{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1951)}} {{Family name hatnote|Van Strien|Strien|lang=Dutch}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Gom van Strien | birth_name = Gommarus Adrianus van Strien | image = Gom van Strien.jpg | alt = | caption = Gom van Strien | office = Member of the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] | term_start1 = 7 June 2011 | term_end1 = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|06|10|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Geertruidenberg]], Netherlands | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Party for Freedom]] (since 2009) | website = | alma_mater = [[Radboud University Nijmegen|Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen]] <br> [[University of Twente]] | spouse = | children = | other_party = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (until 1999) }} '''Gommarus Adrianus "Gom" van Strien''' (born 10 June 1951) is a Dutch politician, he has been a member of the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] for the [[Party for Freedom]] since 7 June 2011. He has served as deputy [[parliamentary leader]] since 25 September 2012. He was named formation scout after the [[2023 Dutch general election]] but resigned within days, after he was linked to a fraud case involving his former employer, Utrecht Holdings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-27 |title=Van Strien (PVV) stopt, Wilders heeft nieuwe verkenner op oog |url=https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2499425-van-strien-pvv-stopt-wilders-heeft-nieuwe-verkenner-op-oog |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=nos.nl |language=nl}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Van Strien was born in [[Geertruidenberg]] on 10 June 1951.<ref name="parl">{{cite web|url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vinxl2kgk5tc/g_a_gom_van_strien |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821063958/https://www.parlement.com/id/vinxl2kgk5tc/g_a_gom_van_strien |title=Ir. drs. G.A. (Gom) van Strien |language=nl |website=Parlement.com |date= |archive-date=21 August 2014}}</ref> He studied physics at the [[Radboud University Nijmegen|Catholic University Nijmegen]] between 1970 and 1976. He then studied business administration at the [[University of Twente]] between 1976 and 1978.<ref name=senate/> From his graduation until 1986 he worked for [[Statistics Netherlands]], he then worked one year for [[Rijkswaterstaat]] and then started working for [[Utrecht University]]. At the university he was first secretary and later director of the faculty of veterinary medicine. From 2000 until 2009 he was managing director of Utrecht Holdings, the knowledge transfer office of Utrecht University and [[UMC Utrecht]].<ref name=senate/> From 2009 until 2011 he was director of TrekhaakCentrum.nl.<ref name="parl"/>
==Political career== From 1984 to 1988 van Strien served as chair of the local organization of the [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] in [[Alphen aan den Rijn]].<ref name=Rutten>{{cite news|last=Rutten |first=Rik |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/11/24/verkenner-gom-van-strien-zeer-rechts-in-de-leer-a4182213 |url-access=subscription |title=Kundig, intelligent en oerconservatief: zo omschrijven mensen die Gom van Strien kennen, de voorgedragen nieuwe verkenner |language=Dutch |newspaper=NRC Handelsblad |date=24 November 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref> Fellow party members called his term in office as unremarkable apart for his sudden departure.<ref>{{cite web|last=l'Ami |first=Dennis |url=https://www.ad.nl/alphen-aan-den-rijn/gom-van-strien-alphen-pvv~a6893d81/ |url-access=subscription |title=Gom van Strien maakte weinig indruk in de politiek in Alphen, al deed hij één opmerkelijk iets |language=Dutch |newspaper=Algemeen Dagblad |date=27 November 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref> In 1999 he left the party after being disillusioned with the change in leadership from [[Frits Bolkestein]] to [[Hans Dijkstal]].<ref name=nos>{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2499133-verkenner-gom-van-strien-72-trouwe-pvv-senator-met-weinig-politiek-profiel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127085346/https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2499133-verkenner-gom-van-strien-72-trouwe-pvv-senator-met-weinig-politiek-profiel |title=Verkenner Gom van Strien (72): trouwe PVV-senator met weinig politiek profiel |language=Dutch |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |date=24 November 2023 |archive-date=27 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Keultjes |first=Hanneke |url=https://www.ad.nl/politiek/deze-man-mag-van-wilders-de-formatie-verkennen-teleurgestelde-ex-vvder-die-stambomen-uitpluist~a291ff84/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130103741/https://www.ad.nl/politiek/deze-man-mag-van-wilders-de-formatie-verkennen-teleurgestelde-ex-vvder-die-stambomen-uitpluist~a291ff84/ |title=Deze man mag van Wilders de formatie verkennen: teleurgestelde ex-VVD'er die stambomen uitpluist |language=Dutch |newspaper=Algemeen Dagblad |date=24 November 2023 |archive-date=30 November 2023}}</ref>
