Willem Frederik Duisenberg known under the name of Wim Duisenberg (born the July 9th 1935 with Heerenveen, Netherlands, dead the July 31st 2005 with Falcon, France) was a politician and banking Dutch. He was the first governor of the European Central bank. For this reason, it has much work for the installation of the Euro.

Biography

Born on July 9th, 1935 in Heerenveen (Netherlands), Wim Duisenberg obtained a doctorate in economy at the university of Groningue.

• of 1966 to 1969 it worked as an economist at the Bottoms international currency (FMI) in Washington.

• of 1970 to 1973 he is professor of macro-economy at the university of Amsterdam.

• Of 1973 with 1977, he was Minister for Finance of the Netherlands.

• As from 1982, he is president of the Central bank of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is made known by the promotion of a rigorous monetary policy and a strong Guilder.

• In July 1997 it succeeds thus the Belgian baron Alexandre Lamfalussy with the head of the European monetary Institute, the embryo of the European Central bank, to the great displeasure of the French which had concluded an agreement with the Germans: the seat of the ECB in Frankfurt against a president resulting from the French seraglio. But France did not have a valid candidate available.

• From June 1st, 1998 to November 1st, 2003, governor of the European Central bank. A verbal agreement concluded with its nomination provided that it would yield its place to the French Jean-Claude Trichet. in 2002, with half of its eight years mandate. But the governor of Banque de France, énarque, was continued in the business of the Crédit Lyonnais, and reached the station only in 2003 after being bleached. At that time, Wim Duisenberg refuses that the eight years mandate to the presidency of the ECB is cut into two. “Work lasts eight years. I am now 62 years old and I still have much time in front of me”, it had asserted.

Wim Duisenberg died on July 31st, 2005 in its villa of Faucon in the South of France. It was found inanimate in its swimming pool. Alerted, the firemen did not manage to reanimate it. It is about a “natural death due to a drowning following cardiac problems”, had declared the public prosecutor of Carpentras, Jean-François Sanpieri.

Personality

Wim Duisenberg was a large European. According to Jean-Claude Trichet, in addition to Dutch, he spoke perfectly French, English and German. “Simplicity, imagination, directions of humor and great kindness are the words which define best our dear friendly Wim”.

He said on October 22nd, 2003 at the time of the festival given for his departure:

“In the final analysis, I had the privilege, to contribute to write the history. To assume the responsibility for the introduction of a new currency is the dream of any central banker, I think. A dream which, for me, became reality. This dream however would never have been carried out without your support, your engagement, your will and your efforts with all. I feel particularly privileged to have been able to work with you. You have all the reasons of the world to be proud of what you carried out”.

Speech of Jean-Claude Trichet after the tragic death of Wim Duisenberg