Ex-politicians face growing challenges as they transition to work outside politics
Former Dutch politicians face growing challenges when seeking new employment after leaving office, with many reporting reputational damage, burnout, and mental strain, according to specialized career agencies.
“From our former clients, we hear that they experience more aggression, boundary-crossing behavior, and hardening than about five years ago,” Johan Eekma, owner of Carrièrepoort, a re-integration bureau assisting politicians in their search for new jobs, told BNR.
Other agencies, including Gradus, LoopbaanNaPolitiek, Transitium Groep, and Public Lead, confirmed that political careers often leave mental and physical scars. “People sometimes need more time to recover, so they can look positively toward the future,” Roeland Doornbosch, director of LoopbaanNaPolitiek, told BNR. Two agencies, Van Ede & Partners and POSG, declined to comment.
After leaving office, politicians receive transitional pay under the General Pension Act for Political Office Holders (APPA), which requires them to actively seek new employment through designated reintegration programs.
A key obstacle in this process is the hostile treatment politicians face, both during and after their political careers. A survey by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations late last year found that nearly half of local politicians had experienced aggression. “Dealing with online hate is sometimes a daily practice for our leaders,” Sibel Köklü, director of Transitium Groep, told BNR. Social media, she noted, makes it easy to verbally attack politicians. Women are disproportionately targeted. Reputational damage also complicates career transitions.
Experts emphasize that recovery from both mental and physical issues is essential before starting a new career. “Otherwise, you carry these issues into your next job, and it will get stuck there,” Hans van Westen, director of Gradus, told BNR. Agencies note that recovery requires tailored support.
