In the run-up to the Dutch parliamentary elections on Wednesday 29 October 2025, there was hardly any attention paid to “geopolitics” in the campaign. We found this incomprehensible and irresponsible. That is why we organised “The Great Geopolitical Election Debate 2025” at Leiden University’s campus in The Hague.
After all, the world (order) is in turmoil. This directly affects the prosperity and well-being of the Dutch people. Voters need to know where they stand geopolitically. Finally, the foreign affairs spokespersons of various parties were able to engage in an extensive debate on the theme of our time: the geopolitical course of the Netherlands.
Strong ‘Line-up‘
A very strong line-up took to the stage at the Wijnhaven building in front of a packed crowd on the Spanish Steps.
Derk Boswijk of CDA
Wimar Bolhuis of GroenLinks-PvdA
Jan Paternotte of D66
Marieke Koekkoek of Volt Nederland
Christine Teunissen of Partij voor de Dieren
Eric van der Burg of VVD
The Three Propositions
- In order to save Dutch/European industry, the economy and defence – and to become strategically autonomous – climate policy may need to be scaled back a notch
- The Netherlands/Europe is falling short in its cooperation with countries in the Global South and must do more
- The Netherlands/Europe must take a stand against the US, Trump and American Big Tech (‘European summer of humiliation’)
Impression of the atmosphere in NRC
Political reporter Steven Derix wrote a lovely impression of the atmosphere in NRC.
