Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Dutch academic, politician, and diplomat, 11th Secretary General of NATO
Jakob Gijsbert "Jaap" de Hoop Scheffer ([ˈjaːb də ˈɦoːp ˈsxɛfər] (listen); born 3 April 1948) is a Dutch politician and diplomat of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and jurist who served as Secretary General of NATO from 5 January 2004 until 1 August 2009.De Hoop Scheffer studied Law at the Leiden University obtaining a Master of Laws degree and worked as a civil servant and diplomat for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diplomatic service from October 1976 until June 1986. After the election of 1986 De Hoop Scheffer was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 3 June 1986 and served a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign and European Affairs. After Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Enneüs Heerma stepped down De Hoop Scheffer was selected as his successor on 27 March 1997. For the election of 1998 De Hoop Scheffer served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate). Following a internal power struggle with Party Chairman Marnix van Rij before a upcoming election De Hoop Scheffer announced that he was stepping down as Leader and that he wouldn't stand for the election of 2002.

De Hoop Scheffer continued to be active in politics and was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Balkenende I taking office on 22 July 2002. The cabinet Balkenende I fell just 87 days into its term. After the election of 2003 De Hoop Scheffer continued his office in the Cabinet Balkenende II. In September 2003 De Hoop Scheffer was nominated as the next Secretary General of NATO serving from 1 January 2004 until 1 August 2009.

De Hoop Scheffer retired from active politics at 61 and became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director served on several state commissions and councils and as a occasional diplomat and lobbyist for several economic delegations on behalf of the government, he also worked as a distinguished professor of International relations, Diplomatic Practice and Governmental Studies at his alma mater from September 2009 until september 2014. Following his retirement De Hoop Scheffer continues to be active as a advocate and lobbyist for more European integration and improved Transatlantic relations. De Hoop Scheffer is known for his abilities as an effective negotiator and skillful manager. De Hoop Scheffer was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 22 June 2018 and as of 2022 continues to comment on political affairs as a statesman.