It has been a common comment over the past few cabinet terms: manners in the House of Representatives are becoming coarser. Former MPs Eline Vedder (CDA) and Harm Holman (NCS) both spoke out about the social mores of The Hague. How do the brand new MPs Renate den Hollander (VVD) and Henk Jumelet (CDA) arm themselves against a harsh political culture?
Eline Vedder from Ruinerwold was in the House of Representatives from 2023 to 2025. But the Hague culture eventually broke her. “I increasingly got the feeling: maybe I am not tough enough for The Hague. But I also do not want to turn into someone with an elephant’s skin. Because if only such people remain, what kind of politics are we left with?” she said to RTV Drenthe just before the elections. That harsh culture ultimately killed her and led, among other things, to her not returning to The Hague. “If you no longer dare to say what you really think, then you should give that seat to someone else.”
Now it is the turn of Jumelet from Erica and Den Hollander from Ansen, among others. For Jumelet, the solution is to stick to his own story, he explains. “Try to do what you did in Drenthe. But arming yourself, that’s quite difficult, because you don’t know what’s coming your way. But then the experience that I have and that I bring with me helps.”
Jumelet was previously an alderman in the municipality of Emmen, and a deputy for the province of Drenthe for almost eleven years. “You don’t know exactly how that will go in those debates in the House of Representatives, but I note that experience helps in any case when you have your say and, above all, make your point in terms of content.”
And Den Hollander is also aware that the national political culture can be harsh, she indicates. “I think it is very important that you realize that when you go there,” says Den Hollander. “We are there to do a job. And we are there to do that in connection. As far as I am concerned, we will also look for that with other parties. I can hold my own there, I am not so afraid of that.”
In addition, according to Den Hollander, it is important that the content remains central. “I think it is very important that within the faction and in collaboration with other parties, you simply ensure that you continue to collaborate well with each other on content, and do not take it for granted.”
She thinks that the political culture was becoming increasingly rough, that sound has now penetrated The Hague. “I think the Netherlands has indicated quite clearly that it is also time for reliable politics and a stable cabinet. Of course, how you are going to do that is still a challenge. But I think people in The Hague are certainly aware that it is necessary for the Netherlands to seek that cooperation. And I really want to contribute to that.”