Frits Bolkestein was the leader of the Dutch liberal party VVD between 1990 and 1998, after having been state secretary and minister of Defense. As the European Commissioner for the Internal Market (1999-2004), he successfully promoted the institution of one European market. In 2004, Bolkestein was made extraordinary professor at the universities of Leiden and Delft, specialising in the field of intellectual foundations of political developments.

Among his publications are De grenzen van Europa (Europe’s Borders, 2004), De twee lampen van de staatsman (The Statesman’s Two Lamps, 2006) and Overmoed en onverstand (Hubris and stupidity, 2008).