Gordon Darroch
@gordondarroch.bsky.social
Journalist, immigrant, solo parent. Ik rot niet op naar mijn eigen land puur om jou te pesten. Podcast: http://soundcloud.com/dutchnewsnl
The American Battle Monuments Commission published with this weaselly statement about the removal of two panels at Margraten cemetery honouring Black soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands.
It says the changes were part of a "schedule for periodic rotation to include new content for visitors".
It says the changes were part of a "schedule for periodic rotation to include new content for visitors".
November 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The American Battle Monuments Commission published with this weaselly statement about the removal of two panels at Margraten cemetery honouring Black soldiers who helped liberate the Netherlands.
It says the changes were part of a "schedule for periodic rotation to include new content for visitors".
It says the changes were part of a "schedule for periodic rotation to include new content for visitors".
PS: What do you do next after introducing pointless and ineffective checks at road borders?
That's right: you introduce them at airports as well.
Since 28 July, 65,000 people on 500 flights coming into Schiphol from Schengen countries have been checked. A grand total of 20 were refused entry.
That's right: you introduce them at airports as well.
Since 28 July, 65,000 people on 500 flights coming into Schiphol from Schengen countries have been checked. A grand total of 20 were refused entry.
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 AM
PS: What do you do next after introducing pointless and ineffective checks at road borders?
That's right: you introduce them at airports as well.
Since 28 July, 65,000 people on 500 flights coming into Schiphol from Schengen countries have been checked. A grand total of 20 were refused entry.
That's right: you introduce them at airports as well.
Since 28 July, 65,000 people on 500 flights coming into Schiphol from Schengen countries have been checked. A grand total of 20 were refused entry.
The good news for popcorn bingers is that the Netherlands has notified the EU it wants to extend these ineffective border checks until June next year. Figures here:
November 12, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The good news for popcorn bingers is that the Netherlands has notified the EU it wants to extend these ineffective border checks until June next year. Figures here:
Dit zijn alle partijen die tijdens de campagne hebben aangegeven niet met de PVV te willen samenwerken.
Daar heeft 65% van de kiezers op gestemd.
Lijkt mij een sterk democratische basis.
Daar heeft 65% van de kiezers op gestemd.
Lijkt mij een sterk democratische basis.
November 8, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Dit zijn alle partijen die tijdens de campagne hebben aangegeven niet met de PVV te willen samenwerken.
Daar heeft 65% van de kiezers op gestemd.
Lijkt mij een sterk democratische basis.
Daar heeft 65% van de kiezers op gestemd.
Lijkt mij een sterk democratische basis.
Vincent Karremans, tipped as a potential successor to VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz, has given his leader a resounding vote of confidence: “Dilan is firmly in the driving seat.” nos.nl/liveblog/258...
One of those situations where following football can help you decipher what's going on in politics.
One of those situations where following football can help you decipher what's going on in politics.
![An article published in the Telegraaf on November 6 2025 after John Heitinga was sacked as Ajax coach by the club's board of directors, including Alex Kroes. Kroes says: “He [Heitinga] was very disappointed and I can understand that. He was angry.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ppc27pzemewo26mb7jivbr66/bafkreieun42salmazh7gjxgczl6uv6ezmzdq5udnj6brajocvosl3tgt5u@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Vincent Karremans, tipped as a potential successor to VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz, has given his leader a resounding vote of confidence: “Dilan is firmly in the driving seat.” nos.nl/liveblog/258...
One of those situations where following football can help you decipher what's going on in politics.
One of those situations where following football can help you decipher what's going on in politics.
The gap is now 1984 votes.
Release the memes.
Release the memes.
October 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The gap is now 1984 votes.
Release the memes.
Release the memes.
Mijn telefoon vindt zichzelf heel erg grappig.
October 30, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Mijn telefoon vindt zichzelf heel erg grappig.
