafter, she worked at several recruitment agencies in the positions of manager, senior consultant, and eventually CEO at The Office Managers.[8][9]

Den Haan became the managing director of COC Nederland, an LGBT rights organization, in 2001.[10] In an interview, she told that she had chosen for the federation because she wanted to work at a more idealistic place.[11] Den Haan managed to put the COC's finances and membership records in order, but the organization's problems returned while she was on maternity leave.[10] Because of this, she advocated management reforms.[10][12] Subsequently, the board of directors suspended her in spring 2004 and started a dismissal procedure, arguing that her leadership had resulted in a budget deficit and that she had pitted employees of COC against the board.[13][10] A local judge determined that the suspension was unjust, as no proof was found to support the accusations.[10] During an emergency general meeting in July, Den Haan was voted out by the COC's members, while the board resigned.[14] She left her post on 1 November.[15] The internal quarrel was one of the reasons for the establishment of the competing organization Homo LesBische Federatie Nederland.[13]

ANBO (2005–2020)

In May 2005, Den Haan started working as managing director of ANBO, an organization with over 150,000 members advocating for the interests of the elderly.[16] She managed to eliminate its €3 million debt in her first few years there.[17][18]

ANBO became an affiliate of the trade union federation FNV in 2009 after the organizations had cooperated on multiple issues.[19] The move was supported by Den Haan, who argued that it would give ANBO more tools to serve the interests of the elderly.[20] It also resulted in Den Haan receiving a seat in the Social and Economic Council (SER).[21] Under her leadership, ANBO moved powers from its chapters to its members.[17] Members of the management of the Overijssel division who had criticized those reforms were expelled. According to Den Haan, the reason was that they were unable to explain the division's finances, but a judge determined three removals were unjust.[21][22] When the organizational structure of the FNV was reformed in 2013 after internal struggles, ANBO ended its membership. Den Haan stated that the largest subsidiaries would keep their disproportional influence and that she wanted subsidiaries to have more say in issues in their respective areas of specialty.[23]

In September 2015, ANBO's management blocked access to the bank accounts and member registries of its nearly 400 chapters after at least €200,000 had been embezzled and a letter had been sent calling to embezzle more.[24] That led to the departure and expulsion of many volunteers in chapter managements, to the establishment of local alternative organizations, and to calls for Den Haan's resignation.[24][25] Volunteers said their integrity had been publicly put into doubt and called it part of an effort to diminish the power of the chapters.[26] The number of ANBO members decreased from 180,000 to 125,000 in the following months, causing the organization to lose its position as the largest Dutch interest group for seniors to the Catholic Unie KBO.[27] In July 2016, ANBO's management disbanded all its chapters.[28]

The advocacy group joined the Trade Union Federation for Professionals (VCP) in 2017.[29] Den Haan again became a member of the SER when the VCP received a second seat the following year, but left the advisory body in the first half of 2019.[30][31] Den Haan quit as ANBO director at the end of December 2020 because of her position at 50PLUS.[32]

Politics

Den Haan first appeared on the ballot during the March 2006 municipal election in the town Woerden. She was placed second on the party list of Democrats 66 (D66) and was elected to the municipal council.[33] The following year, she switched to the Labour Party (PvdA), which cooperates in the Woerden municipal council with GroenLinks under the name Progressief Woerden.[34][35] Den Haan was not re-elected in the 2010 elections, being placed seventh on the party list, but she remained a staffer assisting the caucus.[36][37][38] She was on Progressief Woerden's party list once more in 2014, being their sixteenth candidate.[39]

