- The most famous alt-right organization got into trouble
Sinds 2016 the organization Erkenbrand become a small phenomenon. Extreme views, brought intellectually. Highly qualified members and a growing grassroots who recognizes the alt-right ideology of racism, anti-Semitism feminism. The growing pains are also the problems Erkenbrand. There is fear, quarrel and split. There is also influence, perseverance and the desire to infiltrate into established far-right political parties. Time for an article on the new state of Erkenbrand.
It's summer 2016. Erkenbrand calls via a forum for its members at a meeting in Utrecht. Op 3 August, it talks about "organizing a joint alt right organization for the Benelux." This organization must achieve a wider acceptance of the alt-right ideology. "It does not matter if you're more National Socialist or libertarian, but if you're a rasrealist and want to preserve their own people and culture. "Erkenbrand closes the call.
Erkenbrand exists at the time of this call less than six months and the palpable ambition. The Benelux version of Erkenbrand never got off the ground, but within two years Erkenbrand is an organization of extreme right standards strikingly large gatherings keeps.
Erkenbrand acquires nationwide and build the international alt-right movement authority on. With the highly skilled part and ditto sympathizers, a good dose of confidence and different lines to Forum for Democracy (FVD) Erkenbrand also acquires real influence. "Our ideas are in the margin" writes Erkenbrand member which end 2018 looks back at the short history of his organization. "Others have already ran off with race and IQ", he explains. The political and social opposition Erkenbrand experiencing the writer is heavy, "But we are rewarded with increasing popularity of our ideas", He finishes optimistic.
Rosy
The optimism is not unfounded. The extremist ideology of Erkenbrand is not widely shared in society, but will certainly hearing. Despite the strict substantive screening of new sympathizers and the secrecy surrounding the meetings direct supporters of Erkenbrand grows. And in a circle outside the immediate supporters, mainly in FVD is also interested Erkenbrand. In May 2017 late party leader Thierry Baudet (1983) in the Volkskrant though slightly positive on Erkenbrand. "Sometimes they fly off the rails", he says, "but it is young people who are discovering the world." Less than six months later, when the American Jared Taylor (1951) Erkenbrand visit to give a lecture he meets Two days earlier also Baudet. Taylor is in his publications on "racial realism" and anti-Semitism in alt-right very influential. simply it is in the rest of society known as an extreme right-wing racist. Erkenbrand brought him to an influential parliamentarian in touch.
AIVD over alt-right
The General Intelligence- and Security (GISS) warns in October 2018 for racist and intellectually brought ideas of alt-right in Netherlands. This warning is implicit reference to Forum for Democracy. In their report "Right-wing extremism in the Netherlands' state that if the "racial doctrine" alt-right "trickles down to the public administration" that threatens "the Dutch democratic legal order." FVD part as a party in the broadest sense to all public administration. Jan Louis Burggraaf (1964), prominent FvD-lid, Baudet and potential minister as a member of the department complaints of the Review Committee on the Intelligence- and Security can also be included in the public administration.This outlined potential threat is not due entirely to the credit of Erken Band, but they contribute to no doubt. "In any case, the genie out of the bottle." Erkenbrand writes proudly on their website.
Identitair Netherlands, elimination of Erkenbrand
"Erkenbrand is nothing more than a website. And published meta-political articles on this website. "So says Alexander Wolfheze (1968) The Hague. He is one of three board members Identitair Netherlands (IDNL), an offshoot of Erkenbrand. When asked Wolfheze informs on Research Kafka IDNL which resembles Erkenbrand. IDNL is not according to him much more than a website that occasionally organizes lectures. "But", He let the phone know "we think about which ideas are identitary action table." He means that they want to know what alt-right ideas can have concrete effect on the partisan debate. "In this we differ from Erkenbrand." He explains. "We want to know what relevance of our ideas for the PVV and FVD."
