Early life Berend Jan Udink was born on 12 February 1926 in
Deventer in the province of
Overijssel in a
Remonstrant family. Udink studied
economy in
Rotterdam and
Lausanne (1945–1952). After his studied he was employed at the
Chamber of Commerce of Rotterdam and later worked as a teacher at the
Economische Hogeschool Rotterdam (Economic College of Rotterdam). Udink, who belonged to the
Christian Historical Union, was elected in the so-called
Rijnmondraad (Council of Rijnmond), a local council of representatives of Rijnmond, in 1965.
Politics Two years later, in 1967, he became
minister for Development Cooperation in the
De Jong cabinet, a post he held till 1971. In 1971 he was
lead candidate of the CHU, presenting himself as a conservative and a "
law and order" politician. In that same year Udink became
minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the
Biesheuvel I and
II cabinets. His political career ended in 1973. From 1973 until 1978 he was member of the Board of Directors of the
Overzeese Gas- en Elektriciteitsmaatschappij N.V. (as Dutch gas and electricity company) and from 1978 till 1980 he served as its president. ==Personal==