Johanna Rika Hermanna "Hanja" Maij-Weggen (born 29 December 1943) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). Political career From 1989 until 1994 she was Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the third cabinet of prime minister Ruud Lubbers, and from 2003 until 2009 the Queen's Commissioner of the province of North Brabant. After a nursing education from 1962 until 1965 she studied Pedagogy and History of Art at the University of Amsterdam until 1971. In 1967, she started working as a healthcare teacher in Amstelveen and Apeldoorn. In 1979, her political career started when she became a member of the European Parliament. In 1989, she temporarily left the European Parliament to become the Dutch Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management. Four years later, she returned to the European Parliament where she remained until 1 October 2003 when she became the Queen's Commissioner for the province of North Brabant. She retired on 1 October 2009. Personal life She is the mother of CDA politician Hester Maij and PvdA MP Marit Maij. she was the president of World Animal Protection from 2000 until 2012. Decorations References External links Official J.R.H. (Hanja) Maij-Weggen Parlement & Politiek 1943 births Living people Anti-Revolutionary Party MEPs Anti-Revolutionary Party politicians Christian Democratic Appeal MEPs Christian Democratic Appeal politicians Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau Dutch corporate directors Dutch nonprofit directors Dutch nonprofit executives Dutch nurses Dutch lobbyists King's and Queen's Commissioners of North Brabant Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion MEPs for the Netherlands 1979–1984 MEPs for the Netherlands 1984–1989 MEPs for the Netherlands 1989–1994 MEPs for the Netherlands 1994–1999 MEPs for the Netherlands 1999–2004 20th-century women MEPs for the Netherlands 21st-century women MEPs for the Netherlands Ministers of Transport and Water Management of the Netherlands People from Emmen, Netherlands Protestant Church Christians from the Netherlands Reformed Churches Christians from the Netherlands University of Amsterdam alumni Women government ministers of the Netherlands 20th-century Dutch educators Women King's and Queen's Commissioners of the Netherlands