50PLUS party leader

In July 2020, Den Haan was asked by 50PLUS chair Jan Nagel to apply for the position of lijsttrekker in the 2021 general election. She was not a member of the party.[40] 50PLUS had been without a leader since Henk Krol had left the party in May to establish the Party for the Future. The party's leadership put Den Haan forward as their preferred lijsttrekker during a press conference in August after fourteen candidates had applied.[41] During an online convention on 3 October, she won the member election with 52% of the 362 votes and thus officially became the party's lijsttrekker. Five other people ran for the position including members of parliament Corrie van Brenk, who received 42% of the vote, and Léonie Sazias. However, the latter dropped out and endorsed Den Haan to prevent Van Brenk from winning.[42] Before the election, 50PLUS had opposed reforms of the pension system proposed by the cabinet, unions, and employers' associations, but Den Haan had supported them while she was ANBO director.[42][43] After the election program was released, Den Haan called it a done deal and said that she wanted the party to be involved in working out the details of the reforms.[44]

Personal life

Den Haan lives in Woerden, is divorced and has three children.[5][6] During her marriage, she bore the last name Wubbels.[16]

References
  1. "Annemiek en Liane: 'stuivertje wisselen'" [Annemiek and Liane: 'reshuffling']. D66 Woerden (Press release) (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. "N.L. (Liane) den Haan". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Parlementair Documentatie Centrum. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. "CV en motivatie Liane den Haan" [CV and motivation Liane den Haan] (PDF). 50PLUS (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. "Liane den Haan". Kalsbeek College (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. Sneijder, Rik (20 October 2020). "Wie is Liane den Haan (53), het nieuwe gezicht van 50Plus? 'Ik ga niet met modder gooien'" [Who is Liane den Haan (53), the new face of 50PLUS?]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  6. Den Haan, Liane (19 August 2017). "Als herboren" [Almost reborn]. AD Groene Hart (Interview) (in Dutch). Interviewed by Femke Rodenburg. p. 7.
  7. 5 Uur Show. Season 1. Episode 36 (in Dutch). 5 October 2020. Talpa TV – via Kijk.
  8. Van Dorresteijn, Mark (24 January 2011). "Liane den Haan benoemd tot commissaris Vierstroom" [Liane den Haan named commissioner Vierstroom]. Zorgvisie (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. "Even voorstellen" [First an introduction]. Stichting Hart in Actie (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  10. Genovesi, Iñaki Oñorbe (17 July 2004). "COC-bestuur veroordeeld voor ontslag" [COC board convicted because of firing]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  11. Wubbels, Liane (1 July 2002). "Het vele overwerk bij het COC" [The large amount of overtime at COC]. Opzij (Interview) (in Dutch). Interviewed by Anke Manschot.
  12. Jungmann, Bart (17 June 2004). "COC staat nu voor Crisis Op Crisis" [COC now stands for Crisis on Crisis]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  13. "COC-directeur ten onrechte op non-actief gesteld" [COC director wrongly suspended]. NU.nl (in Dutch). ANP. 17 July 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  14. Hoogerwaard, John (2 August 2004). "Leden COC houden vast aan ontslag van de directeur" [Members COC insist on firing of director]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  15. "Directeur COC voerde geen wanbeleid" [COC director did not mismanage]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). ANP. 6 October 2004. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  16. Wubbels, Liane (4 May 2005). "Leeftijd speelt geen rol voor ANBO-directeur (37)" [Age is unimportant to ANBO director (37)]. Algemeen Dagblad (Interview) (in Dutch). Interviewed by Zvezdana Vukojevic. p. 7.
  17. Van der Aa, Edwin (25 September 2015). "Vele euro's weggesluisd, nooit meer teruggevonden" [Much money stolen, never found back]. De Stentor (in Dutch). p. 7.
  18. Oosting, Annique (10 October 2015). "ANBO volgt duidelijke koers" [ANBO follows a clear course]. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). p. 4.
  19. "ANBO sluit zich aan als bond bij FNV" [ANBO joins FNV as an affiliate]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). 7 May 2008. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  20. Wubbels, Liane (29 March 2008). "Ouderen schuiven aan maar gaan niet staken" [The elderly join but will not go on strike]. nrc.nl (Interview) (in Dutch). Interviewed by Hans Wammes. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  21. "Geding Ouderenbond tegen nieuwe bond" [Lawsuit elderly federation against new federation]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). 28 November 2012.
  22. Boonstra, Jelle (8 September 2014). "Rehabilitatie ANBO-afvalligen" [Rehabilitation of ANBO deserters]. De Stentor (in Dutch).
  23. "ANBO haakt af bij vernieuwing vakbeweging FNV" [ANBO pulls out of modernization union FNV]. NU.nl (in Dutch). ANP. 15 June 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  24. Baas, Thijs (29 September 2015). "Meer dan helft 3000 ANBO-bestuurders inmiddels vertrokken" [Over half of 3000 ANBO volunteers have left]. BNR Nieuwsradio (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  25. Voermans, Ton (21 October 2015). "Leegloop bij ANBO door ruzie" [Mass departure at ANBO because of quarrel]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  26. De Graaf, Peter (30 September 2015). "Directeur ouderenbond 'dictatoriaal'" [Director elderly federation 'dictatorial']. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  27. Voermans, Ton (17 December 2015). "ANBO verliest 56.000 leden" [ANBO loses 56,000 members]. Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). p. 4.
  28. Navis, Jan-Willem (4 August 2016). "Ouderenbond ANBO in geldnood" [Federation for elderly ANBO in financial trouble]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  29. "Vakbonden De Unie, Anbo en UOV sluiten zich aan bij de VCP" [Unions De Unie, Anbo, and UOV join the VCP]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). 22 June 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  30. Kok, Laurens (18 April 2018). "De politiek is onvoorspelbaar gebleken" [Politics has turned out to be unpredictable]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 16 and 17.
  31. "Overzicht raadsmededelingen en SER-activiteiten" [Overview board announcement and SER activities] (PDF). Social and Economic Council (in Dutch). 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  32. "Bestuur" [Management]. ANBO (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  33. "Van der Does wil nog wel vier jaar" [Van der Does wants four more years]. AD Groene Hart (in Dutch). 21 November 2005. p. 29.
  34. "50Plus draagt Anbo-voorzitter Liane den Haan voor als lijsttrekker" [50PLUS puts ANBO chair Liane den Haan forward as lijsttrekker]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). 17 August 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  35. Wubbels, Liane (21 April 2008). "Beste collega-raadsleden" [Dear fellow councillors] (PDF). Woerden (in Dutch). Letter to Gemeente Woerden. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  36. "Gemeenteraad 3 maart 2010" [Municipal council 3 March 2010]. Databank Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Kiesraad. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  37. "De PW Lijst" [The PW list]. Progressief Woerden (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 15 June 2010 – via Wayback Machine.
  38. "Progressief Woerden krijgt twee nieuwe fractieassistenten en Hendrie van Assem (IB) een K.O." [Progressief Woerden gets two new caucus assistents and Hendrie van Assem (IB) gets a royal decoration]. Progressief Woerden (Press release) (in Dutch). 24 September 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  39. "Raadsvoorstel 14R.00089" [Council proposal 14R.00089] (PDF). Gemeente Woerden (in Dutch). 21 March 2014. p. 5. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  40. Verlaan, Jos (17 August 2020). "50Plus wil nieuwkomer als lijsttrekker" [50Plus wants newcomer as lijsttrekker]. nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  41. Herter, Anna (17 August 2020). "Partijbestuur 50Plus draagt Liane den Haan voor als nieuwe lijsttrekker" [Party leadership put Liane den Haan forward as new lijsttrekker]. nrc.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  42. Boersema, Wendelmoet (3 October 2020). "Liane den Haan nieuwe lijsttrekker 50PLUS" [Liane den Haan new lijsttrekker 50PLUS]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  43. Brandsma, Jelle (2 October 2020). "50Plus twist over pensioen, een 'kroonjuweel'" [50PLUS quarreling about pensions, a 'crown jewel']. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  44. "50PLUS wil met nieuw programma niet alleen ouderen aanspreken" [50PLUS does not solely want to attract the elderly with new election program]. Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
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