Rutte

Rutte is a Dutch surname. The name is most commonly found in the Netherlands and may derive from a given name such as Rutger or from a diminutive or other medieval form; the exact etymology is not definitively established. Like many Dutch surnames, it can have regional or familial concentration and appears in various historical records.

Notable people with the surname include Mark Rutte (born 1967), a Dutch politician who led the Netherlands as prime minister beginning in 2010. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Before becoming prime minister, Rutte served as State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment (2002–2004) and was a member of the House of Representatives. As prime minister, he has overseen multiple coalition governments and has been involved in domestic policy, economic reform, and European Union matters. In 2023, his cabinet resigned following a political scandal, and Rutte continued to act as caretaker prime minister while a new government was formed.

The surname Rutte is primarily associated with the Netherlands, and its use outside the country is relatively limited. In biographical and genealogical contexts, the name can be encountered in discussions of Dutch political history and contemporary public life, most notably through Mark Rutte.

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