Jelle Zijlstra (August 27, 1918 – December 23, 2001) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Anti Revolutionary Party (ARP) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from November 22, 1966 until April 5, 1967.
A Economist by occupation, he became a professor of Economics at the Vrije Universiteit the age of thirty in 1948. Zijlstra was asked to become Minister of Economic Affairs after the Dutch general election of 1952 in the Cabinet Drees II under Prime Minister Willem Drees of the Labour Party, he resigned as a professor the same day he took office as the new Minister of Economic Affairs on September 2, 1952. Zijlstra became the lijsttrekker (top candidate) of the Anti Revolutionary Party for the Dutch general election of 1956 and served as Party leader from April 23, 1956 tot October 3, 1956, and as the Parliamentary leader of the Anti Revolutionary Party in the House of Representatives from June 14, 1956 tot October 3, 1956 and a Member of the House of Representatives from July 3, 1956 tot October 3, 1956. After a slow cabinet formation the Cabinet Drees III was formed and Zijlstra remaind as Minister of Economic Affairs. The Cabinet Drees III fell on December 22, 1958 and a caretaker cabinet was formed by former Prime Minister Louis Beel of the Catholic People's Party. Zijlstra remaind as Minister of Economic Affairs and dual served as Minister of Finance in the Cabinet Beel II. Zijlstra again became the lijsttrekker for the Anti Revolutionary Party during the Dutch general election of 1959, and served as Party leader of the Anti Revolutionary Party a second time from December 29, 1958 until May 26, 1959. After a more quicker formation the new Cabinet De Quay was formed on May 19, 1959. Zijlstra remaind as Minister of Finance under the new Prime Minister Jan de Quay of the Catholic People's Party, and served until July 24, 1963 when the Cabinet Marijnen was installed.
Zijlstra became a Member of the Senate on June 25, 1963 and returned to the Vrije Universiteit as a associate professor of Public finances. On October 14, 1966 the Cabinet Cals the successor of the Cabinet Marijnen fell after the Party leader of the Catholic People's Party Norbert Schmelzer proposed a Motion of no confidence against the Cabinet Cals and Prime Minister Jo Cals who was a member of his own party. The Dutch political landscape was fractured and Zijlstra was asked to form a caretaker cabinet which had the main task of to write out a early Dutch general election in 1967. Zijlstra became Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs on November 22, 1966 and resigned as a Member of the Senate. Zijlstra dual served as Minister of Finance leading the Cabinet Zijlstra until April 5, 1967 when the Cabinet De Jong was installed.
After his premiership, Zijlstra retired from active politics at the age of forty-eight and became the President of the Central Bank of the Netherlands, serving from May 1, 1967 until January 1, 1982. On September 16, 1966 he was already named as President of the Central Bank of the Netherlands but his unexpected premiership delayed this. Zijlstra also occupied numerous seats on supervisory boards in the business and industry world. Zijlstra was widely respected for his expertise and integrity, and was a godparent of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange. On April 30, 1983 he was granted the honorary title of Minister of State, which he held until his death.