{ "id": "epxwebeq04", "slug": "henk-vermeer", "title": "Henk Vermeer", "updated": "2026-10-25", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians", "label": "Western European politicians", "api_url": 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"geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians", "label": "Western European politicians", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians" }, { "id": "geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians.politicians-since-1945.legislators-and-party-leaders", "label": "Legislators and party leaders", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.weu.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians.politicians-since-1945.legislators-and-party-leaders" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Henk Vermeer is a Dutch politician of the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging, BBB), which he co-founded with Caroline van der Plas in 2019 before becoming party leader and a member of the House of Representatives.", "snippet": "Henk Vermeer is a Dutch politician of the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging, BBB), which he co-founded with Caroline van der Plas in 2019 before becoming party leader and a member of the House of Representatives.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.western-european-politicians.politicians-since-1945.legislators-and-party-leaders.alpha-s-to-z", "markdown": "# Henk Vermeer\n\nHenk Vermeer is a Dutch politician of the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BoerBurgerBeweging, BBB), who serves as leader of the party.[1](https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/politiek/e68164e0-75bf-4d83-9cd0-ddec1600f6fe/de-overheid-weg-van-x-slecht-idee-vindt-henk-vermeer-bbb-er-zitten-miljoenen-mensen) He co-founded the BBB with Caroline van der Plas and Wim Groot Koerkamp in 2019 and entered the House of Representatives for the party.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-) He has been a member of the [House of Representatives](https://www.edgepedia.org/house-of-representatives-netherlands) (Tweede Kamer) and leader of the BBB.[3](https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/dit-is-de-dag/139244/nieuwe-bbb-leider-henk-vermeer-wil-minder-over-immigratie-en-islam-praten) • [4](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/02/25/henk-vermeer-pislink-na-box-3-draai-vvd-a4921503)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB)[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-) |\n| Current office | Parliamentary group chair, Farmer–Citizen Movement[1](https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/politiek/e68164e0-75bf-4d83-9cd0-ddec1600f6fe/de-overheid-weg-van-x-slecht-idee-vindt-henk-vermeer-bbb-er-zitten-miljoenen-mensen) |\n| Previous offices | Party leader of the BBB[3](https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/dit-is-de-dag/139244/nieuwe-bbb-leider-henk-vermeer-wil-minder-over-immigratie-en-islam-praten); parliamentary group chair of the BoerBurgerBeweging in the Tweede Kamer[5](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk); member of the Tweede Kamer for the BBB[4](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/02/25/henk-vermeer-pislink-na-box-3-draai-vvd-a4921503); group chair and lead candidate of Harderwijk Anders in municipal politics[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-) |\n| Born | Harderwijk, the Netherlands[5](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nVermeer co-founded the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) in 2019 together with Caroline van der Plas and Wim Groot Koerkamp, and has been a member of the Tweede Kamer for the BBB since 6 December 2023.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-) • [6](https://parlement.mi01.montesquieu-instituut.nl/biografie/h-henk-vermeer)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nVermeer was born in Harderwijk.[5](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk) Before entering national politics he worked for more than 35 years in the business sector as a marketing and communications professional in agrifood.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-)\n\n## Career\n\nVermeer began in local politics as group chair and lead candidate of the local party Harderwijk Anders in Harderwijk.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-) In 2019 he co-founded the BBB with Caroline van der Plas and Wim Groot Koerkamp.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-) He became a member of the Tweede Kamer for the BBB.[4](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/02/25/henk-vermeer-pislink-na-box-3-draai-vvd-a4921503) After Caroline van der Plas stepped down as parliamentary group chair in February, responsibility for the party came to Vermeer, who was born in Harderwijk; he said that in the past he had already served as a group chair. \"Ik ben altijd in de lokale politiek fractievoorzitter geweest en het was juist een experiment om rechterhand te worden. Dit bevalt nu prima\" (Edgepedia translation: \"I have always been a group chair in local politics, and it was actually an experiment to become the right-hand man. I like it fine now\").[5](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk) He served as parliamentary group chair of the BBB in the Tweede Kamer.[5](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk) Caroline van der Plas later handed the BBB party leadership to Vermeer.[3](https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/dit-is-de-dag/139244/nieuwe-bbb-leider-henk-vermeer-wil-minder-over-immigratie-en-islam-praten)\n\nLooking back on the [Schoof cabinet](https://www.edgepedia.org/schoof-cabinet), in which the BBB governed together with the VVD, NSC, and PVV, Vermeer said he was proud to have put the region on the agenda. \"De BBB heeft echt de stem van en voor het platteland verkondigd\" (Edgepedia translation: \"The BBB has truly voiced the voice of and for the countryside\"). He also noted difficulties: \"Een normale partij bouw je van onderaf op, wij zijn bovenaan begonnen. In één keer is het geëxplodeerd qua succes, dat is heel moeilijk\" (Edgepedia translation: \"You build a normal party from the bottom up; we started at the top. Success exploded all at once, and that is very difficult\").