A member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), he previously was State Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2012 and parliamentary leader in the Senate from 2019 to 2021.

Knapen was the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the first Rutte cabinet, serving from 14 October 2010 to 5 November 2012.

His portfolio comprised European Union matters, as well as international aid.

[1] Then he was on the advisory board of OMFIF where he was regularly involved in meetings regarding the financial and monetary system.

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