Former dairy farmer Ger Koopmans (61) from Velden in Limburg is no stranger to the agricultural sector. Although he stopped being an independent dairy farmer in 1997, he never denied his agricultural roots. At the end of 2019, he received protesting Limburg farmers in Maastricht as a representative.
Koopmans regularly recalls his work as a farmer, alderman, farmer administrator, Member of Parliament and Member of Parliament, which he has repeatedly described as his best jobs ever. This also includes the chairmanship of LTO Netherlands for the next three years.
The energetic and flamboyant Koopmans applied for the selection procedure. A job he is very much looking forward to and will take on with full dedication. The farming business is close to his heart. He was a director at the LLTB for many years, from 1989 to 2002. For the last nine years he was a member of the main board. From 2013, he was chairman of the LTO Calf Husbandry department for a year.
The fact that Koopmans is a club man is also evident from his many years of involvement in Scouting Netherlands. He was chairman for five years.
Overturning agricultural policy
Koopmans will now once once more combine his political and administrative experience with his knowledge of agriculture. He is given the task of overturning the oppressive agricultural and environmental policy for the farmers. To start with the formation. The timing of his appointment cannot be missed. Koopmans will take up office immediately upon his appointment.
In addition to the foreman devoting himself to the formation, he will be the figurehead of agricultural Netherlands on behalf of LTO Netherlands. It is expected that members will be able to identify with him.
Apart from the troubles in The Hague, Koopmans will be seen a lot in Brussels. There he will also work for a more realistic agricultural and environmental policy. Here too he is in luck, with a view to the European elections in June.
Sharp on processes
The Roman Catholic Koopmans is known as a quick thinker who is keen on processes. He feels like a countryman and is co-organizer of the Oud Limburgs Schuttersfeest. He made his opera debut in 2022. In the play, which also took place at a shooting party, he entered the stage on a horse.
The CDA member has a right-wing conservative attitude and knows what survival means. He entered into partnership with his parents at the age of 18. That was in 1980. Seven years later he was an independent dairy farmer until 1997. At that time he fought for the survival of his company. He is no stranger to the harshness of farming and entrepreneurship.
Koopmans also ran an antique shop together with his friend at the time. He was one of the first to get married, following the Netherlands opened civil marriage to same-sex partners in April 2001.
In the House of Representatives
Until 2012, in the House of Representatives he was concerned with intensive livestock farming, agriculture, the environment and home affairs, and was spokesperson for infrastructure and traffic. The CDA board then decided to renew and, among other things, said goodbye to Koopmans. Jaco Geurts succeeded him.
Things did not always go well for Koopmans in his administrative career. In March 2021, he stepped down as deputy amid fraud allegations targeting a former provincial executive. Integrity research, conducted by a provincial inquiry committee, showed that Koopmans has always acted with integrity. He did acknowledge that his supervision had fallen short.
Successor to Sjaak van der Tak
The more progressive Sjaak van der Tak hands over the baton to Koopmans. Van der Tak was instructed by the main board at the time to establish connections with members and stakeholders. He resigned in December, following completing his term as chairman.
Koopmans becomes the sixth chairman of LTO Nederland, founded in 1995 as an umbrella organization of the regional associations LTO Noord, ZLTO and LLTB. The organization has a total of around 30,000 members and is the largest representative of the interests of farmers and gardeners in the Netherlands.
