Former Dutch prime minister Dries van Agt and wife Eugenie die ‘hand-in-hand’ in legal duo euthanasia

Dries van Agt, who was the Netherlands Prime Minister from 1977 until 1982, reportedly “couldn’t live without his wife” Eugenie.

Dries van Agt was the prime minister of the Netherlands between 1977 and 1982. Picture: Facebook / Mark Rutte

Former Dutch prime minister Dries van Agt and his wife Eugenie have died “hand-in-hand” by legal euthanasia.

The couple, who were both 93, died on Monday in his hometown of Nijmegen, The Rights Forum, a human rights organisation Mr Van Agt founded, announced.

“He died together and hand-in-hand with his beloved wife Eugenie van Agt-Krekelberg, with whom he was together for more than 70 years, and whom he always continued to refer to as ‘my girl’,” the non-profit said in a statement.

Both Mr Van Agt and his wife had been suffering from deteriorating health for some time before they chose to die.

The former prime minister in 2019 suffered a brain haemorrhage while giving a speech at a commemoration event for Palestinians, a cause to which he dedicated the later decades of his life. He never fully recovered.

Van Agt and his wife were very ill, but “couldn’t live without each other,” the nonprofit’s director Gerad Jonkman told broadcaster NOS about the choice for euthanasia.

Duo euthanasia, or two people receiving a fatal injection simultaneously, is still relatively rare in the Netherlands but is slowly gaining more popularity.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt Picture: Facebook/ Mark Rutte

In 2022, 29 couples opted for paired death, up from 16 who chose it in 2021 and the 13 pairs the year before.

Mr Van Agt was the Netherlands’ prime minister from 1977 until 1982.

Following a visit to Israel in 1999, the Christian Democrat became increasingly vocal about his support for the Palestinian people.

In 2009, he founded The Rights Forum, which advocates for a “just and sustainable Dutch and European policy regarding the Palestine/Israel issue”.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who referred to van Agt as his “great-great-grandfather in office”, remembered his predecessor as an authentic leader.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt died by legal euthanasia, “hand-in-hand” with his wife Eugenie on February 5, 2024. Picture: Facebook/Mark Rutte

“The death of Dries van Agt and his inseparable Eugenie, with whom he was connected in love until the very last, is sad. Dries van Agt has remained completely authentic his entire life,” Mr Rutte said in a statement.

“With his flowery and unique language, his clear convictions and his striking presentation, Dries van Agt gave colour and substance to Dutch politics in a time of polarisation and party renewal.”

Euthanasia and assisted suicide have been legal in the Netherlands since 2002 for six conditions.

These conditions include unbearable suffering, no prospect of relief and a long-held, independent wish for death.

A second specialist must confirm the wish, and most cases are carried out by the family doctor at home.

Australia has only recently passed euthanasia laws in every state.

The procedure is now available in limited circumstances in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia, and NSW.

The procedure remains illegal in Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory, with anyone found to have assisted a death potentially facing murder or manslaughter charges.