Dairy farmer with many political ambitions

Dairy farmer Maurits von Martels (56) has won a seat in the House of Representatives with 21.510 preferential votes. On Tuesday 21 March he was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives for the CDA faction. Who exactly is Von Martels and what can farmers expect from him?

Like a jack-of-all-trades, Von Martels has managed to conquer a place in the House of Representatives. Von Martels was in 44th place on the CDA candidate list. According to his spokesperson, he is now in fourth place on the CDA list, based on the number of preference votes. 

This increase means that von Martels should be given first choice in the distribution of the posts. His preference is of course for agriculture, but Von Martels is also interested in sports, care and welfare. That was his area of ​​focus as alderman in Dalfsen in Overijssel.

Maurits has been an alderman in the municipality of Dalfsen for 6 years. He had previously served as a councilor in that municipality four years earlier. His interest in sports can be explained. Von Martels has been a show jumping rider for many years. He is familiar with the mores of livestock farming, but will need to brush up on his arable farming knowledge. 

Livestock farmers voted en masse
Von Martels managed to obtain the most preferential votes in the livestock farming provinces of Overijssel, Friesland, Drenthe, Gelderland and North Brabant. He is seen as a free boy who is fully committed to his company, with more than 100 dairy cows. He also has an eye for his environment. 

The question of whether von Martels can prove himself in the House of Representatives depends on the space he gets from his party, the CDA. The party indicates on the one hand that it is pleased with his arrival in the national political arena, but at the same time followed his campaign with suspicion. The CDA was especially afraid of losing its grip. 

a squire
Maurits von Martels is a baronet and lives with his family, wife and three sons, on the Huize Hessum estate. Von Martels was born on this modest estate with approximately 42 hectares of cultivated land and some woodland. He took over the farming business from his father.

In February interviewed Boerenbusiness him already. In that interview it becomes clear why he wants to become a politician as well as being a farmer. Click here for that interview with Von Martels.

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