The PVV will participate in the municipal elections in Emmen (three candidates), Assen (ten candidates) and Borger-Odoorn (six candidates) in March 2026. This is confirmed by party leader Bert Vorenkamp of the provincial PVV in Drenthe. In Assen and Borger-Odoorn it is the first time that the party is participating; in Emmen it is the third attempt.
The party leaders for the three municipalities have now been announced. In Emmen this will be Ruud Knol, in Assen Teun Kijf and in Borger-Odoorn Arnold Spoor.
Knol, who currently lives in Wolvega, Friesland, is a logical choice for Emmen, according to Vorenkamp. Especially because Knol has already made political progress in the Weststellingwerf municipal council.
He was part of the Stay Stellingwerfs faction, but broke with that party earlier this year due to differences of opinion on migration policy. He then continued with a party member under the name Lijst Knol.
The fact that Knol also broke with his party earlier in his current municipality of Weststellingwerf does not worry Vorenkamp. “That had to do with his convinced PVV positions, not with his ambition to start his own business.”
If the PVV wins enough seats in Emmen, Knol will move to Emmen. According to Vorenkamp, there is a link between Knol and the town in Drenthe. “He has relatives living here who have always supported the party.”
The PVV previously participated twice in Emmen, but without concrete success. The factions fell apart both times due to internal quarrels and the departure of council members. Vorenkamp acknowledges that the party has learned from this.
“It had to do with inexperience and the lack of mutual support,” says Vorenkamp. “Some people found it too hard and left. I don’t condone that, but I understand it sometimes.” With Knol, Vorenkamp thinks he is taking a step forward. “We are confident that things will go well now. Without Knol, there would be no Emmer faction. Without him we wouldn’t have even started.”
The PVV investigated five municipalities where participation seemed promising based on results in the House of Representatives elections. Hoogeveen, Coevorden and Meppel were also on the list, but it was not possible to find enough candidates in those municipalities.
In Assen, the party chooses Teun Kijf, who has been active as a party member of the PVV for years. Arnoud Spoor, who lives in Nieuw-Buinen, draws the list in Borger-Odoorn. According to Vorenkamp, their most important advantages are that they can formulate and analyze well. “And have the courage to clearly represent the PVV positions.”
The three intended party leaders of the municipalities where the PVV is participating have been asked for a response. Knol could not be reached for comment. Kijf says that the Asser PVV will issue a press release next week. He does not want to respond before then.
Arnold Spoor (31), the party leader for Borger-Odoorn, mainly wants to work for the smaller villages in the municipality. According to him, many facilities in these villages are slowly being phased out, putting pressure on the quality of life. “That’s why I want to stand up for a party that really goes for that,” said Spoor, who has lived in Nieuw-Buinen for five years.
Although he has no political experience in a municipal council or faction, Spoor said he was quickly appointed party leader. He hopes to win four to six seats in Borger-Odoorn with the PVV during the elections, partly based on the results of the national elections.
According to Vorenkamp, the participating candidate lists are provisionally ready and have now passed the internal balloting. “It still has to be formally signed,” he emphasizes. This signing must be done no later than mid-January 2026, when the lists are submitted to the Electoral Council. A formality, but you can never completely rule out that someone will still withdraw, says Vorenkamp. “We’ve experienced that in the past.”