Achille Van Acker

Achille Van Acker was a Belgian politician who served three terms as the prime minister of Belgium between 1945 and 1958. A moderate from Flanders, Van Acker was a member of the Belgian Socialist Party (PSB–BSP) and played an important role in the creation of the Belgian welfare state. He also organized the successful “coal battle” which stimulated coal production following the end of World War II and helped Belgium to recover rapidly economically.