Joost Eerdmans
{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Joost Eerdmans
| image = Joost Eerdmans 2014.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Eerdmans in 2014
| office = Leader of JA21
| term_start = 18 December 2020
| term_end =
| deputy = Annabel Nanninga
| predecessor = Position established
| office2 = Parliamentary leader in the
House of Representatives
| term_start2 = 31 March 2021
| term_end2 =
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| term_start3 = 25 September 2006
| term_end3 = 30 November 2006
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| office4 = Member of the House of Representatives
| term_start4 = 31 March 2021
| term_end4 =
| term_start5 = 23 May 2002
| term_end5 = 30 November 2006
| birthname = Bernard Johannes Eerdmans
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1971|01|09}}
| birth_place = Harderwijk, Netherlands
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Dutch
| party = JA21 (since 2020)
Livable Rotterdam (since 2013)
| otherparty = Christian Democratic Appeal (1996-2002)
Liveable Netherlands (2002)
Pim Fortuyn List (2002–2004)
Independent (2004–2006)
One NL (2006)
Forum for Democracy (2020)
| spouse = {{marriage|Femke Bouka|2006}}
| children = 2
| alma_mater = Erasmus University Rotterdam (MPA)
Indiana University
(MPA)
| occupation = Politician
Civil servant
Management consultant
Political consultant
Television presenter
Television producer
Radio presenter
Political pundit
Columnist
Author
| signature =
| website =
| residence = Rotterdam
}}
Bernard Johannes "Joost" Eerdmans (born 9 January 1971) is a Dutch politician, broadcaster and former civil servant who has served as Leader of JA21 since 18 December 2020, a party he co-founded with Annabel Nanninga. Elected to the House of Representatives in the 2021 general election, he took office on 31 March 2021. Eerdmans had previously served as a member of the House of Representatives from 23 May 2002 until 30 November 2006 for the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) and as an Independent.
Early life
Bernard Johannes Eerdmans was born on 9 January 1971 in Harderwijk in the province of Gelderland in a Reformed family. He graduated at the Christelijk College Nassau-Veluwe. After that, Eerdmans studied Management Science at the Erasmus Universiteit in Rotterdam. In 1995 he received his master's degree, having undertaken postgraduate studies at the Public administration School for Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1993. He is the cousin of Dutch author and game show host Theo Eerdmans.
Professional career
After graduating, Eerdmans worked for some time on projects for the Christian Democratic Appeal faction in the Dutch House of Representatives. He was then employed as a civil servant at the Ministry of Justice from 1997 until 1999 and was a staff member to the Director General of the law enforcement department at the Ministry of Justice. In 1999 he became secretary to Ivo Opstelten, the Mayor of Rotterdam. After first losing his seat in parliament in 2006, Eerdmans worked in the private sector as a public affairs manager for Deloitte from 2007 to 2009.{{cite web |url=https://joost-eerdmans.nl/personalia/ |title=Joost Eerdmans |access-date=2024-12-05}}
Politics
=Pim Fortuyn List=
Eerdmans first joined the Christian Democratic Appeal but left after disagreeing the CDA's course and saying in his own words "I thought they spoke a different language. I started to dislike it more and more." A week after leaving the Liveable Netherlands party in 2002, Eerdmans contacted Pim Fortuyn, who at that time was busy assembling a list of candidates for his new political party, the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF). Eerdmans was placed nineteenth on the list and after the 2002 election he became a member of the House of Representatives, while his party joined the First Balkenende cabinet. Eerdmans focused on matters related to justice and police. Together with then PvdA MP Aleid Wolfsen, he submitted a bill to punish animal cruelty more severely and argued for increasing minimum sentencing for violent crimes. In 2005, Eerdmans was awarded the Thorbecke Prize from Leiden University which is awarded to the "most eloquent politician."{{cite web |url=https://www.haarlemsdagblad.nl/incoming/joost-eerdmans-ze-haten-hem-of-houden-van-hem/9952074.html |title=Joost Eerdmans: ze haten hem of houden van hem |access-date=2024-12-05}}{{cite web |url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vh4ok0y57gzn/nieuws/lpf_kamerlid_eerdmans_wint |title=LPF-Kamerlid Eerdmans wint Thorbeckeprijs |access-date=2024-12-05}}
After the fall of the cabinet, new elections were called. This time the LPF won only eight seats, but since Eerdmans was second on the list he remained in Parliament. He was removed from the party's parliamentary faction after it was definitively announced that Eerdmans would be on the One NL candidate list for the 2006 election.
=One NL=
For the 2006 general election, Eerdmans split with the LPF to form a new political party called One NL with Marco Pastors of Leefbaar Rotterdam. After the dismal result of One NL in the 2006 election, Eerdmans left Dutch politics and worked in business before forging a career as a television and radio broadcaster.
