Philomena Bijlhout

Philomena Bijlhout
Bijlhout in 2020
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
23 May 2002  22 July 2002
State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment
In office
22 July 2002  22 July 2002
Prime MinisterJan Peter Balkenende
Preceded byHans Hoogervorst
Annelies Verstand
Succeeded byKhee Liang Phoa
Personal details
Born
Rudolphina Rebecca Philomena Bijlhout

(1957-11-13) 13 November 1957
Paramaribo, Suriname
NationalityDutch
Political partyPim Fortuyn List
OccupationPolitician, television presenter, social worker

Philomena Bijlhout (born 13 November 1957) is a Surinamese-born Dutch former politician and television presenter.

She served as an MP in the Member of the House of Representatives as a member of the Pim Fortuyn List and was briefly State Secretary for Social Affairs, Employment and Equality in the First Balkenende cabinet. Her tenure was notable for being the first female foreign-born and ethnic minority politician to hold the post and the shortest in Dutch political history.

Bijlhout has since worked as a broadcaster.