Jan Herbert Zoon was born on June 16, 1923, in Rotterdam, and died on February 9, 2016, in Oostvoorne.
He was a Dutch politician and economist.
He served as a member of the Senate of the Netherlands between 1969 and 1991 for the Labour Party.
Jan Zoon spent most of his working life at the Economisch-Technologisch Instituut voor Friesland, including four years as its director.
Career
Jan Zoon received education at the Hogere Burgerschool until 1941.
Jan studied economy at the Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool between 1946 and 1954.
In 1969, Zoon receivced his PhD with a thesis on industrialisation in Friesland under Henk Lambers (nl) at the same university.
Zoon worked for the municipality of Rotterdam, from 1942 to 1946.
Following that, Jan became editor and secretary at the Economisch-Statistische Berichten
Jan relocated to Leeuwarden to become adjunct director of the Economisch-Technologisch Instituut voor Friesland, in 1960.
Jan continued in this capacity for twenty years and in 1980 started as director of the institute.
Zoon fulfilled this latter function for four years.[
He became member of the Senate for the Labour Party, on September 16, 1969.
During his years in the Senate, he became the party spokesperson for financial and economic affairs.
As one of the oldest member of the Senate he fulfilled the position of President of the Senate at times.
Zoon served in the Senate until 11 June 1991.
Zoon was made a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion on 29 April 1981.
Jan was made Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau on April 1990.
He was married and had four children.
Jan Herbert Zoon passed away at 92 yrs old.