He was on the city council of Utrecht. From 2006 to 2010 he was a member of the Second Chamber. He held the position of Deputy Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the First Rutte cabinet from 2010 to 2012. Then he was his party's parliamentary leader from 2012 to 2017. His highest political position was as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Third Rutte cabinet beginning on October 26, 2017.