I agree totally with your point about it affecting all foreigners here. in the unlikely event of Wilders actually gaining enough power to impose his uneducated ideas i already know of a number of highly educated 'western' immigrants who are ready to leave. I really dont think NL can afford a brain drain at the moment. Wilders voters should be careful what they wish for!

By a 'western'immigrant | March 4, 2010 12:37 PM

Your last two paragraphs make me sad. Perhaps it's time for a new party: Boos op Nederland (BON)to remind the Dutch of their liberal past and what they stand to lose if they bring the thugs in

By T. vanden Berg | March 4, 2010 12:54 PM

Thanks for this perspective -- when I first read the world headlines, it sounded a lot scarier than it maybe actually is.

This sort of political extremism reminds me of America's relationship with George Bush -- except he really did get elected, and we've all seen how that changed the global perspective on my country.

Let's hope that the Netherlands and the world never have to find out what sort of damage a Wilders administration could do...

By an American perspective | March 4, 2010 6:01 PM

Wilders is actually shooting himself in the foot. The more hatred-inciting comments he makes, the more support his opponents get. Perhaps (ironically) he is the key to bringing back openness and tolerance to The Netherlands that has been waning since 2001.

By Expat | March 5, 2010 9:05 AM

@westerimmigrant. Wilders is not making life difficult for wetern immigrants. I am a western expat here and attended a PVV event where he was welcoming and down to earth. He had no issue speaking english and it is the extremists and radical muslims he stands against not educated expats or immigrants.
The media makes him out to be a monster when he is anything but and maybe you should use your education to make your own judgements and not blindly believe what the news feeds us.
I am also considering leaving NL but because of the morrocon street thugs that have terrorised our street and us, not because of Wilders who is trying to stop them!

By Juan | March 5, 2010 9:10 AM

Thanks for this perspective. It is reassuring and I will forward it to those of my stateside friends/family who are reading alarmist headlines. To Western Immigrant: I had the same reaction, and told my boyfriend we would be moving if Wilders becomes too prominant in the national cabinet. He pointed out that that is just when we need to stay, to fight the rightward movement.

By dd | March 5, 2010 10:34 AM

Are we(humanity) about to witness the rebirth of Apartheid in the culture from which it originally was created. The South African past was instigated by the dutch immigrants to that country.

By larry | March 5, 2010 4:18 PM

Ironically we can check than the most xenophobic opinions, really close to the 'brown shirts' point of view in Germany, coming from 'peculiar' foreigners like 'Juan', instead than Netherlanders.
That is a sign of democratic health in the real Netherlands society, which mostly rejects fascist proposals from Wilder' party like ban non-western immigration (whatever that is) and put 'commandos' in the streets. And that is a good reason for optimism.
Surely because tolerance and cultural integration of foreign cultures has been always the 'real values' and 'real culture' in the authentic Netherlands society. And the foundation of their current economic welfare state.

By zenplus | March 7, 2010 12:31 PM

From my own personal perspective (having experienced Le Pen and his supporters for 3 decades in my home country France) It is likely that these guys (Wilders et al.) will prove to be really bad administrators when it comes to really administrate cities (the only thing they are really good at is spreading hate and populism ); only -and this is by far worse- their twisted ideas may last and spread over to other parties. The risk is that the right parties do shift their focus and line of arguments on Wilders thematics; Currently in France Le Pen is quite low, however when surveyed, over 30% of citizens declare that Le Pen raises the "good questions"....and Sarkzoy was elected as he managed to pull to him Le Pen's supporters ...by advocating on the line of arguments that was previously that of Le Pen... So the best antidote to Wilders is to ignore him. the publicity given to him -be it positive or negative- only strengthen him

By Frenchman | March 7, 2010 4:49 PM

I agree with Juan.

'But the likelihood of Wilders emerging as the next prime minister is zero'. By which I assume A) you see this as a threat and, B) You seem to overlook his power as being well supported in the opposition?

Wilders is definitely lacking a vision on multiple key issues that are needed to run the country. And the left wing of our politics have been too soft on many issues and that is for sure not helping us as a whole.

Wilders has the guts to say what he believes and thinks (whether you agree or not) which is never being done by any of the other politicians who change their views and opinions on a daily basis. And that's what driving people to the PVV, not the call for a so-called Apartheid regime.

This country needs less 'intellectuals' and more pragmatics who dare to say and do what is needed for this country. Stop talking, start acting.

All who put Wilders in the extremist corner do to him exactly what you blame him to do to minorities in this country. Look in the mirror and wake up!

By Steven | March 8, 2010 11:26 AM

I wholeheartedly agree that it's important to remember that PVV's recent wins do not mean that *most* people support PVV. This isn't the U.S., where you really only have two parties. The votes of fair-minded people are split among other parties. The votes of racists and xenophobes go to PVV. I am also a "Western immigrant" who doesn't feel threatened by Wilders -- but that doesn't mean I don't believe that Wilders is threatening the Netherlands.

By Amy | March 8, 2010 4:03 PM

@Juan

I think you are gravely mistaken if you think Wilders will deal with the Moroccan criminals. He has a grudge against Islam full stop, not extremist nor radicalists..These thugs do not bloody care what religion they are. Hitler managed to also fool a lot of people at the start of his campaign.
I am a Muslim and I made up my own judement about Wilders a long time ago. he nothing but a ignorant hate monger and a waste of taxpayers money. I am still waiting for him to debate a worthy Muslim opponent about his racist extreme views.

By Saladin | March 10, 2010 2:06 PM

As an expat and naturalized Nederlander form the UK i feel that it's important that when you come to live in another country you should be obligated to fit in and abide to the rule of the land of your chosen country. i find that the Muslim community see it differently and we should accomodate them and their culture. When in Rome, do as the Romans do....Or leave.

By Chris | March 18, 2010 1:18 PM

I completely disagree with you, As in Amsterdam. I think you are just a left wing person pretending to be impartial. All my Dutch friends despise the Muslim takeover of the Netherlands, and it's politicians being afraid not to be politically correct these days. It does not effect all foreign immigrants, just Muslims that refuse to meld with and become part of any western culture.

By steve donato | June 10, 2010 1:31 AM