International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Jetten 1: harsh neoliberal policies to continue

John Cozijn — 2026-02-18T09:40:00Z

“That direction is hard right, outspokenly neoliberal, completely antisocial and a choice in favour of capital. It is a direction of severe cuts to social services, attacks on migrants and refugees, giving free rein to businesses and increasing militarization.”

- IVP613 - February 2026 / Netherlands

In memoriam: Paul Mepschen (1976-2025)

Alex de Jong — 2025-11-23T19:11:19Z

 On 6 November, our friend and comrade Paul Mepschen passed away, far too young. For many years, Paul had been one of the central people in SAP, the Dutch section of the Fourth International. He was a dedicated socialist and scholar whose work and life revolved around emancipation. Paul's warm and sympathetic personality will be missed by many.

- In Memoriam - Obituaries and appreciations / Netherlands, Obituary, Fourth International

No return of the centre but consolidation of the far-right and weakening of the left in Dutch elections

SAP / Grenzeloos — 2025-11-12T06:54:58Z

Much of the commentary on the results of the Dutch elections of October 29 can be summarised as “the centre is back”. However, the fact that the centrist party D66 won significantly while Geert Wilders' far-right PVV lost 11 seats is by no means a decisive change in the political pattern of the Netherlands. With 26 out of 150 seats, the PVV now has the same number as seats as D66. And for the Dutch left, there is even less reason to celebrate.

- IVP610 - November 2025 / Netherlands

A confident far-right and a stagnant parliamentary left in the Netherlands 

Alex de Jong — 2025-10-16T20:55:54Z

On October 29 the Netherlands will have parliamentary elections, again. In early June, the government of prime-minster Dick Schoof lost its majority as the far-right PVV of Geert Wilders blew up the coalition. Shortly before the elections, the contrast between the most important political events in the Netherlands could hardly be sharper. On 20 September, after an anti-immigration rally, fascists rioted in The Hague. On October 5, a quarter of a million people marched through the streets of Amsterdam to show their solidarity with Palestine.

- IVP609 - October 2025 / Netherlands

A New Step in the Radicalisation of the Far Right in the Netherlands

Alex de Jong — 2025-10-04T11:31:45Z

“What was new was that on 20 September violent far-right activists—fascists, that is—not only reacted but chose the moment themselves and did so under their own flag. This marks the increased self-confidence of these people.”

- IVP609 - October 2025 / Netherlands, Far Right

Polski Strajk: first strike amongst temporary workers, mainly Polish migrant workers, in AH and Jumbo distribution centres

John Cozijn — 2025-08-02T09:05:00Z

“Precarious and migrant workers constitute an important part of the working class, often difficult to organise. The success of this strike can give a boost to this work. It is therefore essential to organise solidarity to support and strengthen the strike.”

- IVP607 - August 2025 / Netherlands, Poland, Migration, Trade unions/workplace organizing

The Netherlands and the 1965 mass killings in Indonesia

Alex de Jong — 2025-04-24T15:45:42Z

The military coup d'état in Indonesia in 1965 was the beginning of one of the 20th century's greatest crimes: the killing of over half a million of people and the torture and imprisonment of hundreds of thousands more. Much has been written about the involvement of Western powers such as the United States in the military coup. Less is known about the response of the Netherlands. Declassified documents show that Dutch authorities regarded the military coup with sympathy and sought to support it.

- Features / Netherlands, Indonesia, Historical events and figures

Amsterdam riots and the wolf who cried antisemitism

Alex de Jong — 2024-11-20T19:31:21Z

Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv fans ignited violence in Amsterdam, but the far-right is victimising them to repress Palestine solidarity, writes Alex de Jong.

- IV598 - November 2024 / Palestine, Netherlands, Israel

Pinkwashing and Queer Dilemmas

Maryam Gilani, Jet Menist, Samara Ghazal — 2024-07-20T05:33:25Z

The sudden eruption of a controversy about whether or not to accept Israeli flags at the Amsterdam Pride Walk on the 20th of July 2024, usually one of the few more political events of the two-week Amsterdam Pride, has thrust the issue of the Israeli genocide in Gaza to the forefront of Dutch LGBTIQ politics. It has also exposed some difficult issues around the attempt to incorporate radical queers into Amsterdam Pride, characterized in the past by rampant commercialization and the presence of police, the military and government ministries.

- IV594 - July 2024 / Palestine, Netherlands, Israel, LGBT

Far-right electoral victory in the Netherlands

Alex de Jong — 2023-11-25T09:14:28Z

That the right-wing won the recent Dutch elections was no surprise. What was surprising was how decisive the share of the far-right was in the overall right-wing victory. For Geert Wilders, the leader of the far-right Freedom Party (PVV), years of patience paid off while the incumbent right-wing party gambled and lost.

- IV586 - November 2023 / Netherlands