# Guy Verhofstadt

_Prime Minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/guy-verhofstadt
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Guy Maurice Marie Louise Verhofstadt is a Belgian politician who served as the prime minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. He was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Belgium from 2009 until 2024. Verhofstadt was a member of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives from 1985 to 2009. He served as deputy prime minister of Belgium and minister of Budget from 1985 to 1992. He was the prime minister of Belgium from 1999 to 2008. During this period, he gradually moved away from neoliberalism and became more of a centrist figure.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 11 April 1953 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Dendermonde ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Belgium ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; author; jurist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P106))
- **Political party:** Anders ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P102))
- **Education:** Ghent University ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P69))
- **Official website:** guyverhofstadt.eu ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P856))
- **Positions held:** Member of the European Parliament (since 2 July 2019); Member of the European Parliament (1 July 2014 – 1 July 2019); Member of the European Parliament (14 July 2009 – 30 June 2014); president (14 July 2009 – 1 July 2019); Senator of Belgium (10 June 2007 – 21 December 2007); Senator of Belgium (18 May 2003 – 12 July 2003); Prime Minister of Belgium (12 July 1999 – 20 March 2008); Senator of Belgium (1995–1999); member of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium (16 December 1991 – 12 April 1995); member of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium (5 January 1988 – 18 October 1991); Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium (21 October 1987 – 9 May 1988); Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium (28 November 1985 – 19 October 1987); member of the Chamber of Representatives of Belgium (31 October 1985 – 9 November 1987); member of the Flemish Parliament ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P39))
- **Awards:** Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown; Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic; Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; Order of the Star of Romania; Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland; Minister of State; Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold; Grand Cross of the Order of Honour; Grand Cross of Royal Norwegian Order of Merit; Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog; Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Award ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P166))
- **X (Twitter):** GuyVerhofstadt ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P2002))
- **Facebook:** GuyVerhofstadt ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P2013))
- **Instagram:** guyverhofstadt ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978#P2003))

## Questions

**When was Guy Verhofstadt born?**  
Guy Verhofstadt was born on 11 April 1953 in Dendermonde.

**What positions has Guy Verhofstadt held?**  
Positions held by Guy Verhofstadt include: Member of the European Parliament (since 2 July 2019); Member of the European Parliament (2014–2019); Member of the European Parliament (2009–2014); president (2009–2019); Senator of Belgium (2007–2007).

**Where did Guy Verhofstadt study?**  
Guy Verhofstadt was educated at Ghent University.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Guy Verhofstadt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Verhofstadt) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q12978](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12978) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Guy Verhofstadt June 2021 (cropped).jpg by European Parliament (CC BY 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Guy_Verhofstadt_June_2021_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Guy Verhofstadt, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Guy Verhofstadt June 2021 (cropped).jpg — European Parliament, CC BY 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Guy Verhofstadt". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/guy-verhofstadt. Retrieved 6 November 2026.