On 10 May 1940 Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands and the government fled to London to escape the German occupation.

Van Aartsen was appointed as Minister of Transport and Water Management in the Drees III cabinet following the resignation of Jacob Algera, taking office on 1 November 1958.

The Drees III cabinet fell on 11 December 1958 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the caretaker Beel II cabinet with Van Aartsen continuing as Minister of Transport and Water Management, taking office on 22 December 1958.

He became minister of Transportation and Water Management of the Netherlands in November 1958, at the end of the fourth Drees cabinet.

Under De Quay's successor Victor Marijnen, Van Aartsen returned to the post of Transportation and Water Management.