The strategy we have seen in alt-right in Netherlands. Jared Taylor encouraged in October 2017 visitors to a Erkenbrand conference already to here. "I'm sure that some people under you will be elected electorally." He then informed his audience. Geza Hegedus (1962), which was active in Erkenbrand kicked exactly two months later even leader of the PVV in Rotterdam. During the Erkenbrand conference he was just a month in a training classroom Wilders. And in line with the idea of Taylor Hegedüs held at the PVV are violent and anti-Semitic ideas for themselves. However, the prediction of Taylor did not come out. Hegedüs, after his exposure within a day dumped the PVV.
in IDNL, the scope of which originates entirely from Erkenbrand, shows a similar political strategy. Extreme ideas are devoid of sharp edges and 'feasible' packed. However spicy lyrics about identity, tradition 'omvolking'. But without the intense racism and anti-Semitism present in Erkenbrand. IDNL is also the new political adventure Hegedüs, which holds the position of Treasurer and acting as spokesman.
The chairman of the Amsterdam IDNL Reinout Eeckhout (1967), involved from the beginning in Erkenbrand. He records the Erkenbrand website, publishes many articles and is present at meetings. Eeckhout differs from other Recognize writer because he is quite active for several years in Outpost and Pegida. he stays here during his period at Erkenbrand involved. Most other Recognize Burners hardly participate in activities of other far-right clubs and there are often not been previously active.
In the autumn of 2017 comes Erkenbrand allowing internal pressure. There is a lot of media attention for the organization. As a result, a plurality of head pieces becomes publicly known, while she had carefully shielded their identity. This works deterrent for them and for other Erkenbrand members.
Michael Hugens (1990), a founding moves for love in America. The head Fausto Lanser (1991) is because of its extreme manifestations in the Volkskrant appeared disbarred. And another member of the first hour, Reinout Eeckhout will lie internally under fire because of his homosexuality. He leaves Erkenbrand with doors, Delete website and continues his political career by alt-right a few months later to establish IDNL. With his departure, and other Recognize Burners, the organization loses much clout.
Infiltration by alt-right
Infiltrating a political party, so as to give the alt-right ideology insidious form, is a popular idea within circles Erkenbrand. Recognize different Burners are therefore a member of FVD. Some, as Hegedüs, look elsewhere and even a candidate for a political party. The true political intent of course needs to remain hidden. Concealing that intent was Steijn Scheutjens (1994) anonymous reason to act on the first Erkenbrand Conference, in september 2016 te Rotterdam. Scheutjens considered informal leader of an alt-right group that is formed around it / Meadhall / Forum on the website 8chan. "He is deeply concerned about the future of the Netherlands." The host of the conference announced. "He sees the solution to this people like us, like you. "He continues,. "This person might have political ambitions and that is why we like to offer him a podium. Give a warm welcome to the mystery guest!"The camera that records all the speakers for the livestream swings away, Scheutjens enters the stage and the audience hangs the next twenty minutes to his lips. "I am speaking" says Scheutjens "because the change of the Netherlands will take place in us." In his motivational speech, he says he came "to convince you that we shall overcome." Scheutjens argues that Netherlands is dominated by the EU, Dutch identity is squandered and the elite 'The people' ignored.
He fulminates against Queen Maxima, Sylvana Simons and anti-Black Peter activists. But he has "confidence in our cause to change the country." That confidence he relies on the assumption that the gap between citizens and politics is not overcome by normal politicians. "And that means" Scheutjens concludes satisfied, "That civil matters will take into their own hands". "If it is not earlier than it is later," he says, "and we are going to experience it all and we are also part of it." He argues passionately. He calls in his speech to "turn off" the incumbent elite and there is as Steijn Scheutjens lose at any time. "This is not the time to sit still." He warns the public. "This is the time when every second counts." He ends up dramatically by stating his speech that there really need for action. "If I'm not doing anything here," he says, "I will literally not be able to die peacefully." His alarmist message is consistent with the vision of some Acknowledge Burners being interviewed a few months later Elsevier's Weekly. From that interview shows that a number of them expect a civil war within a few years. Two of them say to prepare for them by following shooting lessons and combat training. Scheutjens silent in his address to be used on the means and methods to cause the revolt as he desires. The room he gets a standing ovation anyway. To date Scheutjens is not on a list of candidates of a party appeared.
