Flag symbolic of Dutch Nazi sympathizers gaining popularity again
Flag vendors and sellers noticed an increase in the sale of the controversial orange-white-blue Prince flag, best known as a symbol for Dutch Nazi sympathizers and fascist party NSB, BNR reports after surveying a number of flag vendors. According to the results, the flag currently crosses counters dozens of times a year.
Researcher Willem Wagenaar, of the Anne Frank foundation, does not necessarily believe that this is indicating an increase in extreme right-wing sentiments in the Netherlands. "Two years ago we saw a growth in extreme right-wing sentiment due to the refugee crisis, but that growth did not apply to clubs like [right-wing extremist group] Voorpost. It may be that PVV supporters are more interested in the flag." he said to the broadcaster.
The Prince flag has a long history, according to BNR. Once the orange in the flag referred to Willem van Oranje, but now it is mainly seen as symbol for the "old-Dutch". People see the flag as a symbol of times when the Netherlands was a major power in the world, according to Wagenaar. "There are romantic thoughts about it - the time of uprising, the Golden Age", he said. "Those are ideas that different groups of people in society have."
