Born in
Ghent, van Houtte held a doctorate in law and lectured at
Ghent University and the
University of Liège. He served as chairman of the Belgian Institute of Public Finance and represented the
PSC-CVP in the
Belgian Senate from 1949 to 1968. Having served as
Minister of Finance in the governments of
Jean Duvieusart (1950) and
Joseph Pholien (1950–1952), van Houtte replaced Pholien to become the
38th Prime Minister of Belgium in January 1952. His period in office was marked by disputes over
conscription, and in particular the length of service of conscripts, and over the treatment of collaborators, where van Houtte controversially favoured a mild approach. An
economic recession added to his troubles. Van Houtte again served as
Minister of Finance from 1958 to 1961 under
Gaston Eyskens. He was governor of the
World Bank, named an honorary
Minister of State in 1966, and made a
Baron in 1970. == Honours ==