The Moroccan Dutch Cooperation Association (SMN), a Dutch organization representing the interests of the Moroccan community in the Netherlands, launched a campaign on Sunday to encourage more Moroccan Dutch citizens to vote in the upcoming House of Representatives elections. "We have seen for years that turnover in our community is very low," said Habib el Kaddouri of SMN at the campaign's launch in Utrecht. According to him, the political climate has only deepened this problem. "The political climate is disadvantageous for many Dutch Moroccans. Trust has been damaged. In recent years, The Hague has made statements and passed laws that have made people defensive," he explained. SMN's campaign will feature social media videos starting October 1 under the hashtag #pakjestemterug, along with a podcast and rallies across the country to encourage participation. "If you don't vote, you're actually giving space to parties that don't take your rights and interests too seriously," El Kaddouri warned. "We hope to inspire people to vote," he added. "Voting, regardless of the party, means participating in democracy". While the Dutch Electoral Council does not publish turnout figures by group, research shows that people with a migration background vote significantly less often. "Among Dutch people with a Surinamese or Moroccan background, turnover is lower than average," noted Lucas Vermeulen, associate professor of political science at the University of Amsterdam, in an interview with broadcaster NOS . One reason, he suggested, is a lack of representation. "Many people feel like they don't belong. They see politicians who are anti-Islam or who exclude people, and they want nothing to do with it. Yet a democracy only functions when everyone participates," he said. Early general elections in the Netherlands are scheduled for 29 October 2025.
