The prelature of Opus Dei is governed by the prelate, who is appointed by the pope. In order to carry out his pastoral task, the prelate has vicars in the countries where Opus Dei works.
The regional vicar in each region is assisted by the regional commission (for the men) and the regional assessory (for the women).
Since 2008, the regional vicar of the Netherlands has been Msgr C.G.E. van der Ploeg (1959).
After studying law in Amsterdam, he studied theology in Rome, where he also obtained a doctorate in philosophy. He was ordained a priest in 1988. Since 1991, he has served on the national board of Opus Dei in the Netherlands. In 1999 the Bishop of Haarlem appointed him student pastor in Amsterdam and a year later rector of the Amsterdam Church of Our Lady. He held both positions until 2008.
The address of the prelature in The Netherlands is: Jan Luijkenstraat 52, 1071 CS Amsterdam.