DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

16 February 2026
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Local elections
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Local elections
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

FvD take charge of energy policy in Noord-Brabant coalition

May 6, 2020
Photo: DutchNews.nl
Photo: DutchNews.nl

Noord-Brabant’s new government will include two aldermen from far-right party Forum voor Democratie under the province’s new coalition deal.

Eric de Bie will take charge of a portfolio comprising energy, heritage and administrative reform, Brabants Dagblad reported. His appointment is controversial because of his party’s fierce opposition to ‘horizon polluting’ wind farms, which require planning consent at provincial level.

The national government wants to build hundreds of extra turbines around the country to meet its commitment of supplying 14% of power from renewable sources this year and 16% by the end of 2023.

Forum will also take charge of water and ground policy with the appointment of Peter Smit, formerly an alderman in the Noord-Brabant municipality of Oisterwijk.

The Christian Democrats (CDA) have nominated Elies Lemkes to take on the crucial portfolio for agriculture, food and nature, which will include new provincial measures to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution. The previous coalition collapsed in December when the CDA withdrew its support for the province’s nitrogen deal under strong pressure from pressure group Farmers Defence Force.

CDA MP Erik Ronnes will give up his seat in The Hague to become alderman for housing and public spaces. The two VVD aldermen from the previous coalition, Christophe van der Maat (finance and traffic policy) and Martijn van Gruithuijsen (economy) will retain their posts, while Wil van Pinxteren, chair of local party Lokaal Brabant, will take on the portfolio for recreation, administration and safety.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Short-track star Xandra Velzeboer wins her second Olympic gold
Dutch find 11 adults, six minors in lorry heading for Britain
Political parties start waking up to the power of the expat vote
Support for Maga ideas grows but Dutch reject US interference
Postponing retirement age “will hit manual workers hardest”
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingLocal elections
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2026 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now