Femke Wiersma is the Netherlands’ new Minister of Agriculture

Outgoing agriculture minister Piet Adema and his successor Femke Wiersma.

The Netherlands has a new minister of agriculture, fisheries, food securtiy and nature after Dutch King Willem-Alexander swore in the country’s new government more thans seven months after elections. Femke Wiersma is a Frisian-born member of the relatively new Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB) party. She is adamant about “giving the farmers, horticulturists, growers and fishermen the appreciation they deserve, because they provide the food we eat everyday”.

Femke Wiersma was born on 29 December 1984. She, and her predecessor Piet Adema – who was named as the Netherlands’ agriculture minister on 4 October 2022 –  were born in Friesland, a northern province with its own culture and language.

Those concerned about the Frisian language heading downhill could eat their heart out at the handover of power ceremony at the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday 2 July.

Incoming Wiersma and outgoing Adema had a few one-on-ones in Frisian. Wiersma also appeared to be fluent in Frisian when interviewed by a Frisian broadcaster.

Speaking in Dutch to other members of the press, Wiersma said that she and her colleagues “will energetically and passionatly pursue the hard work of their predecessors to design schemes that work for the country, its farmers, fishermen and, of course, nature.”

Wiersma is delighted to be at the helm of the ministry, a job, as she described it, ‘”feels well”, is “packed with major challenges” and “not something that happens every day”.

Wiersma, who in 2010 starred in the ‘Farmer Wants a Wife‘ TV show, referenced a Dutch agriculture sector that has been in crisis since the previous government announced stricter measures to control nitrogene-based pollution, leading to massive farmer protests.

Across the country, people hung Dutch flags upside down along roads, expressing support for the farmers. The majority of flags have been lowered since, which doesn’t mean that Wiersma’s new top job will be a bed of roses.

While the gathered press exited the building, they witnessed how a fresh motorway protest by climate activists was blocking the A12, which runs parallel to the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture.