A Dictionary of Dutchness

JOVD

The Jongeren Organisatie Vrijheid en Democratie (youth organisation for freedom and democracy) was founded in 1949 and has been the official youth wing of the right-wing free market Liberal party (VVD) since 2000. Among former members of the JOVD who have gone on to bigger things are VVD stalwarts Ed Nijpels, whose claim to fame include stints as parliamentary party leader, environment minister and mayor of Breda, and former defence minister Frank de Grave. And perhaps the greatest of them all, the indefatigable former deputy prime minister Hans Wiegel who after 20 years away from national politics remains immensely popular with (potential) VVD voters.