Minister without portfolio (Netherlands)

A Minister without portfolio in the Netherlands is a government minister who is not in charge of a specific ministry. Unlike a Secretary of State (Staatssecretaris), who reports to a Minister heading a ministry, a Minister without portfolio typically performs tasks assigned to them by the Prime Minister or the Cabinet as a whole. They are members of the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet) and have full voting rights.

These ministers are often appointed to address specific cross-departmental issues, policy areas needing extra attention, or to represent the interests of coalition partners within the government. The precise responsibilities and powers of a Minister without portfolio can vary significantly depending on the government in power and the political priorities at the time.

While not heading a specific ministry, they still have a staff to support them, and often work closely with existing ministries to achieve their goals. Common areas of responsibility for Ministers without portfolio include (but are not limited to) housing, poverty reduction, elderly care, or international development.