Socialism in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of socialism in the Netherlands
, including communism
and social democracy
. It is limited to socialist, communist and social-democratic parties
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme.
s, united in the Algemeen Nederlands Werklieden Vereniging, a socialist party was not founded until 1881, when the Social Democratic League
was founded. The slow industrialization was reflected in the support base of the first socialist parties. It wasn't the urban proletariat which supported them most, instead it were agricultural workers, who were the first to support the League.
Before the First World War, the socialist movement saw two major splits: in 1894 between revolutionary anarchists and parliament-oriented socialists. The latter left the League to found the Social-Democratic Workers' Party, while the former kept control of the SDB, which was soon banned by the government. The second split was between a revolutionary Marxist opposition and a reformist-revisionist establishment. In 1907 the opposition group left the SDAP to found the Social-Democratic Party
, which would become the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) after the Russian Revolution. This was one of the first splits between reformists and revolutionaries within the European labour movement. Both the revolutionaries and the reformists have their own labour unions, the reformist Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen
and the anarcho-syndicalist Nationaal Arbeidssecretariaat.
After the Second World War, the SDAP merged with smaller left-liberal, progressive catholic and Protestant groups and parties to form the Labour Party (PvdA). The founders hoped that the old social structures would be replaced by a united progressive Netherlands, the Breakthrough. However, the Labour Party quickly found itself taking the SDAP's old place in the socialist pillar. It only gained only a third of the seats in the 1946 elections
. From 1946 and 1958, PvdA leader Willem Drees
served as prime minister of a broad coalition. The PvdA became social-democratic supporting a welfare state
, a mixed economy
, decolonization
and NATO. In 1946 the CPN performed particularly well as it had gained support due to the role played by communists in the Dutch Resistance
.
During the 1960s and 1970s socialism was invigorated with the development of New Left-movements. In 1957 the Pacifist Socialist Party
was founded out of the developing peace movement
and provided an alternative to the pro-American PvdA and the pro-Soviet CPN. In 1967 the Nieuw Links, a group of young socialists within the PvdA gained control of the party and set out on a new course, which included both social-democratic and New Left ideals, such as a strong welfare state, women's liberation, environmental protection and international development. They wanted to form a progressive majority-coalition, together with their left-liberal and progressive Christian allies. A group of social-democrats leave the PvdA to form DS'70. The PvdA and their allies were unsuccessful at gaining a majority however in the 1971
and 1972 elections
and the PvdA's leader Joop den Uyl
was forced to form a tenuous coalition with the Christian democrats.
During the 1980s socialism, communism and social-democracy were forced into a defensive position. The smaller socialist parties, PSP and CPN, which prospered in the 1960s and 1970s, lost seats, whilst the CPN disappeared from the House of Representatives in the 1986
. The PvdA was confined to opposition, while the liberals and Christian democrats reformed the welfare state. The socialist labour union lost members and merged with the Catholic labour union to form the Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
.
In the 1990s socialists and social-democrats renewed themselves. In 1989 the PSP and CPN merged with two small Christian left
parties (the Evangelical People's Party and the Political Party of Radicals) to form GreenLeft
. In the 1994 general election Wim Kok
, the new leader of the PvdA, lost a considerable number of seats, but still emerged as leader of the largest party. He forms an unprecedented purple
coalition with progressive and conservative liberals which implements a Third Way
policy, including privatisation of public companies, legalisation of prostitution
and euthanasia
and some institutional reforms. In 1994 a small formerly Maoist party, the Socialist Party
(SP) also entered parliament.
In 2007 the PvdA re-enters the coalition, now with Christian-democrats and the economically left-leaning but socially conservative ChristianUnion
. The SP won an unprecedented 25 seats in the 2006 elections
. Since 2004, GreenLeft has radically renewed its image and is now promoting itself as a left-liberal party, possibly breaking with its socialist roots.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, including communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and social democracy
Social democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
. It is limited to socialist, communist and social-democratic parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme.
Overview
Socialism came relatively late to the Netherlands, because of its slow industrialization. In the 1860s a socialist movement began to develop. Although the socialists were aided by the foundation of the First International and of the first Dutch trade unionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s, united in the Algemeen Nederlands Werklieden Vereniging, a socialist party was not founded until 1881, when the Social Democratic League
Social Democratic League
The Social Democratic League was a Dutch socialist political party. The SDB was the first socialist party to enter the Dutch House of Representatives.-Before 1881:...
was founded. The slow industrialization was reflected in the support base of the first socialist parties. It wasn't the urban proletariat which supported them most, instead it were agricultural workers, who were the first to support the League.
Before the First World War, the socialist movement saw two major splits: in 1894 between revolutionary anarchists and parliament-oriented socialists. The latter left the League to found the Social-Democratic Workers' Party, while the former kept control of the SDB, which was soon banned by the government. The second split was between a revolutionary Marxist opposition and a reformist-revisionist establishment. In 1907 the opposition group left the SDAP to found the Social-Democratic Party
Communist Party of the Netherlands
The Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
, which would become the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) after the Russian Revolution. This was one of the first splits between reformists and revolutionaries within the European labour movement. Both the revolutionaries and the reformists have their own labour unions, the reformist Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen
Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen
The Nederlands Verbond van Vakverenigingen was a Dutch social-democratic trade union.-History:...
and the anarcho-syndicalist Nationaal Arbeidssecretariaat.
After the Second World War, the SDAP merged with smaller left-liberal, progressive catholic and Protestant groups and parties to form the Labour Party (PvdA). The founders hoped that the old social structures would be replaced by a united progressive Netherlands, the Breakthrough. However, the Labour Party quickly found itself taking the SDAP's old place in the socialist pillar. It only gained only a third of the seats in the 1946 elections
Dutch general election, 1946
A general election of the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament was held in the Netherlands on May 17, 1946.After the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, parties that existed prior to the war underwent mergers and reorganizations.-National summary:-Parties:* Anti...
. From 1946 and 1958, PvdA leader Willem Drees
Willem Drees
Willem Drees was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 7, 1948 until December 22, 1958....
served as prime minister of a broad coalition. The PvdA became social-democratic supporting a welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
, a mixed economy
Mixed economy
Mixed economy is an economic system in which both the state and private sector direct the economy, reflecting characteristics of both market economies and planned economies. Most mixed economies can be described as market economies with strong regulatory oversight, in addition to having a variety...
, decolonization
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
and NATO. In 1946 the CPN performed particularly well as it had gained support due to the role played by communists in the Dutch Resistance
Dutch resistance
Dutch resistance to the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during World War II can be mainly characterized by its prominent non-violence, summitting in over 300,000 people in hiding in the autumn of 1944, tended to by some 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers and tolerated knowingly...
.
During the 1960s and 1970s socialism was invigorated with the development of New Left-movements. In 1957 the Pacifist Socialist Party
Pacifist Socialist Party
The Pacifist Socialist Party was a Dutch left-socialist political party. The PSP played a small role in Dutch politics. It is a predecessor of the GreenLeft.-Before 1957:...
was founded out of the developing peace movement
Peace movement
A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
and provided an alternative to the pro-American PvdA and the pro-Soviet CPN. In 1967 the Nieuw Links, a group of young socialists within the PvdA gained control of the party and set out on a new course, which included both social-democratic and New Left ideals, such as a strong welfare state, women's liberation, environmental protection and international development. They wanted to form a progressive majority-coalition, together with their left-liberal and progressive Christian allies. A group of social-democrats leave the PvdA to form DS'70. The PvdA and their allies were unsuccessful at gaining a majority however in the 1971
Dutch general election, 1971
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on April 28, 1971.-National summary:turnout: 79.1%...
and 1972 elections
Dutch general election, 1972
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 29, 1972.-National summary:...
and the PvdA's leader Joop den Uyl
Joop den Uyl
Johannes Marten den Uijl, known as Joop den Uyl was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977....
was forced to form a tenuous coalition with the Christian democrats.
During the 1980s socialism, communism and social-democracy were forced into a defensive position. The smaller socialist parties, PSP and CPN, which prospered in the 1960s and 1970s, lost seats, whilst the CPN disappeared from the House of Representatives in the 1986
Dutch general election, 1986
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on May 21, 1986.-National summary:...
. The PvdA was confined to opposition, while the liberals and Christian democrats reformed the welfare state. The socialist labour union lost members and merged with the Catholic labour union to form the Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging
The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands.-History:...
.
In the 1990s socialists and social-democrats renewed themselves. In 1989 the PSP and CPN merged with two small Christian left
Christian left
The Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
parties (the Evangelical People's Party and the Political Party of Radicals) to form GreenLeft
GreenLeft
GreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
. In the 1994 general election Wim Kok
Wim Kok
Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
, the new leader of the PvdA, lost a considerable number of seats, but still emerged as leader of the largest party. He forms an unprecedented purple
Purple (government)
Purple is a common term in politics for governments or other political entities consisting of parties that have red and blue as their political colours...
coalition with progressive and conservative liberals which implements a Third Way
Third way (centrism)
The Third Way refers to various political positions which try to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics by advocating a varying synthesis of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. Third Way approaches are commonly viewed from within the first- and second-way perspectives as...
policy, including privatisation of public companies, legalisation of prostitution
Prostitution in the Netherlands
Prostitution in the Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. In the last few years, a significant number of brothels and "windows" have been closed because of suspected criminal activity...
and euthanasia
Euthanasia in the Netherlands
Euthanasia in the Netherlands is regulated by the "Termination of Life on Request and Assisted Suicide Act" from 2002. It states that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are not punishable if the attending physician acts in accordance with criteria of due care...
and some institutional reforms. In 1994 a small formerly Maoist party, the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
(SP) also entered parliament.
In 2007 the PvdA re-enters the coalition, now with Christian-democrats and the economically left-leaning but socially conservative ChristianUnion
ChristianUnion
The ChristianUnion , abbreviated to CU, is a Dutch Christian democratic political party. A centrist party, the CU's policies combine social conservatism and soft euroscepticism with more centre-left positions on economic, immigration, and environmental issues.Founded in 2000 as a merger of the...
. The SP won an unprecedented 25 seats in the 2006 elections
Dutch general election, 2006
The General Election to the House of Representatives of the States-General of the Netherlands was held in the Netherlands on November 22, 2006. And followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet....
. Since 2004, GreenLeft has radically renewed its image and is now promoting itself as a left-liberal party, possibly breaking with its socialist roots.
SDB
- 1881 The Social Democratic LeagueSocial Democratic LeagueThe Social Democratic League was a Dutch socialist political party. The SDB was the first socialist party to enter the Dutch House of Representatives.-Before 1881:...
(Dutch: Sociaal Democratische Bond; SDB) is founded. - 1893 Moderate faction leaves the SDB to found the ⇒Social-Democratic Workers' Party. The SDB is consequently forbidden but continues as the secret Socialist League.
- 1900 The last members of the Socialist League join the ⇒SDAP.
SDAP
- 1894 Social-Democratic Workers' Party (Dutch: Sociaal Democratische Arbeiderspartij; SDAP) is founded by a group known as the Twelve apostles, including Pieter Jelles TroelstraPieter Jelles TroelstraPieter Jelles Troelstra was a Dutch politician active in the socialist workers' movement. He is most remembered for his fight for universal suffrage and his failed call for revolution at the end of World War I...
. - 1907 A group of revolutionary Marxists are removed from party ranks and found the ⇒SDP.
- 1932 A group of orthodox Marxisits led by Jacques de KadtJacques de KadtJacques de Kadt was a prominent and often controversial 20th Century Dutch political thinker, politician and man of letters. Born into a liberal Jewish family, he was the youngest son of a factory manager, Roelof de Kadt, and his wife Bertha Koppens...
leave the SDAP to found the Independent Socialist PartyIndependent Socialist Party (Netherlands)The Independent Socialist Party was a revolutionary socialist political party in the Netherlands.-History:...
(Dutch: Onafhankelijk Socialistische Partij; OSP), which in 1935 would merge with the ⇒RSP. - 1941 The SDAP is forbidden by the GermanNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupying force. - 1946 The SDAP merges into the ⇒Labour Party.
