People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

The Dutch liberal party, founded in 1948, the party of Rutte, dominant for a decade.

Overview

The VVD formed in 1948 from liberal traditions, fiscally conservative and socially progressive, the party of business and the professional classes. Hans Wiegel, Frits Bolkestein, and Gerrit Zalm shaped its market turn; Mark Rutte led it from 2006 and as premier 2010-2024 served the longest Dutch premiership, navigating eurozone crises, migration deals, and four coalitions. Dilan Yesilgoz succeeded him and entered opposition in 2024. The party anchors the right of the center in a fragmented system, liberal on ethics and economy, hardening on migration, the pivot around which Dutch coalitions formed for a generation.