Dutch Center for Diaspora, uphold the 'own blood'
Discrimination and violence against Erkenbrand Is not usually worry much minorities. Except when it comes to Afrikaners. The white population of South Africa will originate mainly from the Netherlands and Germany. Erkenbrand sees them as a brother nation. Attendance at a lecture by Steve Hofmeyr (1964) in June 2016, a far-right Afrikaner, was one of the first activities of Erkenbrand. Hofmeyr was during this lecture in a highly secure Scheveningen restaurant interviewed by Martin Bosma PVV'er (1964). Erkenbrand was here in his own words with six people present. Since then the situation of white Afrikaners is not on the agenda of Erkenbrand disappeared.
"Helping people get of your own blood is better than people from Syria or Afghanistan to the Netherlands." Says Derek Hargens. He answers the question of why he was active in the Dutch Center for Diaspora (NCD), Recognize an organization where several burners operate. The NCD aims to "relaxed entry requirements" and a "generous reception" in the Netherlands for Afrikaners. The NCD aims to achieve this by lobbying and "bring the plight of the Afrikaners to public attention." Hargens was both the daily management of the NCD as at Erkenbrand. He was politically active "to provide a social counterbalance." He tells Research Kafka. According to the ex-soldier from the US Army you "a traitor to your own blood if you do not help people to return to their original homeland." Hargens has seen much of the world. After his job as F16 specialist in the Army, he came to the Netherlands to work in the arms industry, inter alia, as a test engineer for Thales. But he also has traveled extensively and lived a few years in South Africa.
His explorations of the world have strengthened him in the idea that civilization is genetically built. And that this predisposition to the "white race" is more developed than in "Third World peoples." In a Erkenbrand podcast on "Alt Right Tactics" from March 2017 Hargens shows not only that suits his political vision perfectly with the worldview of Erkenbrand, He also shows that he wants to add something from his professional background to the organization. "Background knowledge on military strategy," he says, "Makes sense to understand the politics and world and to shape the development of organizations." In this broadcast Hargens takes the listener to various military theories about how you need by putting, fear to go against and how you psychologically prepared for a fight. political violence, Recognize where several burners prepare for, propagates Hargens not. He points not on principle, but it would not be effective at this time. "We need to conduct proper fight," he explains. "If our enemies enter the violent phase, then they lose the moral battle. Therefore we have left to do their thing. That does not sound logical, but ultimately yields a profit. If we do not fight back, then bystanders will see us as morally superior. "
Hargens is not the only Erkenbrand-member active in the NCD. Also Erkenbrand founder Milan Bruynzeel (1991) and Joram van Schaik, which include contact North Brabant behalf Erkenbrand, involved in NCD. Van Schaik at the Hogeschool Utrecht followed a communication and multimedia training. One of the activities which he performed for Erkenbrand was tracking website. The NCD he seemed to want to do this, were it not for the large number Acknowledge Burners stress caused in this club. "The other members were afraid of a negative image as engagement rings Recognize would become known." Hargens informs. This voltage is apparently been the death-blow to the NCD, what has been learned a year nothing of this club.
New impetus is gone
Erkenbrand experience hitherto a turbulent existence. In the first two years they have a lot of items, podcasts and videos published and there was a strong membership growth. this scale, combined with extensive media attention and two intelligence led to tensions and strained relations within the organization. The last conference of Erkenbrand, in november 2018, drew fewer visitors than the previous and the various online expressions of Erkenbrand decreased.
It seems that the supporters shrinking. A number of executives has become active in other organizations, because it concretely, politics trying to be busy. Erkenbrand wild and bring fresh and new player within the extreme right in the Netherlands new people within and create a unity. National socialist to libertarian, Everyone was welcome. Even this also seemed to work in the small and highly distributed extreme-right movement in the Netherlands. With the new impetus is gone this role seems, that has already been played by many organizations in recent decades, also too much for Erkenbrand.
