Pete Hoekstra sworn in as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michigan politician Pete Hoekstra will soon head back to the country he hasn't called home since childhood, now as ambassador from the United States.

The former congressman and Michigan gubernatorial candidate was sworn in as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands Monday, Dec. 11, by Vice President Mike Pence.

Hoekstra was nominated for the post by President Donald Trump on July 24, and was later confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 9.

After his Senate confirmation, Hoekstra said he is grateful to inherit a "strong position" in terms of the "unique relationship" between the two countries, which dates back to 1782 and was described by former President Ronald Reagan as "the longest unbroken, peaceful relationship that we have had with any other nation."

"We've never fired a shot at each other in anger," Hoekstra said. "With almost every other major ally, at some point, we've been at war."

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, posted a photo on Twitter from Monday's ceremony with Hoekstra and fellow U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, who now holds Hoekstra's seat in Congress.

Huizenga posted a message of congratulations to his former boss and mentor on Facebook Monday evening.

"What a great day for West Michigan, our country, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands!" Huizenga wrote.

Hoekstra, a resident of Holland, Michigan, was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 3.

First elected to represent Michigan's 2nd Congressional District in 1993, Hoekstra stepped down for a failed gubernatorial bid in 2010, losing out to Gov. Rick Snyder. During his tenure in Congress, he served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

The former lawmaker later worked with the Investigative Project on Terrorism as a Shillman Senior Fellow, specializing in national security, international relations, global terrorism and cyber security. Prior to his political career, Hoekstra was a vice president for furniture maker Herman Miller.

Last year, Hoekstra served as a co-chair of Trump's presidential campaign in Michigan. Shortly after the election, it was rumored he was under consideration for a role in the new administration. With rumors still swirling a month after the election, Hoekstra said simply, "Whatever I can do to help, I'll do."

After early expectations Hoekstra might be appointed to a White House intelligence post proved untrue, Huizenga suggested Hoekstra would be an ideal fit as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow -- who Hoekstra challenged in the 2012 U.S. Senate Race -- and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., announced their support for the nomination of Hoekstra in a joint statement issued after his nomination in July.

Stabenow defeated Hoekstra in 2012 to keep her U.S. Senate seat with 58 percent of the vote to Hoekstra's 38 percent of the vote.

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