The Dutch political system is a merry-go-round that is turning faster and faster. Political parties get on and off at high speed. The 'darling' today is the 'loser' tomorrow. The voter has a choice, but at the same time is not steadfastly satisfied. He is always looking for the hopeful promise for the next year.

This fragmentation of the political landscape has been going on for a long time, for more than thirty years. Large popular parties no longer exist, they too are now reaching the lower limit of a handful of seats. The result is a generation of politicians whose political life is not certain in advance. One moment you have a nice place on the plush and the next you are outside with your note at the UWV counter.

There is no more time to grow and mature, you have to prove yourself to your voters immediately. And that 'proving' is increasingly mainly optical, via (social) media. At the same time, the threshold for entering politics is getting lower. Experience and expertise are no longer always in demand. Symbolic for the current system is a prime minister without any political background or experience. And that while good, experienced forces would rather not embark on the political adventure anymore; the chance of reputational damage is too great for them.

Time to acknowledge once again that politics is a profession, a craft in which you should be able to grow without being pilloried on the highest podium. That starts with future politicians themselves and with solid democratic political parties that guide them. Careful consideration and choice in advance and good guidance are necessary. In doing so, they ultimately do us as voters the greatest service.

By means of: Pieter Idenburg