Wilders on Tw*tter: "The voters have spoken. We had hoped for a different result but we will hold our heads high. We are more determined to fight than ever, we are still the second largest and maybe the largest party in the Netherlands.” #TK2025 #DutchElections
October 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Wilders on Tw*tter: "The voters have spoken. We had hoped for a different result but we will hold our heads high. We are more determined to fight than ever, we are still the second largest and maybe the largest party in the Netherlands.” #TK2025 #DutchElections
The Ipsos poll is even madder: PVV, D66 and GL-PvdA are all on 23 seats, CDA 19, VVD 17. JA21 are faring better with 11.
Direction of travel is broadly the same: PVV, CDA and JA21 down, D66 and VVD up, GL-PvdA holding firm.
And NSC holding on to one of their 20 seats.
Direction of travel is broadly the same: PVV, CDA and JA21 down, D66 and VVD up, GL-PvdA holding firm.
And NSC holding on to one of their 20 seats.
October 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The Ipsos poll is even madder: PVV, D66 and GL-PvdA are all on 23 seats, CDA 19, VVD 17. JA21 are faring better with 11.
Direction of travel is broadly the same: PVV, CDA and JA21 down, D66 and VVD up, GL-PvdA holding firm.
And NSC holding on to one of their 20 seats.
Direction of travel is broadly the same: PVV, CDA and JA21 down, D66 and VVD up, GL-PvdA holding firm.
And NSC holding on to one of their 20 seats.
Last Verian poll of this bewildering Dutch election campaign.
PVV lead down to four seats – they could be caught.
GL-PvdA solid. D66 up from 16 to 24 in a week. Small gain for VVD, JA21 down.
Instinct tells me D66 are taking votes off VVD and CDA, but VVD are gaining from PVV and JA21.
PVV lead down to four seats – they could be caught.
GL-PvdA solid. D66 up from 16 to 24 in a week. Small gain for VVD, JA21 down.
Instinct tells me D66 are taking votes off VVD and CDA, but VVD are gaining from PVV and JA21.
October 28, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Last Verian poll of this bewildering Dutch election campaign.
PVV lead down to four seats – they could be caught.
GL-PvdA solid. D66 up from 16 to 24 in a week. Small gain for VVD, JA21 down.
Instinct tells me D66 are taking votes off VVD and CDA, but VVD are gaining from PVV and JA21.
PVV lead down to four seats – they could be caught.
GL-PvdA solid. D66 up from 16 to 24 in a week. Small gain for VVD, JA21 down.
Instinct tells me D66 are taking votes off VVD and CDA, but VVD are gaining from PVV and JA21.
Het CDA wil een jaarlijkse survivalchallenge organiseren om onze paraatheid te testen. Zoveel vragen: is dropping een van de onderdelen? Gaat @henri.cda.nl voorop? Wordt het uitgezonden door SBS6?
October 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Het CDA wil een jaarlijkse survivalchallenge organiseren om onze paraatheid te testen. Zoveel vragen: is dropping een van de onderdelen? Gaat @henri.cda.nl voorop? Wordt het uitgezonden door SBS6?
For comparison, here's Maurice de Hond's poll from the same day, which tells a different story: a stronger VVD, with JA21 falling back, D66 stagnating and back in fifth place, and a bigger margin for Wilders.
October 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
For comparison, here's Maurice de Hond's poll from the same day, which tells a different story: a stronger VVD, with JA21 falling back, D66 stagnating and back in fifth place, and a bigger margin for Wilders.
Only an absolute fool would try to predict the outcome of this Dutch election. Any of five parties could finish first, though Wilders is still the favourite. But the real question is who will be the best of the rest, since he has no chance of forming the next coalition.
October 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Only an absolute fool would try to predict the outcome of this Dutch election. Any of five parties could finish first, though Wilders is still the favourite. But the real question is who will be the best of the rest, since he has no chance of forming the next coalition.
Dutch election poll, 8 days to go:
PVV end recent slide, 9 seats clear but still unable to form government.
GL-PvdA and CDA unchanged
D66 overtake VVD, but both improving while JA21 drop back
Several minor parties fall back; BBB go from 4 seats to 2.
PVV end recent slide, 9 seats clear but still unable to form government.
GL-PvdA and CDA unchanged
D66 overtake VVD, but both improving while JA21 drop back
Several minor parties fall back; BBB go from 4 seats to 2.