In 2009 sent an application letter to [[Geert Wilders]] to become a member of the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] for the [[Party for Freedom]].<ref name=nos/> After the [[2011 Dutch Senate election]] van Strien became a member of the Senate for the party on 7 June 2011.<ref name=senate>{{cite web|url=http://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/ir_drs_g_a_van_strien_pvv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124180810/https://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/ir_drs_g_a_van_strien_pvv |title=Ir. drs. G.A. van Strien (PVV) |publisher=Senate of the Netherlands |archive-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> He has served as deputy [[parliamentary leader]] since 25 September 2012.<ref name=senate/> In 2015 he called the Senate a fake parliament.<ref name=Rutten/> In the senate he mostly deals with financial issues.<ref name=Rutten/> He was second on the Party for Freedom list for the [[2019 Dutch Senate election]] and was reelected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://omroepvenlo.nl/nieuws/artikel/gom-van-strien-waarschijnlijk-langer-in-eerste-kamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122155439/https://omroepvenlo.nl/nieuws/artikel/gom-van-strien-waarschijnlijk-langer-in-eerste-kamer |title=Gom van Strien waarschijnlijk langer in Eerste Kamer |language=nl |publisher=Omroep Venlo |date=25 March 2019 |archive-date=22 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vkz9hgys9em1?ctx=vkvxii149rv7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027131915/https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vkz9hgys9em1?ctx=vkvxii149rv7 |title=Nieuwe Eerste Kamer geïnstalleerd |language=Dutch |website=eumonitor.eu |date=11 June 2019 |archive-date=27 October 2021}}</ref>
=== Formation scout and fraud case === After the [[2023 Dutch general election]] he was named formation scout on a proposal of election winner Geert Wilders on 24 November 2023. Wilders called him someone "with not too great a political profile".<ref name=Rutten/> Shortly after being named he stated he did not remember his 2015 remark of the Senate as a fake parliament.<ref name=Rutten/> In the weekend following his nomination Dutch newspaper ''[[NRC Handelsblad]]'' published an article implicating van Strien in a fraud case brought forth by his former employer, Utrecht Holdings. Van Strien denied the allegations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/5420942/verkenner-van-strien-verband-gebracht-met-fraudezaak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126121356/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/5420942/verkenner-van-strien-verband-gebracht-met-fraudezaak |title=PVV-verkenner Gom van Strien in verband gebracht met fraudezaak |language=Dutch |publisher=RTL Nieuws |date=26 November 2023 |archive-date=26 November 2023}}</ref> On the morning of 27 November 2023, the day of his intended start as formation scout, he stated that he would lay down his tasks as formation scout.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5421048/gom-van-strien-pvv-verkenner |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127193915/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5421048/gom-van-strien-pvv-verkenner |title=PVV'er Gom van Strien legt werk als verkenner neer na fraudebeschuldiging |language=Dutch |publisher=RTL Nieuws |date=27 November 2023 |archive-date=27 November 2023}}</ref> Van Strien later stated that it was a mistake that he did not inform Wilders of the allegations when he was considered for formation scout. He had discussed the matter with Party for Freedom Senate leader [[Marjolein Faber]] and both decided it was best not to bother Wilders with the matter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5421473/gom-van-strien-verkenner-fraudezaak-wilders-bewust-niet-verteld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129191158/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5421473/gom-van-strien-verkenner-fraudezaak-wilders-bewust-niet-verteld |title=Vertrokken verkenner Gom van Strien verzweeg fraudezaak bewust voor Wilders |language=Dutch |publisher=RTL Nieuws |date=29 November 2023 |archive-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>
His home in [[Arcen]] was raided by the [[Fiscal Information and Investigation Service]] (FIOD) in May 2024 as part of an investigation into the criminal complaint by Utrecht Holdings.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nu.nl/politiek/6314090/inval-bij-pvv-senator-en-voormalig-verkenner-gom-van-strien-wegens-omkoping.html |date = 24 May 2024 |access-date = 24 May 2024 |language = nl |website = [[NU.nl]] |title = Inval bij PVV-senator en voormalig verkenner Gom van Strien wegens omkoping |trans-title = Raid at PVV senator and former scout Gom van Strien due to bribery }}</ref> In a [[civil case]] against Van Strien's successor as managing director of Utrecht Holdings, a [[court of appeals]] concluded in November 2024 that Van Strien and his successor had obtained a stake in a [[corporate spin-off|spin-off company]] of the university, which held shares of two biomedical companies, by hiding their involvement in a separate entity called Hereswint. This entity, jointly owned by Van Strien's wife, his neighbor, a friend, and the wife of his successor, received €2 million in dividends between 2006 and 2018 due to its stake in the spin-off company. Hereswint was established by his neighbor at Van Strien's direction. In reply to the ruling, Van Strien called it disgraceful that his conduct was judged without him being heard.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/11/18/gerechtshof-pvv-senator-gom-van-strien-verhulde-zakelijk-belang-a4873534 |url-access = subscription |date = 18 November 2024 |last = Dohmen |first = Joep |access-date = 18 November 2024 |language = nl |website = [[NRC (newspaper)|NRC]] |title = Gerechtshof: PVV-senator Gom van Strien verhulde zakelijk belang |trans-title = Court of appeals: PVV Senator Gom van Strien hid business interest }}</ref>
==Personal life== Van Strien is married and has three children. He is fond of maritime history and [[genealogy]] and wrote a book on his own family's history.<ref name=nos/> He was made Knight in the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]] on 21 February 2009.<ref name=senate/>
