Adrianus Van Kleffens

Vocation

Dutch civil servant and judge. He was the youngest son of the jurist Henricus Cato van Kleffens (8 November 1861 6 AM, Dokkum - 30 July 1942, Arnhem) and Jeannette Fresina Veenhoven (18 February 1864 10 PM, Hoogezand - 17 July 1906, Groningen). They got four children: A daughter N. that died 12 July 1893 on her birthday in Schoterland. Eelco (17 November 1894, Heerenveen - 17 June 1983 in Almoçageme), who became a politician and diplomat. A daughter Gesina Jantina (23 December 1896, Heerenveen - 31 March 1930 5h30, Amsterdam) and Adrianus. After the death of his mother, his father remarried twice. On 25 May 1908, he married in Leiden Sabine Johanna Janke van Ilpsema Vinckers (6 December 1861, Appingedam - 18 October 1911, Den Haag). On 17 April 1913, he married in Den Haag Anna Margaretha de Graaff (4 February 1875, Haarlem - 17 April 1943, Velp). Both sons studied law at Leiden University. After finishing his study, he worked at the Secretariat of the League of Nations in Geneva. He later became a judge at the Court of Amsterdam. In 1934 he attained a position as director of the External Trade department of the Dutch Ministry for Economic Affairs. During World War II he was captured and made prisoner of war. After the war had ended in 1945 he went to work at the same Ministry once more, he focused on European economic integration. During that time he also advocated the Benelux union. After his time at the Ministry he became one of the first judges of the European Court of Justice, he served together with Jos Serrarens (12 November 1888, Dordrecht – 26 August 1963, Bilthoven). He was followed up by Andre Donner. He died 2 Augustus 1973 in De Steeg. Link to Wikipedia