Vrij Nederland

Vrij Nederland (Free Netherlands) is a Dutch magazine, established during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II as an underground newspaper. It has since grown into a magazine. The originally weekly turned monthly magazine in 2016 is traditionally intellectually left-wing. Over the years, it has become more centrist, in recent years reverting back to a generally progressive outlook on politics, social justice and climate, among other topics. It is one of the four most influential written media in its sector, along with Elsevier, De Groene Amsterdammer and HP/De Tijd, all with a dwindling readership. Publisher of Vrij Nederland is WPG Uitgevers in Amsterdam. The offices of Vrij Nederland are in the headquarters of WPG at Wibautstraat 133.

The first issue of Vrij Nederland was published on 31 August 1940. The chief editors were:

1940–1942: Frans Hofker
1941–1950: Henk van Randwijk
1950–1955: Johan Winkler
1955–1969: Mathieu Smedts [nl]
1969–1991: Rinus Ferdinandusse
1991–1997: Joop van Tijn
1998–2000: Oscar Garschagen
2001–2004: Xandra Schutte
2004–2005: Gerard van Westerloo (interim)
2005–2008: Emile Fallaux
2008–2015: Frits van Exter
2017–: Ward Wijndelts

Circulation:

1945: 109,000
1951: 35,000
1955: 19,000
1960: 23,000
1965: 36,950
1970: 81,378
1975: 109,381
1980: 111,857
1985: 97,132
1990: 76,947
1995: 92,134
2000: 55,947
2005: 49,244
2010: 48,353
2015: 22,937
2020: 17,043
2021: 15,542