Dutch authorities have begun an investigation into the death of former health minister Els Borst, whose body was found in her garage by a friend.
Els Borst led her party for a time in the 1990s
Els Borst, 81, helped push through legislation in 2001 that made the Netherlands the first country to legalise euthanasia.
Forensic scientists were unable to say why she died, although police said there was no reason to suspect a crime.
Ms Borst, who was a medical academic, served as minister from 1994-2002.
A police spokesman told BNR Radio there were three possible reasons for her death: an accident, natural causes or perhaps a crime, although there were no indications of anything untoward happening.
She had appeared at a conference of her liberal D66 party on Saturday and her death came as a shock to political colleagues in The Hague.
For a time, she led her party in the 1990s and Prime Minister Mark Rutte said her death was a great loss for Dutch politics.
“She ensured a breakthrough in the field of euthanasia for which very many people are still grateful,” said Health Minister Edith Schippers.
She was also behind legislation governing the use of tissue from aborted foetuses for medical research.
Agencies
