10 June 2004
27 seats
Electoral system: party list system; preferential voting; seats allocated in a purely proportional manner under the d'Hondt system
Christen Democratisch Appel (CDA): the Christian Democrat list is headed by Camiel Eurlings (30), currently a member of the Chamber of Representatives. He is followed, in this order, by: -the outgoing Maria Martens (49), theologian; -the outgoing Albert-Jan Maat (51); -Corien Wortmann-Kool (45), a Ministry of Transport official; -the outgoing Bert Doorn (55), lawyer; -former regional MP Lambert van Nistelrooij (51), who is highly active in social and healthcare fields; -businessman and regional MP Joop Post; -the outgoing Ria Oomen-Ruijtens (53), an MEP since 1989; -the outgoing Bartho Pronk (53), who entered the EP in 1979; -Parliamentary assistance Esther De Lange.
Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA): the outgoing Max van den Berg (58), sociologist, leads the Socialist list, which also includes: -the outgoing Jan Marinus Wiersma (52), historian; -Edith Mastenbroek (28); -outgoing MEP Dorette Corbey (47); - journalist Thijs Berman; the outgoing Ieke van den Burg (52), a trade unionist; -local MP Lily Jacobs.
Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD): the outgoing Jules Maaten (43) heads the Liberal list. He is followed, in order, by: -the outgoing Jan Mulder (60), agronomist; -the outgoing Toine Manders (48), solicitor; -Jeanine Plasschaert (30); -the outgoing Herman Vermeer (46); -Marianne Kallen Morren (52), lawyer and regional MP; Han Ten Broeke (44); -Aly Wisse-Maat (50), farmer and rural development subsidy consultant.
Groene Links: the Greens' list is led by the outgoing Kathalijne Buitenweg (34), followed by: -the outgoing Joost Lagendijk (46); - outgoing MEP Alexander de Roo (49); - Ingrid Visseren-Hamakers (33), who led a Greenpeace forests campaign; - Dogan Gök; - Bas Eickhout (27), scientist and climate project manager.
Demokraten 66 (D'66): the left-wing Liberals are putting forward the outgoing Johanna Boogerd-Quakk (60), Sophie In t'Veld (40), a Committee of the Regions employee and the outgoing MEP Bob van den Bos (56).
Christen Unie (CU)/Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP): the two orthodox protestant parties' joint list is headed by the outgoing Hans Blokland (60), an MEP since 1994, followed by the outgoing Bastiaan Belder (57), Peter van Dalen, a Ministry of Transport aviation inspectorand the outgoing MEP Rijk van Dam (52).
Socialistische Partij (SP): the outgoing Erik Meijer (59) will stand again.
Eight other groups are presenting candidates: - Democratisch Europa with Sammy van Tuyll van Serooskerken (53), a civil servant; - Europa Transparant, whose list is headed by European civil servant Paul van Buitenen (47), who has denounced the way in which the Commission deals with problems of fraud; - Leefbar Europa with Jan Leechburch Auwers; - Lijst Pim Fortuyn, led by Jens van der Vorm-De Rijke(47); - Nieuw Rechts (extreme right) with Michiel Smit (28), municipal councillor for Rotterdam; - Partij vor de Dieren (party for animals, which is supported by several well known writers and artists) with Marianne Thieme (32); - Partij voor het Noorden (a regionalist group) with Teun Jan Zanen (58), a trades unionist and local representative; - Respect. Nu with A. Wurtz, a businessman who campaigns for respect for smokers.