ACTION · Leftist Soup – Het Actiefonds

Surveys by I&O Research show that a majority of people in the Netherlands support a more extensive climate policy, affordable rental housing, a higher minimum wage and more permanent contracts. Yet the Netherlands is becoming more right-wing with each election and fascists are gaining ground at home and abroad. ‘Leftist Soup’ (a pun in Dutch, as ‘Linke Soep’ refers to something dangerous) hosts accessible monthly gatherings for a growing group of progressive people in the Netherlands who are very concerned about the current far-right government, but just don’t know where to start to take action.

As the most right-wing administration ever has taken office in the Netherlands, many progressives and radicals feel lonely, scared and displaced. On our phones, we see what is going wrong in the world, share messages and take action, but at the end of the day it often feels fleeting and insuffient.

Seventies

“We need to get to know each other – look each other in the eye, know that the people you work with can be trusted, understand what you can do for each other. And that doesn’t just happen on a Signal chat,” said the initiator of Leftist Soup. After all, getting together offline, in community centers and other public places, proved to be a very effective method in all kinds of protest movements in the 1970s. And now, this connection is crucial again.

We are not alone. And to realize that, small gestures can make all the difference. Hence the new initiative for a “leftist food club,” supported by Het Actiefonds. Every month, people of different ages, backgrounds and political leanings get together to eat soup while talking about the state of the country and what can be done about it.

Low-key

The gatherings are low-key and accessible: people with a lot of activist experience come together with those who have never been to an action in their life, just to be among people who are equally concerned and willing to do something. Each time, everyone brings one other person who might also need some community. The idea is that the soup dinners will eventually grow into a large decentralized network of activists who together will be able to face the government in the coming years.

At the very first meeting in september, 25 people attended and inspired each other. They, in turn, created groups to stay in touch with each other and slowly but surely build a solid progressive community.

Het Actiefonds is proud to support Leftist Soup. It is precisely these kinds of small initiatives that are essential to building a movement and gaining political power. This soup leaves us wanting more.

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Soup against fascism