Member of the Advisory Committee on Regulatory Burden Assessment (ATR)

About ATR

The Advisory Committee on Regulatory Burden (ATR) provides advice on all proposed regulations by the national government that impose obligations on citizens, businesses, and professionals in the fields of education, healthcare, public safety, and social security. The ATR assesses the justification for the necessity and effectiveness of laws and regulations, whether they are workable in practice, and whether the regulatory burden is proportionate. In this way, the ATR contributes to laws and regulations that are socially effective, without imposing unnecessary burdens on society and the economy. The Advisory Committee evaluates laws and regulations based on the following key questions:

1. Is this a task for the government, and is legislation the right tool for the job?
2. Are there any better alternatives?
3. Is the implementation feasible for the target groups that must comply with the legislation?
4. Have the implications for the regulatory burden been fully and accurately assessed?

With the entry into force of the new ATR Establishment Act (2026), the board will be granted permanent status and a broader mandate. ATR will then advise not only on national legislation, but also on proposals from the European Commission—for which a BNC fact sheet is prepared—and their implementation. In addition, ATR conducts research on the accumulation and overlap of regulations and manages a “Regulatory Burden Reporting Center,” which receives reports from the public regarding regulatory burdens.

Composition of the board

The board consists of a chairperson and two members, who govern on a collegial basis: there are no fixed portfolios, and all decisions are made jointly. They are supported by a professional and dedicated staff of approximately eighteen employees.

The members of the advisory board

The current chair of the advisory board is Marijke van Hees. She was appointed chair of ATR by the Council of Ministers in 2017. She works as an entrepreneur, director, and board member in both the private and public sectors. The second member is Hayke Veldman, who was appointed to the ATR advisory board by the Council of Ministers in 2022. He brings expertise in politics, governance, and entrepreneurship to the board. He previously served as a member of the House of Representatives, where he was a spokesperson on spatial planning, economic affairs, and healthcare. Rudy van Zijp has served as secretary at ATR since 2017. Prior to that, he was secretary of Actal, the predecessor of ATR. With the departure of board member Eric Janse de Jonge, a vacancy for the position of board member will arise effective January 1, 2026.

The tasks

ATR faces significant challenges in the coming years:

• Advising on European proposals: ensuring that regulatory burdens are addressed early on in the Brussels policy process.
• Regulatory complexity and overlap: advising on how overlapping regulations affect feasibility and how this can be mitigated.
• Dialogue and visibility: strengthening relationships with government agencies, policymakers, and stakeholders, and increasing ATR’s public visibility.
• Collaboration:with the Council of State, implementing agencies, industry associations, and civil society partners to help bring about practical regulations.
• Through theRegulatory Burden Reporting Center, stakeholderscanreport concerns regarding regulatory burdens to ATR via umbrella organizations and industry associations, which ATR can then assess quickly and thoroughly. This requires ATR to handle these reports effectively and communicate clearly in order to meet the expectations associated with this reporting center.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates who can make a valuable contribution to the collegial decision-making process within the Advisory Board and who will work closely with the two other board members and the director of the office. You will represent ATR in discussions with ministries, the House of Representatives, and other stakeholders. In doing so, you will combine an authoritative demeanor with diplomacy and persuasiveness. You have the flair to explain research findings and recommendations, even in a political and administrative context.

Desired background, experience, and skills

We are looking for an experienced and independent individual who identifies with the following characteristics:

Job Requirements:

• Experience with the political and administrative landscape in The Hague;
• An interest in the issue of regulatory burden;
• Legal expertise in the field of constitutional or administrative law;
• Knowledge of legislative and policy processes in general (and preferably also in Brussels);
• Having experience working with multiple target groups of regulatory policy is an asset, such as in environmental law, privacy, or social security;
• Strong communication skills: the ability to listen, analyze, and persuade effectively;
• The ability to bring people together and a collegial, collaborative style;
• Representativeness and seniority to serve as a representative of the board

Skills

• Independent judgment;
• Several years of experience in the collegial management of organizations;
• Management style: collaborative, focused on transparency and cooperation, decisive;
• Political and administrative sensitivity;
• An authoritative, inspiring personality;
• Integrity;
• Academic level of work and thinking.

Practical

The appointment is made by the Minister of Economic Affairs for a term of five years (renewable). The position requires a commitment of two days per week, including regular board meetings (Wednesdays and Monday mornings, partly held digitally). Board members are expected to demonstrate flexibility regarding their schedules, as meetings with the Minister or the Ministry will take precedence. Compensation is in accordance with the applicable provisions and is classified under scale 18 of the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement. 

Procedure

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Advisory Board on Regulatory Burden are being assisted in this process by Colourful People. For questions regarding the process, the position, or the board, please contact Rick Verhoeven, managing partner at Colourful People Executive Search. You can schedule a phone appointment with him via this link. You can express your interest by uploading your cover letter and resumeno later than September 19via www.colourfulpeople.nl. The interviews with the selection committee will take place in weeks 41 and 42.

Incompatibilities

Members of the ATR Advisory Board are subject to a number of guidelines regarding incompatible positions:

• Active in politics as an elected official;
• The Framework Act on Advisory Bodies (Section 12) stipulates that civil servants employed by a ministry (or a department, agency, or enterprise under its authority) may not be appointed as members of an advisory body if that body provides advice on matters in which they are involved by virtue of their work. 
• Representative of an interest group (industry association, umbrella organization, etc.).
• Furthermore, there is an agreement within the council that a member must recuse themselves from participating in decision-making if there is a conflict of interest with other professional activities. This means that the member may provide substantive information but may not participate in the decision-making process. This is also noted in the minutes. This requires full transparency regarding outside positions.

Complementarity

The advisory board strives for a strong, balanced, and diverse membership. In doing so, it considers complementarity in areas such as expertise, experience, gender, political background, age, and cultural background.