Rinze Visser, a Frisian politician described in Dutch media as Friesland's oldest communist, has died at the age of 87, according to the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN). Visser was the longest-serving municipal councillor in the Netherlands and one of the last communist elected representatives in the country.
He was elected in 1970 as a councillor for the communist party in the municipality of Lemsterland, which later merged into De Fryske Marren. He remained a councillor for more than 55 years, standing down in March of this year rather than seeking re-election because of his age. His career spanned a period in which the Dutch communist movement went from a visible political force to a marginal one, and he was often noted for holding his seat long after that shift.
What this means if you are learning Dutch or new in the Netherlands: local politics is a practical entry point for understanding how the country works. Municipal councils (gemeenteraden) decide on matters such as housing, local transport, schools and permits, and council meetings are usually public. Following a council in a place like De Fryske Marren can help you learn political vocabulary and see how decisions that affect daily life are made. It is also a reminder that Dutch political history includes parties, such as the communists, that are no longer represented in parliament but still shaped local debate for decades.