Emine Bozkurt, a Socialist MEP who sits on the European Parliament's EU-Turkey joint parliamentary committee, and Wim van de Camp, head of list for the centre-right Christian Democrats, expressed their disappointment at the results, with neither party surprised by the PVV's success, which had been forecast for several months.
They differ, however, when it comes to analysing the results. Van de Camp believes that Dutch people have become more nationalistic because they are "afraid of the economic downturn" and feel that "there are too many foreigners living in the Netherlands". The results also indicate the "great fear that Turkey will become a member of the EU in the next ten years".
Bozkurt believes that the results have to be put in perspective. She points out that while the Freedom Party has indeed made significant gains, another party, Democraten 66, "which is quite pro-Turkey and pro-migration, has tripled its seats, going from one to three". This demonstrates that "in the Netherlands there is sympathy for both those messages," she argues.
Indeed, Bozkurt, who sits on the Parliament's EU-Turkey committee, believes that while Turkish observers will view the Dutch results negatively, they are more concerned with the overall EU picture.
"They are asking," she argues, "not only whether populist and extreme-right parties will win a lot in the whole of the EU, but whether the mainstream, progressive parties - the socialists, liberals, etc. - will keep their majority".
"The current situation is that the majority is still in favour of Turkey in the future becoming a member," she concludes.
Van de Camp, in particular, is "quite anxious" about the image of the Netherlands in the European Union following the results. "We are one of the founders of the European Union," he notes, "but now our own people seem quite sceptical about what the Netherlands is doing in the EU". Bozkurt, meanwhile, is adopting a "wait-and-see" approach.
As for what happens next, both candidates believe the actual impact of the far-right MEPs in the European Parliament will be minimal, given that Wilders has ruled out his candidates joining a parliamentary grouping. "Based on my experience during this mandate," says Bozkurt, "independents are not very influential".
"It depends on whether they want to be constructive in the European Parliament. I wish them good luck. If they come to Brussels just to obstruct, then I think they're taking the wrong path," says van de Camp.
