The minister of defence () is the head of the Ministry of Defence and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The incumbent minister is Dilan Yeà Âilgöz of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) party who has been in office since 23 February 2026. Regularly, a state secretary is assigned to the ministry who is tasked with specific portfolios. The current state secretary is Derk Boswijk of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) who also has been in office since 23 February 2026.