Niko Koffeman

{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1958)}} {{Expand Dutch|topic=bio|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Niko Koffeman | image = Niko_Koffeman_(cropped).jpg | birth_name = Nico Klaas Koffeman | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|5|12|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Maassluis]], Netherlands | spouse = [[Antoinette Hertsenberg]] | party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (since 2025) | other_party = [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]] (1996–2006)<br>[[Party for the Animals|PvdD]] (2002–2025) | office1 = Member of the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] | term_start1 = 12 June 2007 | children = 3 | alma_mater = [[Erasmus University Rotterdam]] | occupation = [[Teacher]] • [[Politician]] }} '''Nico Klaas "Niko" Koffeman''' (born 12 May 1958) is a Dutch politician and [[animal rights]] activist. A [[Party for the Animals]] member, he holds a seat and is his party's leader in the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] since 12 June 2007.

==Career== Born in [[Maassluis]], Koffeman worked for several years as a campaign strategist for the [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|Socialist Party]]. Among his accomplishments was the creation of their current logo.<ref>[http://www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article1777497.ece/Je_bent_voor%2C_of_je_bent_tegen Je bent voor, of je bent tegen] NCR.NL, Jaco Alberts and Cees Banning. March 10, 2007</ref> In addition to his political work, he has been active in several [[animal rights]] organizations. He has also worked as a broadcast director. He later played a key role in the creation of the Party for Animals. He is a [[Euroscepticism|eurosceptic]].<ref>[http://www.volkskrant.nl/archief_gratis/article559205.ece De BV Dierenleed] de Volkskrant, Jean-Pierre Geelen. December 15, 2007</ref> He left the Party for the Animals in October 2025, ahead of [[2025 Dutch general election|a general election]], saying he disagreed with the party's direction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2587289-mede-oprichter-partij-voor-de-dieren-niko-koffeman-stapt-uit-partij|website=[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]|language=nl|access-date=21 October 2025|date=21 October 2025|title=Mede-oprichter Partij voor de Dieren Niko Koffeman stapt uit partij|trans-title=Party for the Animals co-founder Nico Koffeman leaves party}}</ref>

==Personal== Koffeman is married to television presenter [[Antoinette Hertsenberg]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1490297/bio|title= Antoinette Hertsenberg Biography|website= IMDb|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> They are members of the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]. He is a [[vegetarian]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/vegan-diet-negatives-health-environment-food-research-study-a8738951.html|title=Veganism is on the rise, but we shouldn't think it is an easy solution to the world's food problems|last=Cohen|first=Martin|last2=Leroy|first2=Frederic|date=2019-02-18|website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=2024-03-04}}</ref>

==See also== * [[List of animal rights advocates]]

==References== * {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/03157 Parlement.com biography] <references/>

==External links== *[http://www.partijvoordedieren.nl/eerstekamer/onzesenator Niko Koffeman biography] at [http://www.partijvoordedieren.nl Party for Animals website] {{in lang|nl}}

{{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:Koffeman, Niko}} [[Category:1958 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Dutch politicians]] [[Category:Christian vegetarians]] [[Category:Dutch animal rights activists]] [[Category:Dutch political party founders]] [[Category:Dutch Seventh-day Adventists]] [[Category:Members of the Senate (Netherlands)]] [[Category:Party for the Animals politicians]] [[Category:People from Maassluis]]