Willem (Wim) Kok was born at Bergambacht on 29 September 1938.

After completing his secondary education, he attended Nijenrode Business School. He then completed his military service and worked for a trading company for a short time.

In 1961, Mr. Kok was appointed assistant international officer of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions Construction Section. He was appointed staff member for economic affairs of the same union in 1965, and, in 1967, union secretary.

In 1969, Mr. Kok was appointed secretary to the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (NVV), and deputy chairman in 1972. He was chairman of the NVV from 1973 to 1985 and, after the NVV had merged with the Dutch Federation of Catholic Trade Unions, chairman of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (FNV). From 1979 to 1982, Mr. Kok also served as chairman of the European Trade Union Confederation.

From 1986 to 1989 and again after the 1994 election, Mr. Kok was a member of the Lower House of the States General and leader of the parliamentary Labour Party (PvdA).

In 1989, he was elected deputy chairman of the Socialist International.

Mr. Kok has been deputy chairman of the Socioeconomic Council, employees' chairman of the Joint Industrial Labour Council, vice-chairman of the board of "De Nederlandsche Bank", visiting lecturer at the Institute of Social Studies and advisor to the European Commission.

Mr. Kok was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the third Lubbers government from 7 November 1989 to 22 August 1994.

On 22 August 1994, he was appointed Prime Minister and minister for General Affairs in the Government that bears his name.

(The Hague, 22 August 1994)