Far-right extremists seek to normalize ideology on campus

As early as 2018, the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) observed a “slight resurgence” of far-right extremism. Last year, the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) drew attention to the “increasing online radicalization among young people.”

Now, the two agencies have issued a joint warning: they see far-right extremists trying to normalize themselves by presenting themselves as more moderate than they are. This happens online, at demonstrations, through political parties, but also on university campuses.

Nijmegen

In the report published Tuesday, the agencies mention the Groot-Nederlandsche Studentenvereniging (GNSV). The presence of the GNSV at Leiden University and Radboud University in Nijmegen has caused controversy for years. Utrecht has also had a chapter since last year.

Following the conclusions of the AIVD and NCTV, Radboud University has decided that the GNSV will no longer be welcome at its annual introduction fair (see photo).

Concealing its views

The GNSV describes itself as a conservative association for right-wing students “with a national feeling.” With that message, the association “does not publicly have an extremist profile,” the agencies conclude. In reality, however, many members hold “deeply racist views.” For example, they advocate “remigration” for people with a non-Western migration background.

The agencies write that the GNSV “is aware of the importance of presenting its ideology in the most acceptable way possible in order to appear as moderate as possible.” This gives the association “space on university campuses to recruit members and organize activities.”

Hate and racism

“White superiority” and “hatred toward people with a migration background and people who hold different views” are central to the ideology of far-right extremists. In public, however, they mainly refer to “cultural differences” or threats to “Dutch identity.” This makes them more acceptable to a broader group of people in public.

The agencies also caution that not everyone who uses such terms is necessarily a far-right extremist. In an open, democratic society, people are allowed to say many things, they explain.

But that is precisely where the problem lies: far-right extremists “abuse” that freedom in pursuit of their broader goal, namely “dismantling the democratic rule of law and ultimately establishing a white ethnostate.”

In a response, Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel calls for greater resilience in society. “It is important to recognize the strategy of far-right extremists and curb their influence.” Since 2024, the government has had a “national extremism strategy.”

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.