A unique theater evening about power, strategy, and the reality behind the public narrative.
Behind the Power takes you behind the scenes of Dutch politics – not only during campaigns, but in the daily practice of power. How are decisions made, narratives constructed, coalitions forged and voters persuaded?
What do you see when you look at politics – and what don't you see? How are decisions really made? Who truly has influence, and why do you never hear their names in the news? And how are election campaigns devised, frames chosen, and voters persuaded? In Behind the Power, Splinter Chabot, Peter Kwint and Bas Erlings – the voices behind the new podcast Behind the Power – take you along with Julia Wouters into the world of political strategy, image-building and backroom dealings. Not as outsiders analyzing from the sidelines, but as people who have been there themselves: at the controls, behind the scenes, and sometimes at the exact moment when something was at stake.
With the provincial elections of 2027 on the horizon, this is the moment to pause together and reflect on how power works, how campaigns are run, and what is at stake for our democracy. Expect sharp analysis, personal stories from behind the scenes and surprising insights from the heart of Dutch politics. An interactive, timely and accessible evening for everyone curious about how politics works in practice – and how you can recognize it.
With:
Splinter Chabot – political scientist, writer, presenter and former chairman of the JOVD. He will lead the evening and speak about how political narratives are constructed – in Parliament and on the campaign trail.
Bas Erlings – strategist behind multiple successful VVD campaigns and author of the bestseller Het spel van de populist. He speaks about how power is communicated – and disguised.
Julia Wouters – political analyst, speaker, writer and long-time advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher. Co-host of De Spindoctors. She shares what decision-making looks like from the inside.
Peter Kwint – former SP Member of Parliament, with extensive experience in opposition and in the corridors of power. He reveals what you see from the other side of the table.
