Simone Smit named first female director-general of Dutch intelligence service AIVD

Simone Smit will become the first female director-general of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), the Netherlands’ domestic intelligence and security agency, on March 1, 2026, the government reported. The Council of Ministers approved her appointment following a proposal from Minister Rijkaart of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

The AIVD is responsible for protecting national security and defending the democratic legal order. It monitors threats including terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks on vital infrastructure, foreign interference, and extremist ideologies.

As head of the AIVD, Smit will oversee strategic and operational development, ensure the organization remains technologically advanced, and manage internal processes and infrastructure.

Vincent Roozen, secretary-general of the ministry, said, “Simone has proven herself at the highest levels of the security domain. She has extensive experience in complex political-administrative environments and has led the AIVD alongside Erik Akerboom for years. Her experience, knowledge, and leadership make her the ideal successor.”

Smit said, “The AIVD is more than a workplace; it is a community with a mission that aligns with my values: the safety of the Netherlands so that we can live in freedom. I want to strengthen our partnerships—nationally, privately, and internationally. No day is the same, and no decision is taken lightly. I am proud to carry this responsibility.”

Smit has been deputy director-general since February 2021. She previously led counterterrorism operations and coordinated the acute COVID-19 response at the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism. She began her career in the Rotterdam police, holding leadership roles for 19 years. She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Erasmus University Rotterdam and attended the Police Academy.