17 Facts About Hans Janmaat

Johannes Gerardus Hendrikus "Hans" Janmaat was a Dutch businessman and politician of the Centre Party who later founded the Centre Democrats.

Johannes Gerardus Hendrikus Janmaat was born on 3 November 1934 in Nes aan de Amstel in North Holland, as the oldest of nine children in a traditional Roman Catholic family.

When Hans Janmaat was 4 years old, the family moved to Gouda, where it would endure the war years in relative peace.

Hans Janmaat used the insurance payout to study politicology at the University of Amsterdam.

Hans Janmaat worked in several commissions for the Democratic Socialists '70 party.

Hans Janmaat officially launched his own party, the Centre Democrats in November 1984.

Politically, the party did not differ greatly from the CP, except that it was strongly centered around Hans Janmaat, to prevent another power struggle.

Hans Janmaat narrowly escaped with his life, CD secretary Wil Schuurman lost a leg because of injuries sustained jumping out of a window to escape the fire.

Hans Janmaat had become increasingly paranoid and said that computers used for voting had been tampered with.

In 1999, Hans Janmaat was in the process of starting another party, the Conservative Democrats, however it did not get off the ground and did not participate in the 2002 election.

Hans Janmaat's failing health forced him to withdraw from politics, however the changing political climate did prompt him to challenge his conviction for discrimination at the European Court of Justice.

Hans Janmaat wanted to represent the indigenous Dutch workers and middle class.

Hans Janmaat's views were based mostly on economic and materialistic arguments rather than an underlying ideology.

Hans Janmaat was against a multicultural society: he argued that immigrants should either assimilate into Dutch culture, or return to their country of birth.

Hans Janmaat often made controversial remarks about immigrants and other politicians.

Hans Janmaat argued that Ernst Hirsch Ballin should not be allowed to hold a high office because of his Jewish heritage and said he was not saddened by the sudden death of political opponent Ien Dales.

Meindert Fennema, Emeritus Professor of Political Theory of Ethnic Relations at the University of Amsterdam, argued in 2006 that Hans Janmaat was convicted for statements that are now commonplace due to changes in the political climate.