Van Haersma Buma studied law at the University of Groningen (1983–1989) and followed a course at the Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (1989–1990).

Although the Christian Democratic Appeal lost the elections of June 2010, Van Haersma Buma was re-elected.

After parliamentary leader Verhagen became Deputy Prime Minister in the new First Rutte cabinet Van Haersma Buma was elected as his successor.

[6] In the meantime he and the leaders of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Christian Union (CU), the Democrats 66 and GroenLinks, the so-called Kunduz coalition (a budgetary agreement) for 2013.

However Van Haersma Buma remained in the House of Representatives as parliamentary leader instead of entering the government.