Tamara van Ark

Tamara van Ark (born 11 August 1974) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). She is a former member of parliament and has been the State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the Cabinet Rutte III since 2017.

Her Excellency Tamara van Ark
Tamara van Ark in 2018
State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 October 2017
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	Jetta Klijnsma
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 17 June 2010 – 26 October 2017
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Personal details
Born	Tamara van Ark (1974-08-11) 11 August 1974 The Hague, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Children	2 daughters
Residence	Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel, Netherlands
Alma mater	Erasmus University Rotterdam (Bachelor of Public Administration, Master of Public Administration)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Management consultant · Social worker
Website	(in English) State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment

Van Ark studied public administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam. As a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), she was an alderwoman of the former municipality of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel from 2004 to 2010 and of its successor, the Zuidplas municipality in 2010. In the same year, she was elected at a national level, to the House of Representatives (or Second Chamber. As a member of parliament from 17 June 2010, she focused on matters of long-term care. She was also involved, with other parliamentarians, with a law proposal against labour discrimination of homosexuals.

Van Ark was re-elected to the House of Representatives (Second Chamber) in 2012 and 2017. She stayed in the Chamber until her transfer to the cabinet in 26 October 2017.