Nellien de Ruiter

De Ruiter studied architecture at the Delft University of Technology.^[2] She worked at the National Spatial Planning Agency and later as head of the planning department at the Zuiderzee Works Service. In the 1960s, she was a research assistant at the Delft University of Technology.^[3]

In the 1970 Dutch provincial elections in South Holland, De Ruiter was a candidate for the Christian Historical Union (CHU). She was not elected directly but joined on 15 December 1971 as a replacement. She remained a member of the Provincial council until 31 December 1977.^[1]

In the 1971 Dutch general election, De Ruiter was not immediately elected but joined as a replacement on 11 April 1972. In the 1972 Dutch general election, De Ruiter was placed eleventh on the candidate list and was not elected. On 7 December 1972, she left the House.^[1]

After her time as an MP, De Ruiter became a municipal councillor and alderman in Voorschoten on 3 September 1974. Due to other commitments, she sometimes arrived late and unprepared for meetings, which raised concerns about her performance. After less than a year, she resigned, feeling unsupported by her party.^[1]

In 1978, De Ruiter resigned from the CHU. She disagreed with the first Van Agt cabinet, formed during the 1977 Dutch cabinet formation, in which the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) – a merger of the CHU and two other Christian parties – and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) participated. She specifically objected to CDA leader Dries van Agt.^[1]

De Ruiter served on various boards, including the Council for Spatial Planning.^[2] She accepted a request from PPR Minister Harry van Doorn^[4] to chair the government commission for the International Women's Year (1975).^[3][5][6] In 1979, she became the chairwoman of FIOM, an organization offering assistance for pregnancy and single parenthood.^[2]

She was the daughter of Kunera Gerwig and school principal Jo de Ruiter, who later became the CHU politician in the House of Representatives.