“Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
Figure timeline
Ruud Lubbers
Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers was a Dutch politician, diplomat and businessman who served as prime minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994, and as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2001 to 2005. He was a member of the Catholic People's Party (KVP), which later merged to become the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
business · Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1982 to 1994 · economist · politician · diplomat · entrepreneur · peace activist · university teacher · also Ruud Lubbers, Ruud F.M. Lubbers, R.F.M. Lubbers, Lubbers
Born 7 May 1939 · Died 14 February 2018 · Q159840
45 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
12 photos · 2 audio
🔊 How to say “Ruud Lubbers”
Listen
Nl-Ruud Lubbers
NL-nl Ruud Lubbers
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 10 entries
“Every day we chose who we are by how we define ourselves.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“It is a myth that rape is an inevitable part of conflict… There is nothing inevitable about it. It is a weapon of war aimed at civilians. It has nothing to do with sex — everything to do with power. It is done to torture and humiliate innocent people and often very young children.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“The great thing about having a bunch of kids is that they just remind you that you're the person who takes them to go poop,”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“Without pain, there would be no suffering, without suffering we would never learn from our mistakes. To make it right, pain and suffering is the key to all windows, without it, there is no way of life.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“If every choice you make comes from an honest place, you’re solid, and nothing anybody can say about you can rock you or change your opinion.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“Love one person, take care of them until you die. You know, raise kids. Have a good life. Be a good friend. And try to be completely who you are. And figure out what you personally love. And like go after it with everything you've got no matter how much it takes.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“Figure out who you are separate from your family and the man or woman you're in a relationship with, Find who you are in this world and what you need to feel good alone. I think that's the most important thing in life. Find a sense of self because with that, you can do anything else.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
“It's not going to accomplish anything to cry.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
2025· 2 entries
Moviefone: Het geheim van Ruud Lubbers - Where to Watch
- #news
- #headline
UNHCR: Ruud Lubbers
- #news
- #headline
2024· 1 entry
It was revealed Lubbers died via euthanasia after having been diagnosed with vascular dementia some years prior
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2018· 3 entries
WRAL: Ruud Lubbers, Former Dutch Prime Minister, Is Dead at 78
- #news
- #headline
Digital Journal: Longest-serving Dutch prime minister Ruud Lubbers dies
- #news
- #headline
Died 2018-02-14.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
2010· 1 entry
Career landmark: informateur (2010–2010).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
2007· 1 entry
“Make bold choices and make mistakes. It’s all those things that add to the person you become.”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
2004· 1 entry
Which led to his resignation from the United Nations
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2002· 1 entry
Lubbers was criticised for his handling of a joint UNHCR/Save the Children UK report, which uncovered widespread sexual exploitation of refugee children by aid workers and peacekeepers in three West African countries (Li
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2001· 2 entries
Career landmark: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2001–2005).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Thereby covering his own $167,000 annual salary and travel expenses
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1995· 1 entry
Career landmark: Minister of State (1995–2018).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1994· 4 entries
Awarded Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (1994).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: Minister for Netherlands Antillean Affairs (1994–1994).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
After leaving office in 1994, Lubbers was put forward as a candidate for the head of NATO, but the U.S. vetoed his appointment owing to concerns over his leadership abilities and lack of military experience (particularly in light of the ongoing conflicts in the Balkans).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
Lubbers was put forward as a candidate for the head of NATO, but the U
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1993· 1 entry
Awarded Orden wider den tierischen Ernst (1993).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1992· 1 entry
Lubbers engaged with the Earth Charter Initiative in cooperation with Mikhail Gorbachev and Maurice Strong
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1991· 1 entry
Won Robert Schuman Medal (1991).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
1989· 3 entries
Awarded honorary doctor of Georgetown University (1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Career landmark: member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (1989–1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Minister for Netherlands Antillean Affairs (1989–1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1986· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (1986–1986).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1982· 3 entries
After the general election won by Prime Minister Dries van Agt, a similar thing happened when Van Agt suddenly announced he would not serve for a third term
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Minister of General Affairs (1982–1994).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1982–1994).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1978· 2 entries
Awarded Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (1978).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Because of accusations that he had served in the Germanic-SS during the Second World War
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1977· 3 entries
Becoming senior deputy parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the alliance between the KVP and the other two main Christian parties
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (1977–1982).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (1977–1977).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1973· 2 entries
From 11 May 1973 to 19 December 1977, Ruud Lubbers was Minister of Economic Affairs in the Den Uyl cabinet and a member of the Catholic People's Party (KVP).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #life
- #politics
Career landmark: Minister of Economic Affairs (1973–1977).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1939· 1 entry
Born 1939-05-07.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth