Fascism in the Netherlands

The first fascist political party, the Union of Actualists (Dutch: Verbond van Actualisten, VvA), was founded in 1923.

The National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands (Dutch: Nationaal Socialistische Beweging, NSB) led by Anton Mussert became the most important around 1933.

In his 1921 academic speech "The signs of the times" (Dutch: De teekenen des tijds), he complained about democracy, communism and the International Jewry.

This party was founded in response to the introduction of universal manhood suffrage and compulsory voting after the Pacification of 1917.

By putting forward – and getting elected – candidates such as vagabond Nelis de Gelder [nl], it sought to ridicule democracy.

[2] In January 1923, inspired by Benito Mussolini's March on Rome, the first fascist party was founded in the Netherlands: the Union of Actualists (Dutch: Verbond van Actualisten, VvA).

Its ideologist became Henri Peter Blok [nl] in 1930, but he and his supporters left the party after a quarrel in 1931.

[8] Its prominence was taken over by Association ‘The Broom’ [nl] (Dutch: Vereeniging 'De Bezem'), founded in 1928 by Sinclaire and Haighton.

[9] Another fascist participant in the election was the Alliance for National Reconstruction (Dutch: Verbond voor Nationaal Herstel, VNH), founded in 1933 by Horace van Gybland Oosterhoff [nl].

VNH had been in talks with NU and ANFB to form a single list, but negotiations collapsed over Baars' candidacy.

The party managed to win a seat, which was taken by William Westerman [nl], making him the first fascist MP in the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, the National Socialist Movement (Dutch: Nationaal Socialistische Beweging, NSB) had decided not to participate in the election.