André Flach

Biography

“Honouring your word”

The people of the Netherlands want a government that will honour its word. For the SGP, that has always meant honouring God’s Word, and I aim to do the same.

Perspective

I would like to see the prospects of fishermen and farmers improve. We have to come up with workable solutions that let them move forward while finally putting paid to this country’s nitrogen crisis. As a former entrepreneur myself, I have a lot of empathy for small business owners and their frustrations with stifling rules, and I would love to help.

Building bridges with municipalities

While my family has always been apolitical, I entered politics around 2001, when Pim Fortuyn emerged and the entire country discovered a newfound interest in politics. I spent 22 years in local politics, starting out as a municipal councillor before a 13-year spell as an alderman and deputy mayor. During those years, I got to see how the machinations of politicians in The Hague impact municipalities and people. Municipalities are powerful bridges to people’s lives with their youth workers and debt assistance programmes, as well as the jobs they provide. We need to care more about our municipalities.

Leisure

My wife and I enjoy hiking together, and we love Dutch trails such as the Pieterpad, Utrechtpad, and Krijtlandpad. They are a wonderful way to get to know the country, as you get to immerse yourself in a region for a day. We love that. I also enjoy spending time with my family and four children. We also enjoy going out to dinner together.