De ongenaakbare Frits Bolkestein 1933-2025
After his dead Frits Bolkestein (1933-2025) was remembered as an unconventional personality who debated factually and sharply. This biography describes how he became who he was: a headstrong man who pursued his convictions without involving others. The highly intelligent son of an Amsterdam judge thought of a career in politics early on, but chose a career with Shell to avoid military service after obtaining his degree in philosophy in 1960. He represented the titan in fossil fuels around the globe, to which he owed his image as a worldly man, an Amsterdam merchant.
Upon his return to the Netherlands in 1975 he joined the VVD. He became a prominent neoliberal, whose social-economic positions put him on the right flank of the VVD, but still pursued a coalition with the leftist PvdA. In 1994 he played a vital role in forming the first purple coalition, with the VVD, PvdA and D66, which ended decades of Christian-democratic dominance in the Netherlands.
As party leader he dominated the public debate from 1990-1998. Especially his positions on multiculturalism, Europe, and development aid altered what was mainstream in public debate. He introduced a new style, which he dubbed ‘haute vulgarisation’ – a combination of well-read intellect and accessible, popular language. Both his positions and style have made him the progenitor of the current political climate, even though that may be characterized simply by ‘vulgarization’ – one reason his passing was remembered with melancholy.