Geert Wilders, the outspoken leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), has suspended all campaign activities for the upcoming parliamentary elections after authorities in Belgium uncovered an alleged terrorist plot targeting him and several other politicians. The chilling discovery, which has sent shockwaves through political circles in both the Netherlands and Belgium, comes just weeks before Dutch voters are set to head to the polls on October 29, 2025.
The dramatic turn of events began on October 9, when Belgian police arrested three young men in Antwerp. According to prosecutors, the suspects were part of a cell allegedly plotting to kill politicians using a homemade explosive device attached to a drone. Among those reportedly targeted were Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Antwerp Mayor Els van Doesburg, and Wilders himself, who has long been one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Islamic extremism and Muslim migration. Belgian authorities described the unfolding case as an investigation into “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group,” as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws and De Telegraaf.
Police raids revealed disturbing details about the suspects. The 18-year-old Moroccan national, studying defense and security at Antwerp’s Sint-Norbertus Institute, was found to have a homemade explosive in his possession. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old Chechen man, enrolled in a cybersecurity course in Belgium, reportedly had a 3D printer at his home, raising concerns about the group’s technical capabilities and intentions. Belgian authorities suspect the cell was motivated by jihadist ideology and had concrete plans to carry out attacks against high-profile political figures.
For Wilders, the threat is all too familiar. On October 11, he took to social media to announce that the Dutch National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism and Safety (NCTV) had confirmed he was one of the intended targets. “This is not the first time in 21 years of threats and security measures that this has happened to me, but every time it shocks me enormously. The NCTV does not expect any ‘residual threat,’ but I have a bad feeling about this myself and therefore I am suspending all my campaign activities for the time being,” Wilders declared, as quoted by Breitbart London.
The announcement came after Wilders canceled his appearance at a televised election debate, a move that underscored the gravity of the situation. In his public statement, Wilders acknowledged the psychological toll such threats have taken on him and his family. “We have lost our freedom and privacy. Everywhere I go, I am constantly surrounded by bodyguards,” he wrote in an exclusive article for Breitbart London prior to the trial of a previous would-be attacker. He added that he and his wife have been forced to “live in various safe houses” under constant security for the past two decades.
Wilders’ decision to suspend his campaign has sparked a flurry of reactions from political leaders and the public alike. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed deep concern over the threat, stating, “In our country, politicians must be able to do their work safely. Every threat is completely unacceptable. It is extraordinarily serious that Geert Wilders feels compelled to temporarily suspend his campaign. I trust that all involved security organizations and services are working closely together and doing everything to ensure that the campaigns and elections proceed safely. That is of the greatest importance for our democracy.”
Belgian ministers, while not initially naming all the intended targets, later confirmed that Prime Minister Bart De Wever was among those at risk. The revelations have heightened anxieties in both countries about the safety of politicians and the resilience of democratic institutions in the face of extremist threats. The Belgian investigation remains ongoing, with prosecutors emphasizing the seriousness of the charges and the need for continued vigilance.
This is hardly the first time Wilders has faced such danger. His outspoken opposition to Islamic extremism has made him a perennial target for violent plots. In 2019, a Pakistani national named Junaid Iqbal was sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of plotting to “send the dog Wilders to hell.” Just last year, a 56-year-old imam, Muhammad Ashraf Asif Jalali, was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in prison for issuing a fatwa—a religious death warrant—against the Dutch politician. These incidents are only the most notable in a long line of threats that have forced Wilders and his family to live in near-constant fear and under the protection of Dutch security services.
The latest plot has once again brought the issue of political safety to the forefront of public debate. While Dutch authorities have reassured Wilders and the public that they do not expect any lingering threat from the cell, the PVV leader remains unconvinced. “I have a bad feeling about this and am therefore suspending all my campaign activities for the time being,” he reiterated. The decision has left PVV supporters and political observers wondering how the suspension will affect the party’s standing in the polls, where it currently leads ahead of the crucial parliamentary elections.
Security experts note that the use of drones and homemade explosives marks a worrying escalation in the tactics employed by extremist groups. The presence of a 3D printer in the possession of one suspect suggests a level of technical sophistication that could make future plots harder to detect and prevent. Authorities in both Belgium and the Netherlands have pledged to increase surveillance and coordination to address these evolving threats.
Wilders’ predicament is emblematic of a broader trend across Europe, where politicians who take strong stances on contentious issues—especially those related to immigration and religious extremism—find themselves in the crosshairs of radical groups. The ongoing threat environment has led to heightened security protocols, not just for Wilders, but for many public officials across the continent.
As the Dutch elections approach, the suspension of Wilders’ campaign serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by those in public life. The episode has also reignited debate over the balance between free speech, public safety, and the responsibilities of government in protecting its leaders. While the investigation continues and security measures are reviewed, the Dutch public is left to grapple with the implications for their democracy and the safety of those who serve it.
For now, Geert Wilders remains out of the public eye, his campaign on hold, but his message—and the threats against him—continue to reverberate throughout the Netherlands and beyond.
