In memoriam: Tjerk Kroes
Tjerk Kroes (1965-2026), a member of the Board of Governors, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Saturday 15 August.
Tjerk Kroes had served on Leiden University’s Board of Governors since 1 September 2025. His main role was as Director of Economic Policy and Research at De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). He also served on the Social and Economic Council (SER) as a deputy Crown Representative.
Tjerk was an economist. He studied economics at the University of Amsterdam, where he also obtained his doctorate in international monetary economics and credit in 1996.
Tjerk was dedicated to public service and spent his working life in the public sector. He was Deputy Director of General Socio-Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment from 2002 to 2005, and Chair of the Interdepartmental Policy Review on the effectiveness of higher education from October 2023 to July 2024.
Tjerk gained wider recognition in Dutch governance circles when he served as a representative of DNB in relation to the new Dutch Pensions Act. In this capacity, he participated in discussions with the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Social Affairs and Employment.
He joined our Board of Governors because he wanted to contribute to society and the well-being of others beyond his primary professional responsibilities and field of expertise. As an economist, he dealt with complex technical and financial issues. As a governor, he never lost sight of the human dimension, bringing a personal commitment to the role. As he himself remarked, what particularly impressed him at the university was the opportunity to work with people who are deeply engaged with society and conduct research aimed at addressing and simplifying societal challenges.
Tjerk brought to the Board of Governors not only his extensive expertise in economics and finance, but also his warm personality. He approached every issue with genuine curiosity and a keen sense of humour, while never losing sight of its significance or the people affected by it.
Although he was with us for a relatively short while, we will greatly miss not only his contributions, but also his presence as a colleague and friend.
Board of Governors and Executive Board of Leiden University