Career in local politics

As a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Van Ark was an alderwoman of the former municipality of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel from 2004 to 2010 and of its successor, the Zuidplas municipality in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

Career in national politics

In the 2010 Dutch general election, Van Ark was elected to the House of Representatives (or Second Chamber). As a parliamentarian from 17 June 2010, she focused on matters of long-term care. She was also involved, with other officeholders, with a law proposal against labour discrimination of homosexuals.^{[citation needed]}

Van Ark was reelected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and 2017. She remaine a member of the House of Representatives until her appointment as State Secretary on 26 October 2017.

Minister of Health, 2020–2021

On 9 July 2020, Van Ark succeeded Martin van Rijn as Minister of Health.^[2] Since 2020, she has also been a member of the Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, co-chaired by Sheikh Hasina and Mia Mottley.^[3]

Following the 2021 national elections, Van Ark and Wouter Koolmees of the Democrats 66 party were chosen to lead their parties' negotiations on a coalition agreement.^[4]