October 21, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Dutch election poll, 8 days to go:
PVV end recent slide, 9 seats clear but still unable to form government.
GL-PvdA and CDA unchanged
D66 overtake VVD, but both improving while JA21 drop back
Several minor parties fall back; BBB go from 4 seats to 2.
PVV end recent slide, 9 seats clear but still unable to form government.
GL-PvdA and CDA unchanged
D66 overtake VVD, but both improving while JA21 drop back
Several minor parties fall back; BBB go from 4 seats to 2.
Dutch election opinion poll by Maurice de Hond. 10 days to go.
PVV backsliding: 3 seats down.
D66 on the rise, passing VVD.
CDA vote holding up; GroenLinks-PvdA could lose out to D66.
VVD appear to have stopped the rot, possibly taking votes from JA21.
More movement: top 7 parties all show change.
PVV backsliding: 3 seats down.
D66 on the rise, passing VVD.
CDA vote holding up; GroenLinks-PvdA could lose out to D66.
VVD appear to have stopped the rot, possibly taking votes from JA21.
More movement: top 7 parties all show change.
October 19, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Dutch election opinion poll by Maurice de Hond. 10 days to go.
PVV backsliding: 3 seats down.
D66 on the rise, passing VVD.
CDA vote holding up; GroenLinks-PvdA could lose out to D66.
VVD appear to have stopped the rot, possibly taking votes from JA21.
More movement: top 7 parties all show change.
PVV backsliding: 3 seats down.
D66 on the rise, passing VVD.
CDA vote holding up; GroenLinks-PvdA could lose out to D66.
VVD appear to have stopped the rot, possibly taking votes from JA21.
More movement: top 7 parties all show change.
Dutch election, 13 days to go: Ipsos poll for @pauwendewit.bsky.social shows PVV below 30 seats after Wilders suspended his campaign, D66 up 4 seats, nobody else really moving.
Nobody outside the top 6 has more than 4 seats, so at least 3 of those parties will be needed for a coalition.
Nobody outside the top 6 has more than 4 seats, so at least 3 of those parties will be needed for a coalition.
October 17, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Dutch election, 13 days to go: Ipsos poll for @pauwendewit.bsky.social shows PVV below 30 seats after Wilders suspended his campaign, D66 up 4 seats, nobody else really moving.
Nobody outside the top 6 has more than 4 seats, so at least 3 of those parties will be needed for a coalition.
Nobody outside the top 6 has more than 4 seats, so at least 3 of those parties will be needed for a coalition.
Possible coalitions? The RTL coalition (GL-PvdA, CDA, VVD, D66) have a combined 76 seats in this poll (same as De Hond at the weekend), so the slenderest of majorities.
But a nightmare for the VVD, because 58% of their voters would rather go into opposition than a coalition with GL-PvdA.
But a nightmare for the VVD, because 58% of their voters would rather go into opposition than a coalition with GL-PvdA.
October 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Possible coalitions? The RTL coalition (GL-PvdA, CDA, VVD, D66) have a combined 76 seats in this poll (same as De Hond at the weekend), so the slenderest of majorities.
But a nightmare for the VVD, because 58% of their voters would rather go into opposition than a coalition with GL-PvdA.
But a nightmare for the VVD, because 58% of their voters would rather go into opposition than a coalition with GL-PvdA.
New Dutch election poll! With some small but interesting shifts:
PVV down 3 seats. Wilders’ decision to stay off the campaign trail isn't winning him sympathy votes – most PVV voters are understanding, but 60% want him to get back on TV, especially first-time voters from 2023.
PVV down 3 seats. Wilders’ decision to stay off the campaign trail isn't winning him sympathy votes – most PVV voters are understanding, but 60% want him to get back on TV, especially first-time voters from 2023.
October 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
New Dutch election poll! With some small but interesting shifts:
PVV down 3 seats. Wilders’ decision to stay off the campaign trail isn't winning him sympathy votes – most PVV voters are understanding, but 60% want him to get back on TV, especially first-time voters from 2023.
PVV down 3 seats. Wilders’ decision to stay off the campaign trail isn't winning him sympathy votes – most PVV voters are understanding, but 60% want him to get back on TV, especially first-time voters from 2023.