[5](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk)\n\n## Issues specific to Vermeer\n\nIn a February 2026 debate in the Tweede Kamer on the Box 3 tax, criticism arose of VVD group chair Ruben Brekelmans because of his party's change of course on the tax. Vermeer said he was \"pislink\" (Edgepedia translation: \"pissed off\") about the moment at which the VVD reversed its position. Finance Minister Eelco Heinen had said that the new Box 3 law, which taxes unrealized gains including the annual increase in value of investments, had to be adjusted. Vermeer said, \"We hebben hier meer dan anderhalf jaar over gedebatteerd\" (Edgepedia translation: \"We debated this for more than a year and a half\"), and called the minister's timing \"Het is een dikke middelvinger naar de Kamer\" (Edgepedia translation: \"It is a big middle finger to the Chamber\"). He objected that financial coverage had always been a hard requirement for BBB amendments, while Heinen brought no coverage.[4](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/02/25/henk-vermeer-pislink-na-box-3-draai-vvd-a4921503)\n\nIn an interview with the construction-sector outlet Bouwcomplex, Vermeer discussed energy policy, including better use of self-generated electricity, wind turbines near industrial estates, and agri-PV. He said, \"We moeten meer van de stroom die we produceren direct zelf gaan verbruiken\" (Edgepedia translation: \"We must consume more of the electricity we generate directly ourselves\"). In an earlier interview with Holland Solar he indicated that he has 23 solar panels on his roof.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-)\n\n## Positions\n\n### Government communication on X\n\nWhen the Voorlichtingsraad, the consultative body of the communications directors of the Dutch ministries, proposed that the government stop using X for public information, Vermeer disagreed. He called X a \"belangrijk communicatiekanaal waar heel veel mensen op zitten\" (Edgepedia translation: \"important communication channel on which very many people sit\") and said, \"Hun taak is om overheidspubliciteit te genereren en mensen te informeren. Dan moet je kijken naar de kanalen waar je zoveel mogelijk mensen kunt vinden\" (Edgepedia translation: \"Their task is to generate government publicity and inform people. Then you should look at the channels where you can find as many people as possible\"). Responding to concerns about content on the platform, he said, \"Als je op een platform heel veel mensen hebt die heel veel berichten plaatsen, is de kans groot dat er heel veel slechte berichten zijn\" (Edgepedia translation: \"If you have very many people on a platform posting very many messages, the chance is high that there are very many bad messages\"). On a government-owned platform he said, \"Dat is uit communicatieoogpunt het slechtste wat je kunt doen. Er is geen hond die uit zichzelf naar een communicatieplatform van de overheid gaat, dus je hebt die social media nodig\" (Edgepedia translation: \"From a communications point of view that is the worst thing you can do. No dog goes of its own accord to a government communication platform, so you need those social media\").[1](https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/politiek/e68164e0-75bf-4d83-9cd0-ddec1600f6fe/de-overheid-weg-van-x-slecht-idee-vindt-henk-vermeer-bbb-er-zitten-miljoenen-mensen)\n\n### Immigration and Islam\n\nAfter becoming BBB party leader, Vermeer said he wanted to talk less about immigration and Islam, as the title of his interview in the NPO Radio 1 program Dit is de Dag states.[3](https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/dit-is-de-dag/139244/nieuwe-bbb-leider-henk-vermeer-wil-minder-over-immigratie-en-islam-praten)\n\n### Energy and solar power\n\nIn the Bouwcomplex interview, Vermeer advocated consuming more self-generated electricity directly, and discussed wind turbines near industrial estates and agri-PV, agriculture combined with solar power.[2](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-)\n\n## References\n\n1. [De overheid weg van X? Slecht idee, vindt Henk Vermeer (BBB)](https://www.nporadio1.nl/nieuws/politiek/e68164e0-75bf-4d83-9cd0-ddec1600f6fe/de-overheid-weg-van-x-slecht-idee-vindt-henk-vermeer-bbb-er-zitten-miljoenen-mensen)\n2. [In gesprek met Henk Vermeer (BBB)](https://www.bouwcomplex.nl/nieuws/nieuws/20435/in-gesprek-met-henk-vermeer-bbb-we-moeten-meer-van-de-stroom-)\n3. [Nieuwe BBB-leider Henk Vermeer wil minder over immigratie en islam praten](https://www.nporadio1.nl/podcasts/dit-is-de-dag/139244/nieuwe-bbb-leider-henk-vermeer-wil-minder-over-immigratie-en-islam-praten)\n4. [Henk Vermeer 'pislink' over het moment van Box 3-draai VVD](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/02/25/henk-vermeer-pislink-na-box-3-draai-vvd-a4921503)\n5. [BBB-fractievoorzitter Henk Vermeer in GLD+](https://www.gld.nl/nieuws/8495058/bbb-fractievoorzitter-henk-vermeer-in-gld-het-is-in-een-keer-geexplodeerd-qua-succes-dat-is-heel-moeilijk)\n6. [H. (Henk) Vermeer, Parlement.com](https://parlement.mi01.montesquieu-instituut.nl/biografie/h-henk-vermeer)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › Western European politicians › Politicians since 1945 › Legislators and party leaders › Surnames S to Z*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026; Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Henk Vermeer\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Henk Vermeer](https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer](https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Henk Vermeer\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/henk-vermeer. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Henk Vermeer is a Dutch politician of the Farmer–Citizen Movement, which he co-founded with Caroline van der Plas in 2019 before becoming party leader and a member of the House of Representatives." }