CPN
- 1907 A group of revolutionary Marxists are removed from SDAP party ranks and found the Social Democratic PartyCommunist Party of the NetherlandsThe Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
(Dutch: Sociaal-Democratische Partij; SDP). - 1918 The SDP form a common parliamentary party with BCS and SP.
- 1918 The SDP changes its name to Communist Party HollandCommunist Party of the NetherlandsThe Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
(Dutch: Communistische Partij Holland; CPH) to conform to CominternCominternThe Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
rules. - 1937 The CPH changes its name to Communist Party of the NetherlandsCommunist Party of the NetherlandsThe Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
(Dutch: Communistische Partij Nederland; CPN) to increase international clarity. - 1941 The CPN is forbidden by the GermanNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupying force and goes into illegal resistance. - 1958 The moderate Bruggroep leaves the CPN to found the Socialist Workers' Party, in 1963 it joins the PSP.
- 1964 A Maoist group is removed from the party ranks. They form the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands was a communist organization in the Netherlands....
, which would become the SP - 1983 The orthodox communist League of Communists in the NetherlandsLeague of Communists in the NetherlandsThe League of Communists in the Netherlands, in Dutch known as Verbond van Communisten in Nederland was a communist political party in the Netherlands. The VCN was the result of a split in 1984 in the Communist Party of the Netherlands , who disagreed with the revisionist and eurocommunist line of...
leaves the CPN. In 1992 they would become the New Communist Party of the Netherlands. - 1989 The CPN joins the GreenLeftGreenLeftGreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
together with the ⇒PSP, Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party.
BCS
- 1907 The League of Christian SocialistsLeague of Christian SocialistsThe League of Christian Socialists was a Dutch Christian socialist political party. The BCS is historically linked to the Dutch Labour Party and GreenLeft.-Party History:The BCS was founded in 1907...
(Dutch: Bond Christen Socialisten; BCS) is founded. - 1918 The BCS form a common parliamentary party with SDP and SP.
- 1919 The BCS splits, some members leave to join the Communist Party of the NetherlandsCommunist Party of the NetherlandsThe Communist Party of the Netherlands was a Dutch communist political party. The CPN is one of the predecessors of the GreenLeft.- Foundation :...
, others join the Social Democratic Workers' PartySocial Democratic Workers' Party (Netherlands)The Social Democratic Workers' Party was a Dutch socialist political party and a predecessor of the social-democratic PvdA.-1893-1904:...
and others remain independent and form the Christian Democratic UnionChristian Democratic Union (Netherlands)The Christian-Democratic Union was a minor Christian left party in the Netherlands in the interbellum.-History:...
with the Christian Socialist Party and former members of the Christian Democratic PartyChristian Democratic Party (Netherlands)The Christian Democratic Party was a Dutch left-wing Christian-democratic political party. The CDP played only a minor role in parliament...
in 1926.
SP (interbellum)
- 1918 The Socialist PartySocialist Party (Netherlands, interbellum)The Socialist Party was a Dutch revolutionary syndicalist libertarian socialist political party. The SP played only a minor role in Dutch political history.-Party History:...
(Dutch: Socialistische Partij; SP) is founded by members of the anarcho-syndicalist union, Nationaal Arbeidssecretariaat. - 1918 The SDP form a common parliamentary party with BCS and SDP.
- 1928 The SP dissolves, many of its members would join the ⇒RSP.
RSP
- 1929 The Revolutionary Socialist PartyRevolutionary Socialist Party (Netherlands)The Revolutionary Socialist Party was a Dutch socialist political party.-Predecessors:The oldest predecessor of the Revolutionary Socialist Party is the Revolutionary Socialist Union , a group of dissidents from the Communist Party Holland led by Henk Sneevliet...
(Dutch: Revolutionair Socialistische Partij; RSP) is founded by Henk SneevlietHenk SneevlietHendricus Josephus Franciscus Marie Sneevliet, known as Henk Sneevliet or the pseudonym Maring , was a Dutch Communist, who was active in both the Netherlands and the Dutch East-Indies...
, a former member of the ⇒CPH. - 1935 The Independent Socialist PartyIndependent Socialist Party (Netherlands)The Independent Socialist Party was a revolutionary socialist political party in the Netherlands.-History:...
