Vincent Karremans
Vincent Pieter Geert Karremans is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. He has served as Minister of Economic Affairs since June 2025, and previously served as State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport from July 2024, both in the Schoof cabinet.
Early life and career
A native of The Hague, Karremans was raised in neighbouring Wassenaar. His mother died when he was 16 years old. He studied financial economics and corporate law at Erasmus University Rotterdam. As a student, he founded a business called Magnet.me, connecting companies with potential employees.Politics
Karremans was elected to the municipal council of Rotterdam in 2018 as the VVD's lead candidate. He drew attention during the campaign by appearing shirtless on a horse in a campaign video as a parody of US political ads. The second-largest party in the council, the VVD formed a coalition government with five other parties, bypassing plurality-party Livable Rotterdam. Karremans served as the VVD's leader in the council until he was appointed an alderman in the municipal executive in 2021. He starred in a campaign video inspired by movies produced by Marvel Studios ahead of the 2022 municipal election, after which he stayed on as the alderman tasked with enforcement, outdoor space, and mobility. During his term, he decided in favour of the construction of a third bridge across the Nieuwe Maas.After the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB formed the Schoof cabinet, Karremans was sworn in as State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport on 2 July 2024. His portfolio included medical ethics, World War II veterans, healthcare in the Dutch Caribbean, youth, preventive healthcare, narcotics, sports, mental healthcare, COVID-19, Municipal Health Services, suicide prevention, sustainable healthcare, and food and product safety. Karremans continued his predecessor's efforts to curb rising youth care costs. He called for a greater societal role in addressing minor issues, suggesting it could ease waiting lists for children with complex needs. As an initial goal, he sought to reduce the proportion of children receiving support from one in seven to one in ten. During Karremans's term, vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus was added to the free.
Following the PVV leaving the coalition government and the resignation of Economic Affairs Minister Dirk Beljaarts, Karremans was appointed to succeed him on 19 June 2025.