Though most of my work on Dutch politics is in Dutch, I have also published various articles and papers in English. Also I have been interviewed on Dutch politics in various media.
Books:
The Power of Populism. Geert Wilders and the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands.
Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy. Routledge 2016.
This book discusses the Party for Freedom (PVV), a political party in the Netherlands, founded and led by Geert Wilders. Attaining between 10 and 18% of the votes, the PVV has become one of the largest parties in the Netherlands and is the only political party worldwide without members. Between 2010 and 2012 the party supported a minority coalition of liberals and christian-democrats in exchange for influence on governmental policy. The PVV can be viewed as the Dutch version of an ideological family of nationalist parties linked by their opposition to immigration and to the political and cultural elites. Within this family, Geert Wilders has played an important role as pioneer of a new master frame, in which Islam is portrayed as the historical arch-enemy of the West. As the main figurehead of European islamophobia, Wilders has inspired political parties and organizations in Europe, North-America, Israel and even Australia. Examining data collected on various aspects of the party (for example, voters, activists, organization and ideology) and employing theoretical insights from sociology, electoral geography and political science, this book analyses this controversial phenomenon and seeks to obtain a clearer picture of the functioning of the PVV. This book will be of interest to students and scholars interested in European politics and current affairs more generally.
Articles:
‘Geert Wilders collapsed the Dutch government. He wanted power, but had no idea how to govern’, The Guardian 12 juni 2025 Geert Wilders collapsed the Dutch government. He wanted power, but had no idea how to govern | Koen Vossen | The Guardian
‘The Netherlands: An Outlook Grounded in Anti-Islam Alarmism’, Rosa Balfour & Stefan Lehne, Charting the Radical Right’s Influence on EU Foreign Policy , Carnegie Europa, april 2024, 79-84.
‘Agrarian parties in the Netherlands. The Plattelandersbond and the Boerenpartij.’, Dirk Strijker, Gerrit Voerman, Ida Terluin (ed.), Rural protest groups and populist political parties. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen 2015, 292-303
‘Defending Dutch freedom. The rhetoric of the Dutch Far Right since 1945.’ , Matthew Feldman & Paul Jackson (eds.), Doublespeak: The Rhetoric of the Far Right Since 1945. Explorations of the Far Right, vol.3. University of Northampton, Stuttgart 2014, 167-181
‘The different flavours of populism in the Netherlands.’, Hedwig Giusto, David Kitching en Stefano Rizzo (eds.), The Changing Faces of Populism. Systemic challengers in Europe and the U.S. (Brussel, Roma 2013); Foundation for European Progressive Studies. Centro per la Riforma dello Stato en Fondazione Italianieuropei. University of Rome 2013, 173-191
‘Classifying Wilders. The ideological development of Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom.’ Politics. Wiley Blackwel. 2011 vol 31 (3). 179-190
‘Populism in the Netherlands after Fortuyn: Rita Verdonk and Geert Wilders compared’. Perspectives on European Politics and Society, Routledge 2010 (11), 22-39. Read
Papers:
‘Protecting the people against the masses. Populism and technocracy in the early years of mass-democracy.’ Conference University of Oslo. Challenges to Democracy: Populism, Technocracy, and Democratic Participation. 5/6-11 2015
‘The Dutch Model. Geert Wilders as new figurehead of European national-populism.’, Conference Populism and Extreme Right in Europe. Démocratie. Centre d’études. Université de Liège. 7-5 2014
‘Agrarian populist parties in the Netherlands.’ Seminar ‘Rural protest groups and populist political parties: exploring objectives, activities and relationships.’, University Groningen 24/25-5 2012
‘Populism. Ideology or strategy? An analytical framework ‘, Conference Midwest Political Science Association Chicago 30/31-3 2011
‘Different flavours of populism in the Netherlands.’ Workshop Disassembling populism. European Council of Political Research (ECPR). Joint sessions Münster 22-3 2010