, a split from the ⇒SDAP in 1932, led Jacques de KadtJacques de KadtJacques de Kadt was a prominent and often controversial 20th Century Dutch political thinker, politician and man of letters. Born into a liberal Jewish family, he was the youngest son of a factory manager, Roelof de Kadt, and his wife Bertha Koppens...
merges with the RSP to form the Revolutionary Socialist Workers' Party (Dutch: Revolutionair Socialistische Arbeidersparty; RSAP). - 1941 The RSP is forbidden by the GermanNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupying force and forms the illegal resistance group Marx-Lenin-Luxemburg FrontMarx-Lenin-Luxemburg FrontThe Marx-Lenin-Luxemburg-Front was a resistance movement founded by Henk Sneevliet, Willem Dolleman and Ab Menist, some months after the German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940...
.
PvdA
- 1946 The Labour Party (Dutch: Partij van de Arbeid; PvdA) is by ⇒SDAP the Christian Democratic UnionChristian Democratic Union (Netherlands)The Christian-Democratic Union was a minor Christian left party in the Netherlands in the interbellum.-History:...
, the Freethinking Democratic League and several resistance groups - 1948 A small group of former Freethinking Democrats leaves the PvdA to join the People's Party for Freedom and DemocracyPeople's Party for Freedom and DemocracyThe People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
- 1970 A group of conservative social-democrats leaves the PvdA to found ⇒DS70.
PSP
- 1957 The Pacifist Socialist PartyPacifist Socialist PartyThe Pacifist Socialist Party was a Dutch left-socialist political party. The PSP played a small role in Dutch politics. It is a predecessor of the GreenLeft.-Before 1957:...
(Dutch: Pacifistisch Socialistische Partij) is founded by a group of politically homeless, former members of the ⇒PvdA and ⇒CPN and people involved in the peace movement. - 1974 A Trotskyist group leaves the PSP to found the League of International Communists, which would become Socialist Alternative PoliticsSocialist Alternative PoliticsThe Socialist Alternative Politics is a socialist political party in the Netherlands without parliamentary representation...
. - 1985 A group who opposes further cooperation with ⇒CPN and the Political Party of Radicals, led by MP Fred van der Spek leaves the party to found the Party for Socialism and Disarmament, which would become the Pacifist Socialist Party '92.
- 1989 The PSP joins the GreenLeftGreenLeftGreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
together with the ⇒CPN, Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party.
DS70
- 1970 Democratic Socialists 1970Democratic Socialists 1970Democratisch Socialisten '70 was a Dutch social-democratic political party.-History:DS'70 was founded on April 4, 1970 as a result of a split from the Dutch Labour Party, PvdA...
(Dutch: Democratisch Socialisten '70; DS70) is founded by a group of former members of the ⇒PvdA. - 1983 DS70 is officially dissolved, many of its members return to the ⇒PvdA.
SP
- 1971 The Communist Party of the Netherlands/Marxist-LeninistSocialist Party (Netherlands)The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
(Dutch: Kommunistiese Partij Nederland/Marxisties-Leninisties, KPN/ML) splits from the Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (marxist-leninist)Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands was a communist organization in the Netherlands....
, which had split from the CPN - 1972 The KPN/ML renames itself Socialist Party (Dutch: Socialistiese Partij; SP)
- 1993 The SP renames itself Socialist Party (Dutch: Socialistische Partij; SP)
GreenLeft
- 1989 GreenLeftGreenLeftGreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
(Dutch: GroenLinks; GL) is formed by the ⇒PSP, the ⇒CPN, the green Political Party of Radicals and the Christian leftChristian leftThe Christian left is a term originating in the United States, used to describe a spectrum of left-wing Christian political and social movements which largely embraces social justice....
Evangelical People's Party. Although formed by a communist and a socialist party, GreenLeft lacks a specific socialist, communist or social-democratic profile and can better be classified as a green party.
Socialist leaders
- Social-Democratic League: Ferdinand Domela NieuwenhuisFerdinand Domela NieuwenhuisFerdinand Jacobus Domela Nieuwenhuis was the Netherlands' first prominent socialist. He was a Lutheran preacher who, after he lost his faith, started a political fight for workers. He was the first socialist in the Dutch parliament.Nieuwenhuis was born in Amsterdam. His family added the second...
