reason was that he had lost the credibility to remain in office after the House of Representatives was highly critical in his handling of the rising inflation after the introduction of the value-added tax (BTW) on 1 January 1969. Minister of Finance Johan Witteveen (VVD) served as acting Minister of Economic Affairs until 14 January 1970 when Member of the House of Representatives Roelof Nelissen (KVP) was appointed as his successor. Cabinet Members Trivia Six cabinet members had previous experience as scholars and professors: Johan Witteveen (Financial Economics), Carel Polak (Administrative and Agricultural Law), Gerard Veringa (Criminology and Criminal Law), Ferd Grapperhaus I (Fiscal Law), Klaas Wiersma (Civil Law) and Roelof Kruisinga (Otorhinolaryngology). Three cabinet members were flag officers: Willem den Toom (Lieutenant General in the Air Force), Joop Haex (Major General in the Army) and Adri van Es (Vice Admiral in the Navy). Eight cabinet members had served during World War II either in the military or the Resistance: Piet de Jong (Navy), Willem den Toom (Air Force), Wim Schut (Resistance), Marga Klompé (Resistance), Hans de Koster (Resistance), Joop Haex (Army), Adri van Es (Navy) and Bob Duynstee (Army). Four cabinet members (later) served as Party Leaders and Lijsttrekkers: Henk Beernink (1963–1967), Bé Udink (1970–1971) and Roelof Kruisinga (1971–1977) of the Christian Historical Union and Gerard Veringa (1971) of the Catholic People's Party. The age difference between the first Minister of Economic Affairs Leo de Block (born 1904) and his successor Roelof Nelissen (born 1931) was . References External links Official Kabinet-De Jong Parlement & Politiek Kabinet-De Jong Rijksoverheid Cabinets of the Netherlands 1967 establishments in the Netherlands 1971 disestablishments in the Netherlands Cabinets established in 1967 Cabinets disestablished in 1971