==Electoral history== {{Incomplete list|date=December 2023}} {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Gom van Strien}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 class="unsortable" |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |- ! scope="col" |Party seats ! scope="col" |Individual |- ! scope="row" | [[2010 Dutch general election|2010]] | [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| | rowspan="6" | [[Party for Freedom]] | style=text-align:right | [[List of Party for Freedom candidates in the 2010 Dutch general election|48]]{{efn|name=lij|Van Strien participated as {{lang|nl|[[lijstduwer]]}}.}} | style=text-align:right | 1,002 | style=text-align:right | 24 | {{no2|Lost}} | <ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2010/06/16/proces-verbaal-tweede-kamer-2010-kopie |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 22 December 2023 |format = PDF |date = 16 June 2010 |title = Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 2010 |trans-title = Results 2010 general election |pages = 32–33 }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[2015 Dutch Senate election|2015]] | [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| | style=text-align:right | [[List of Party for Freedom candidates in the 2015 Dutch Senate election|2]] | style=text-align:right | 1,190{{efn|Weighted votes}} | style=text-align:right | 9 | {{yes2|Won}} | <ref>{{cite web|access-date=28 October 2024|author=Kiesraad |date=28 May 2015|language=nl |title=Uitslag Eerste Kamerverkiezing 2015|url=https://www.kiesraad.nl/binaries/kiesraad/documenten/proces-verbalen/2015/05/28/proces-verbaal-verkiezingsuitslag-eerste-kamer-2015/getekend-proces-verbaal-eerste-kamerverkiezing-2015.pdf|pages=28–30}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[2017 Dutch general election|2017]] | House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| | style=text-align:right | [[List of Party for Freedom candidates in the 2017 Dutch general election|50]]{{efn|name=lij}} | style=text-align:right | 728 | style=text-align:right | 20 | {{no2|Lost}} | <ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2017/3/proces-verbaal-zitting-kiesraad-uitslag-tweede-kamerverkiezing-2017/getekend-proces-verbaal-zitting-bekendmaking-uitslag-tweede-kamer-22-03-2017 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 21 December 2023 |format = PDF |date = 21 March 2017 |title = Uitslag Tweede Kamerverkiezing 2017 (getekend exemplaar) |trans-title = Results House of Representatives 2017 (signed example) |pages = 66–67 }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[2019 Dutch Senate election|2019]] | [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] | style="background-color:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| | style=text-align:right | [[List of Party for Freedom candidates in the 2019 Dutch Senate election|2]] | style=text-align:right | 0 | style=text-align:right | 5 | {{yes2|Won}} | <ref>{{cite web|access-date=28 October 2024|author=Kiesraad |date=31 May 2019|language=nl |title=Proces-verbaal van de verkiezingsuitslag van de Eerste Kamer|url=https://www.kiesraad.nl/binaries/kiesraad/documenten/proces-verbalen/2019/pvs-eerste-kamerverkiezing/zitting-bekendmaking-uitslag-ek-2019-door-csb/proces-verbaal-uitslag-eerste-kamerverkiezing-zitting-kiesraad-31-mei-2019/Proces-verbaal+van+de+verkiezingsuitslag+van+de+Eerste+Kamer.pdf|pages=17–19}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[2021 Dutch general election|2021]] | House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| | style=text-align:right | [[List of Party for Freedom candidates in the 2021 Dutch general election|50]]{{efn|name=lij}} | style=text-align:right | 790 | style=text-align:right | 17 | {{no2|Lost}} | <ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2021/03/26/uitslag-tweede-kamerverkiezing-17-maart-2021 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 21 December 2023 |format = PDF |date = 29 March 2021 |title = Proces-verbaal verkiezingsuitslag Tweede Kamer 2021 |trans-title = Report of the election results House of Representatives 2021 |pages = 20–21 }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | [[2023 Dutch general election|2023]] | House of Representatives | style="background-color:{{party color|Party for Freedom}};"| | style=text-align:right | [[List of Party for Freedom candidates in the 2023 Dutch general election|45]]{{efn|name=lij}} | style=text-align:right | 1,230 | style=text-align:right | 37 | {{no2|Lost}} | <ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2023/12/04/proces-verbaal-van-de-uitslag-van-de-tweede-kamerverkiezing-2023 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 21 December 2023 |format = PDF |date = 4 December 2023 |title = Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023 |trans-title = Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023 |pages = 35–36 }}</ref> |}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2023–2027}} {{Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2019–2023}} {{Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2015–2019}} {{Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2011–2015}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strien, Gom van}} [[Category:1951 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau]] [[Category:Party for Freedom politicians]] [[Category:People from Geertruidenberg]] [[Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians]] [[Category:Radboud University Nijmegen alumni]] [[Category:University of Twente alumni]] [[Category:Party for Freedom senators]]