Mirjam Sterk

Willemina Roziena Catharina "Mirjam" Sterk (born 23 May 1973) is a Dutch former politician, civil servant, NH editor, and educator. As a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal she was a member of the House of Representatives from 23 May 2002 (on maternity leave from 8 April to 29 July 2008, replaced by Sabine Uitslag) until 19 September 2012. She focused on matters of integration policy and social affairs.

Life
Sterk is a member of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) and studied theology at Utrecht University. She is married and has three children. From May 2002 to September 2012 she was a member of the House of Representatives.

Following the controversial French Romani repatriation, Sterk advocated the deportation of Romani from the Netherlands. She said in an interview for Algemeen Dagblad that sending Romani, that are unemployed and cause nuisance, back to Hungary and Romania is a "good approach".

In February 2022, she succeeded Hanke Bruins Slot in the Provincial Executive of Utrecht, when she became interior minister. Sterk also headed a CDA committee to investigate the party's loss of seats in the 2023 general election. It concluded that the new party leader, Henri Bontenbal, and parliamentary group should be given time, space, and trust to continue its new course.

Decorations

 * In 2012 she was awarded Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.