Kajsa Ollongren

Associate Fellow, Europe Programme

Biography

Kajsa Ollongren served in the Netherlands as Minister of Defence (2022–24) and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (2017–22) in two consecutive Rutte cabinets, also holding the role of Deputy Prime Minister (2017–22).

Previously, she was an alderwoman and deputy mayor of Amsterdam. Having entered the Dutch civil service in 1992, she served as the Deputy Secretary-General (2007–11) and Secretary-General (2011–14) within the prime minister’s office.

She studied history at the University of Amsterdam, international relations at the Clingendael Institute and public administration at the École Nationale d’Administration in Paris. Ollongren is a dual Dutch and Swedish national.