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5x literature and series about Pim Fortuyn

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Pim Fortuyn; a politician who caused a landslide in political Holland. Many books and even a series were produced about the flamboyant politician. MASTERS highlights some of them.Text: Fleur de Jong
Image: AVROTROS

1. The Year of Fortuyn 

The drama series The Year of Fortuyn shows the events between the spring of 2001 and 2002. The political establishment is startled by the stormy rise of the flamboyant newcomer Pim Fortuyn, portrayed by Jeroen Spitzenberger. PvdA list leader Ad Melkert is the main contender in the battle for the Torentje and sees how the political game changes rapidly under the influence of the headstrong populist Fortuyn. What follows is an unprecedented election battle. A story about new politics, the rise of populism, increasing polarization, a democracy under pressure, desire and, of course, Pim Fortuyn.

The Year of Fortuyn, can be seen by AVROTROS on NPO 1 and NPO Plus.

2. Political will 

For the first time since 2002, a new Pim Fortuyn book was published last week. To commemorate the moment the politician was assassinated 20 years ago, Vesper Publishing issued Political Testament. The book contains three bestsellers by Pim Fortuyn in one deluxe edition; "The Orphaned Society," "The Rubble of Eight Years of the Dutch Parliament," and "The Islamization of Our Culture. The compilation of the three books together articulate Fortuyn's ideas and thus form his intellectual legacy.

The 561-page book is available for purchase here.

3. The last day

On April 28, this new book written by Paul van der Lugt, station coordinator of 3FM in 2002, was published. The Last Day is an impressive reconstruction of May 6, 2002. Paul van der Lugt, Ruud de Wild and his producer Merel van Dijk were there when shots suddenly rang out and Fortuyn collapsed. Claudia de Breij and Herman van der Zandt saw Fortuyn lying in the parking lot. Hans Smolders, Fortuyn's driver, did not think twice and ran after the gunman. In this book, Paul van der Lugt describes minute by minute how those involved experienced that fateful day.

4. The battle for the Binnenhof 

Wouke van Scherrenburg, who was a political reporter for many years, takes viewers into the lives of political leaders who played crucial roles in history in this seven-part documentary series. In episode 7 of The Battle for the Binnenhof looks at the life of Pim Fortuyn. Other episodes delve into the lives of Jacoba van Beieren, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, the De Witt brothers, Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck, Johan Rudolph Thorbecke and Pieter Jelles Troelstra.

The episode can be viewed on NPO Start here.

5. Pim Fortuyn, the autobiography

This book has previously appeared under the titles Baby boomers, autobiography of a generationand Autobiography of a baby boomer. This renewed edition includes a foreword by Fortuyn expert Leonard Ornstein. In this biography, Fortuyn describes in his own words how he grew up in a family struggling with faith, while he himself struggled with his burgeoning homosexuality. In college, Fortuyn grows into a public figure, after which a life in the spotlight is his portion. A candid life story of an outsider who conquers his place as a leader in the public domain thanks to an enormous urge for money. Also read: '5x impressive films about World War II'