Her tenure was notable for being the first female foreign-born and ethnic minority politician to hold the post and the shortest in Dutch political history.

She was elected as a member of the House of Representatives for the Pim Fortuyn List from 23 May 2002 until 22 July 2002, when she became State Secretary for Social Affairs and Work Opportunity in the first Balkenende cabinet.

[1] However, she resigned a few hours after being appointed, after television channel RTL 4 reported that she had been a member of a militia operated by Surinamese military dictator Dési Bouterse from 1982 and 1983.

Bijlhout, who was born in Suriname, had never denied being part of the militia, but claimed she had left prior to the December murders.

After retiring from Dutch politics, Bijlhout hosted a travel show in 2004 and worked as a reporter for the Surinamese newspaper De Ware Tijd.