=Leefbaar Rotterdam=
Eerdmans made a return to local politics when he was elected lijsttrekker of Leefbaar Rotterdam on 6 October 2013.{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.leefbaarrotterdam.nl/index.php/new/comments/joost_eerdmans_lijsttrekker_van_leefbaar_rotterdam/ Joost Eerdmans lijsttrekker van Leefbaar Rotterdam], LeefbaarRotterdam.nl, 6 October 2013 In the local elections of 2014 Leefbaar Rotterdam became the biggest party in Rotterdam, meaning the party would get the chance to lead the formation of a new coalition. The party subsequently formed a coalition with the Democrats 66 (D66) and Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), in which Eerdmans became an alderman.{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.rotterdam.nl/collegebenw College van b en w Rotterdam], Rotterdam.nl, 20 May 2014
= Forum for Democracy =
Eerdmans worked with the Forum for Democracy during the 2018 Dutch municipal elections. For the 2021 general election, Eerdmans announced a return to national politics and was to be fourth on the party list of FvD led by Thierry Baudet. However, before this could be effectuated Eerdmans quit the party soon after the announcement, citing what he saw as the FvD's insufficient handling of antisemitism, homophobia and racism scandals from other party members.{{cite web|access-date=2020-11-28|author=Tobias den Hartog|date=2020-11-26|title=Exodus bij Forum, ook raadsfractie stapt uit partij|url=https://www.parool.nl/nederland/exodus-bij-forum-ook-raadsfractie-stapt-uit-partij~bcd880f0|work=Het Parool}}
=JA21=
After leaving the Forum for Democracy, Eerdmans founded a new political party JA21 (Right Answer 2021) with ex-FvD members which aimed to compete in the 2021 general election. Eerdmans said that he wanted to see a return of Fortuynism in Dutch politics which he summarized as a decisive, no-nonsense and straightforward approach to decision making.{{cite web |url=https://www.vno-ncw.nl/forum/joost-eerdmans-ja21-ondernemers-zijn-zuurstof-in-de-samenleving |title=Joost Eerdmans (JA21): 'Ondernemers zijn zuurstof in de |access-date=2024-12-05}} He also stated that JA21 would function as a "right-wing no-nonsense party" of "common sense" that would appeal to Dutch voters who saw the VVD as having grown too left, the PVV as too right and the Forum for Democracy as having lost its course and that JA21 would stick to the "original points" of the FvD.{{cite web |url=https://revu.nl/artikel/447969/joost-eerdmans-ja21-fortuynisme-is-nog-steeds-mijn-drijfveer |title=Joost Eerdmans (JA21): ‘Fortuynisme is nog steeds mijn drijfveer’ |access-date=2024-12-05}}
Eerdmans was appointed party leader and lijsttrekker of JA21. JA21 gained 3 seats in the parliament and he returned as an MP to the House of Representatives for the first time since 2006. A motion by Eerdmans and Chris Stoffer (SGP) advocating a ban on face coverings during protests was carried by the House in September 2024. Eerdmans argued they prevented the police from identifying individuals breaking the law, citing pro-Palestinian protesters on university campuses as an example.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/09/23/gezichtsbedekkende-kleding-bij-demonstraties-moet-verboden-worden-vindt-tweede-kamer-a4866820 |url-access = subscription |date = 23 September 2024 |last = Van de Ven |first = Liam |access-date = 23 September 2024 |language = nl |website = NRC |title = Gezichtsbedekkende kleding bij demonstraties moet verboden worden, vindt Tweede Kamer |trans-title = Face coverings should be banned during protests, according to the House of Representatives }} The House later adopted another motion by Eerdmans in which he called on the government to revoke environment pressure group Extinction Rebellion's designation as a charitable organization. He described it as an "unlawful, society-disruptive, and vandalistic organization" that should not be able to receive tax-deductible donations.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/02/06/tweede-kamer-wil-fiscaal-voordelig-schenken-aan-xr-stoppen-zo-krijgen-we-eerder-meer-donateurs-a4882248 |url-access = subscription |date = 6 February 2025 |last = Verlaan |first = Jos |access-date = 6 February 2025 |language = nl |website = NRC |title = Tweede Kamer wil fiscaal voordelig schenken aan XR stoppen. 'Zo krijgen we eerder meer donateurs' |trans-title = House of Representatives wants to end tax-efficient donations to XR. 'This will likely give us more donors' }}
When the right-wing Schoof cabinet presented its 2025 budget that included €2 billion in education cuts, Eerdmans formed the self-named "unholy alliance" with other centrist and conservative opposition parties. To gain support in the Senate, the governing coalition agreed in December 2024 to reverse €750 million of the cuts. Eerdmans did not embrace the revised budget, declaring that "a lot of ugly things remained".{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/politiek/coalitie-en-vier-oppositiepartijen-eens-over-afgezwakte-bezuinigingen-op-onderwijsbegroting~b8d6ee63/ |url-access = subscription |date = 11 December 2024 |last = Meijer |first = Remco |access-date = 14 December 2024 |language = nl |website = de Volkskrant |title = Coalitie en vier oppositiepartijen eens over afgezwakte bezuinigingen op onderwijsbegroting |trans-title = Coalition and four opposition parties in agreement on watered-down cuts in education budget }}{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/politiek/1539839/oppositie-vindt-onderwijsbegroting-nog-altijd-slecht-ondanks-handtekening-onder-deal |url-access = subscription |date = 12 December 2024 |last = Sie |first = Puck |access-date = 14 December 2024 |language = nl |website = Het Financieele Dagblad |title = Oppositie vindt onderwijsbegroting nog altijd 'slecht', ondanks handtekening onder deal |trans-title = Opposition believes education budget is still 'bad', despite signature on the deal }}
Broadcasting career
Eerdmans was a television host on the Dutch channel Het Gesprek and has been a columnist for the website GeenStijl. He was also one of the hosts of the Dutch programme TROS Regelrecht and was a presenter on the BNR Newsradio show Peptalk in 2010. He then presented the NPO Radio 1 discussion show Evening Rush Hour from 2010 and 2013.{{cite web |url=https://joost-eerdmans.nl/personalia/ |title=Joost Eerdmans |access-date=2024-12-05}} He also serves on the panel for the annual Pim Fortuyn Prize which is awarded to politicians, commentators or public figures who best convey the ideas of Pim Fortuyn.
