Muntendam had been an independent parish since the Middle Ages, but until 1840 it was ecclesiastically part of Zuidbroek.

(However, nearby Reiderland had had a vast CPN majority since WWII, so the claim is rather too strong).

However, the then minister of the interior, Hans Wiegel of the right-wing VVD, decided that this very left-wing part of the Netherlands needed a change and appointed a D66 (left of centre) mayor.

This led to a cold reception and the first time a Dutch mayor was not officially inaugurated.

Over time, however, people started to like him and when he moved to a bigger municipality there was even an action to keep him (to no avail).