- Social-Democratic Workers' Party: Pieter Jelles TroelstraPieter Jelles TroelstraPieter Jelles Troelstra was a Dutch politician active in the socialist workers' movement. He is most remembered for his fight for universal suffrage and his failed call for revolution at the end of World War I...
- Communist Party of the Netherlands: Paul de Groot
- Revolutionary Socialist Party: Henk SneevlietHenk SneevlietHendricus Josephus Franciscus Marie Sneevliet, known as Henk Sneevliet or the pseudonym Maring , was a Dutch Communist, who was active in both the Netherlands and the Dutch East-Indies...
- Labour Party: Willem DreesWillem DreesWillem Drees was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 7, 1948 until December 22, 1958....
, Joop den UylJoop den UylJohannes Marten den Uijl, known as Joop den Uyl was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977....
, Wim KokWim KokWillem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
, Wouter BosWouter BosWouter Jacob Bos is a Dutch management consultant and former politician of the Labour Party . He was Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet Balkenende IV from February 22, 2007 till February 23, 2010...
, Job CohenJob CohenMarius Job Cohen is a Dutch social democratic politician and former legal scholar of Jewish background. Since 2010 he has been the leader of the Labour Party and since June 17, 2010 he has been a member of the House of Representatives, where he also is the Parliamentary group leader of the Labour...
(current) - Socialist Party: Jan MarijnissenJan MarijnissenJohannes Guillaume Christianus Andreas Marijnissen is a Dutch politician of the Socialist Party . He served as Parliamentary leader in House of Representatives May 5, 1994 until June 20, 2008...
, Agnes KantAgnes KantAgnes Catharina Kant is a retired Dutch politician of the Socialist Party. She was the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives from June 20, 2008 until March 4, 2010. Since 1998, she has been a member of the House of Representatives. In June 2008, she became the parliamentary leader...
Emile RoemerEmile RoemerEmile Gerardus Maria Roemer is a Dutch politician of the Socialist Party . He has been a Member of the House of Representatives since 30 November 2006. On 5 March 2010 he was elected the new Party leader of the Socialist Party following the resignation of Agnes Kant...
(current) - GreenLeft: Jolande SapJolande SapJohanna Catharina Maria Sap is a Dutch GreenLeft politician and former educator and civil servant. She replaced Wijnand Duyvendak as an MP on September 3, 2008, after he left the Dutch House of Representatives...
(current)
Socialist thinkers
Influential Dutch socialist thinkers include:- Anton Pannekoek, council communistCouncil communismCouncil communism is a current of libertarian Marxism that emerged out of the November Revolution in the 1920s, characterized by its opposition to state capitalism/state socialism as well as its advocacy of workers' councils as the basis for workers' democracy.Originally affiliated with the...
theorist. - Jacques de KadtJacques de KadtJacques de Kadt was a prominent and often controversial 20th Century Dutch political thinker, politician and man of letters. Born into a liberal Jewish family, he was the youngest son of a factory manager, Roelof de Kadt, and his wife Bertha Koppens...
, Marxist, anti-stalinist and social-democrat
See also
- History of the NetherlandsHistory of the NetherlandsThe history of the Netherlands is the history of a maritime people thriving on a watery lowland river delta at the edge of northwestern Europe. When the Romans and written history arrived in 57 BC, the country was sparsely populated by various tribal groups at the periphery of the empire...
- Politics of the NetherlandsPolitics of the NetherlandsThe politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state...
- List of political parties in the Netherlands
- Liberalism in the NetherlandsLiberalism in the NetherlandsThis article gives an overview of liberalism in the Netherlands. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament.-Background:...
- Christian democracy in the NetherlandsChristian democracy in the NetherlandsThis article gives an overview of christian democracy in the Netherlands, which is also called confessional politics, including political Catholicism and Protestantism. It is limited to Christian democratic parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament...
- Trade unions in the NetherlandsTrade unions in the NetherlandsTrade Unions play a major role in the corporatist Dutch economy.In 2001 about 25% of the Dutch people who were employed were organized in a union...