Personal life
Eerdmans is married to Femke Bouka since 2006. He was raised in the Dutch Reformed Church, but later lost his faith and became an atheist; despite this, he and his wife, who is also an atheist, married in church.{{Cite web |last=PodNL |first=Jouw vrienden at |title=Podcast Luisteren (PodNL) - de Beste Nederlandstalige podcasts |url=https://podcastluisteren.nl/ep/Adieu-God-Joost-Eerdmans-2013-10-20 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=podcastluisteren.nl}}
Electoral history
{{Incomplete list|date=December 2023}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" border=2 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="border: 1px #aaa solid; font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Joost Eerdmans}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |
| scope="col" |Party seats
! scope="col" |Individual |
|---|
| scope="row" | 2002
| style="background-color:{{party color|Pim Fortuyn List}};"| | style=text-align:right | 19 | style=text-align:right | 701 | style=text-align:right | 26 | {{yes2|Won}} |
| scope="row" | 2003
| House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|Pim Fortuyn List}};"| | Pim Fortuyn List | style=text-align:right | 2 | style=text-align:right | 6,918 | style=text-align:right | 8 | {{yes2|Won}} |
| scope="row" | 2006
| House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|One NL}};"| | One NL | style=text-align:right | 2 | style=text-align:right | 7,046 | style=text-align:right | 0 | {{no2|Lost}} |
| scope="row" | 2010
| Capelle aan den IJssel Municipal Council | style="background-color:{{party color|Livable Capelle}};"| | Livable Capelle | style=text-align:right | {{efn|name=lijstduwer}} | style=text-align:right | 1,029 | style=text-align:right | 9 | {{yes2|Won}}{{efn|name=preference}} | |
| scope="row" | 2014
| Rotterdam Municipal Council | style="background-color:{{party color|Livable Rotterdam}};"| | style=text-align:right | 1 | style=text-align:right | 44,979 | style=text-align:right | 14 | {{yes2|Won}} | |
| scope="row" | 2018
| Rotterdam Municipal Council | style="background-color:{{party color|Livable Rotterdam}};"| | Livable Rotterdam | style=text-align:right | 1 | style=text-align:right | | style=text-align:right | 11 | {{yes2|Won}} | |
| scope="row" | 2021
| House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|JA21}};"| | JA21 | style=text-align:right | 1 | style=text-align:right | 197,637 | style=text-align:right | 3 | {{yes2|Won}} |
| scope="row" | 2022
| Rotterdam Municipal Council | style="background-color:{{party color|Livable Rotterdam}};"| | Livable Rotterdam | style=text-align:right | 49{{efn|name=lijstduwer|Eerdmans participated as a {{lang|nl|lijstduwer}}.}} | style=text-align:right | 1,975 | style=text-align:right | 10 | {{yes2|Won}}{{efn|name=preference|Eerdmans received enough preference votes to be elected despite his party's result.}} |
| scope="row" | 2023
| House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|JA21}};"| | JA21 | style=text-align:right | 1 | style=text-align:right | 53,675 | style=text-align:right | 1 | {{yes2|Won}} |
| scope="row" | 2024
| style="background-color:{{party color|JA21}};”| | JA21 | style=text-align:right | 15{{efn|name=lijstduwer}} | style=text-align:right | 5,994 | style=text-align:right | 0 | {{no2|Lost}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
;Official
- {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.parlement.com/id/vg9fgopy6zxw/b_j_joost_eerdmans Drs. B.J. (Joost) Eerdmans] Parlement & Politiek
{{Commons category|Joost Eerdmans}}
{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2021–2023}}
{{Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, 2023–present}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eerdmans, Joost}}
Category:20th-century Dutch civil servants
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Category:Erasmus University Rotterdam alumni
Category:Forum for Democracy (Netherlands) politicians
Category:Independent politicians in the Netherlands
Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni
Category:Livable Rotterdam politicians
Category:Municipal councillors of Rotterdam
Category:People from Capelle aan den IJssel
Category:People from Harderwijk