Roel Stenhuis

Roelof Stenhuis (26 March 1885 – 1963) was a Dutch trade union leader and politician.

Born in Zuidbroek, he left school at the age of 15 and did a number of jobs before becoming a factory worker.

However, in Groningen, he led a successful strike of metal workers, then in 1907 became the main founder of the Dutch Union of Factory Workers, editing its newspaper De Fabrieksarbeider, and serving as general secretary until 1914, then as president.

[1][2] In 1919, Stenhuis moved to become president of the Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions (NVV).

Demoralised, in 1940, he joined the fascist Black Front, claiming to support its economic policy but to oppose its anti-semitism.