Dutch election campaigns are short and intense, and momentum is crucial. Peak too early and you can be heading for a crushing disappointment. Latest polls show the CDA, after a good 18 months, struggling to hit the 25 line. Are voters getting cold feet about Henri Bontenbal?
October 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Dutch election campaigns are short and intense, and momentum is crucial. Peak too early and you can be heading for a crushing disappointment. Latest polls show the CDA, after a good 18 months, struggling to hit the 25 line. Are voters getting cold feet about Henri Bontenbal?
Geert Wilders is reassured by the counter-terrorism agency NCTV that there is "no latent threat" from the Belgian-based terrorism cell that was broken up this week, but he's staying away from the election debates anyway because he has a "bad feeling".
October 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Geert Wilders is reassured by the counter-terrorism agency NCTV that there is "no latent threat" from the Belgian-based terrorism cell that was broken up this week, but he's staying away from the election debates anyway because he has a "bad feeling".
This is how the Dutch national press agency ANP labels photographs of snarling far-right thugs waving Nazi-era flags on its website.
We have a serious problem.
We have a serious problem.
September 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
This is how the Dutch national press agency ANP labels photographs of snarling far-right thugs waving Nazi-era flags on its website.
We have a serious problem.
We have a serious problem.
Wilders hails the decision to scrap plans for two asylum seekers' centres in Amersfoort a triumph for "non-violent resistance".
Three days earlier a man was arrested for making telephone threats to the town's mayor.
Three days earlier a man was arrested for making telephone threats to the town's mayor.
![Post by Geert Wilders: "Fantastic news and proof that – non-violent – resistance works! Now for the rest of the AZCs [refugee accommodation facilities] in the Netherlands!" Quotes headline from NOS: "Two AZC locations in Amersfoort provisionally withdrawn."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ppc27pzemewo26mb7jivbr66/bafkreiddledp6rc3arinyrvt4zou64q2lofqm5vxm537kkv2eyagn6aovy@jpeg)
![Headline from Hart van Nederland: "Suspect arrested for threatening mayor of Amersfoort over AZC."
Opening paragraph: "Police have arrested a suspect for threatening the mayor of Amersfoort. The 35-year-old resident of Amersfoort is alleged to have made telephone threats to mayor [Lucas] Bolsius last Thursday because of the possible location of a new asylum seekers' centre in the Vathorst area of Amersfoort.“](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ppc27pzemewo26mb7jivbr66/bafkreico23mpx5gzviafxw6lb7n5qy4dcab4vhv3p7abe3zd4p5dripifa@jpeg)
September 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Wilders hails the decision to scrap plans for two asylum seekers' centres in Amersfoort a triumph for "non-violent resistance".
Three days earlier a man was arrested for making telephone threats to the town's mayor.
Three days earlier a man was arrested for making telephone threats to the town's mayor.
Picking a fight with a celebrity over a highly charged political issue, and losing, isn't a good look for a party leader at the best of times. But these aren't the best of times for the VVD, which has slumped in the polls from 16% to around 10% since the end of May.
August 12, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Picking a fight with a celebrity over a highly charged political issue, and losing, isn't a good look for a party leader at the best of times. But these aren't the best of times for the VVD, which has slumped in the polls from 16% to around 10% since the end of May.
"Never heard of Douwe Bob." It's a loyalty test. Trump does this too. Do you believe and trust The Leader unconditionally even when the facts make it impossible for a rational mind?
July 1, 2025 at 8:38 AM
"Never heard of Douwe Bob." It's a loyalty test. Trump does this too. Do you believe and trust The Leader unconditionally even when the facts make it impossible for a rational mind?
"No, Holland is actually two provinces. The area round Amsterdam is called North Holland, but The Hague is in South Holland. The country is called the Netherlands. We also have some islands in the Caribbean. They're in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but not the Netherlands."
June 25, 2025 at 12:26 PM
"No, Holland is actually two provinces. The area round Amsterdam is called North Holland, but The Hague is in South Holland. The country is called the Netherlands. We also have some islands in the Caribbean. They're in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but not the Netherlands."