10 unnecessary ridiculous facts about Mark Rutte

Mark has become a bit of my hero over the past few weeks. But what do we really know about Rutte? In any case, that he is a modest, kind man. He does not seek happiness in money. Spending money to fit in he finds ‘stupid’. According to him, happiness must come from within. And that's just how it is, Mark. With every little fact I read about you, I start to like you more.

1. Rutte is the youngest of six children. He is the only child who was actually born in the Netherlands. Rutte's father had a business in Indonesia.

2. Rutte had a tough childhood. His brother passed away a year after his father. Mark was 21 at the time...

3. Mark once hoped to start a brilliant career as a pianist, but was rejected by the Conservatory. He therefore decided to study history in Leiden.

4. Mark only started in politics at the age of 35. Before that, he worked at Unilever and Calvé (from 1992 to 2002).

5. Mark likes to walk around naked at home. ‘At least, when the curtains are closed,’ he once said in an interview with Viva when he was still an innocent VVD MP. By the way, wasn't the Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst very happy with that interview...

6. Rutte is best buddies with Jort Kelder. They know each other from their student days when they were both members of the JOVD, the youth branch of the VVD.

7. Mark has a secret crush on Sophie Hilbrand. In earlier interviews, he stated that he currently has ‘no time’ for a relationship, but that he can appreciate a ‘healthy, Dutch woman’ like Sophie Hilbrand. Can someone introduce those two to each other? Joe!

8. Mark's clothing choices are praised internationally. The American magazine Vanity Fair even named him one of the best-dressed world leaders in 2013. Oh, and that transparent little glasses? That's one from the Danish brand Lindberg. People think that's cool too.

9. How nice. I didn't know that. On Thursday mornings, Rutte stands in front of the class at a vocational school in The Hague. He teaches social studies there.

10. Mark has remained quite ordinary. His car is second-hand, he still lives in the same apartment in The Hague that he bought after his studies in 1992 for 150,000 guilders, and according to friends, he still uses the same Nokia from 15 years ago.

P.S.: Yes, I am really becoming a bit of a Rutte fan. You can read my ode to Mark here.