Stephan van Baarle

Biography

“Driven by equal opportunities”

I entered politics at the end of 2014. I studied sociology, which taught me a lot about inequality and exclusion. I wanted to make a change, so I chose politics over a PhD. When DENK was founded, I was one of its first members.

Taking responsibility

I was still very young when Pim Fortuyn was assassinated and the Twin Towers were attacked, but it did not take me long to sense that tensions were coming to a head in our country. All of a sudden, background and your religion began to matter. I noticed that other people started to look at me differently.

I have tremendous respect for my mother. She still lives close by, in Rotterdam-Zuid, where she raised me as a single mother. She taught me the importance of rolling up your sleeves and taking responsibility for your actions. That made a lasting impression on me.

Chorus

Music is my greatest passion. I’m an avid guitarist and I love writing music. I will lock myself up in a room and spend hours on just one chorus. Music is my outlet: there are things that you can say with music that you cannot say with words.

I was born and raised in Rotterdam-Zuid, so Feyenoord is in my blood. I used to have a season ticket, and I still follow every game. For me, de Kuip on a matchday reflects my city and my country as it should be: people from all walks of life coming together with the same goal in mind. When you are watching a match, differences melt away like snow in summer.