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The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), literally people's party for freedom and democracy, is a free market liberal party in the Netherlands. It is currently the third largest political party in the Netherlands.

The party was the only member of the "purple cabinets" led by Wim Kok to remain in power in Balkenende's cabinet in 2002, despite a large reduction in its representation in the Tweede Kamer (lower house of parliament). The party was founded on January 24, 1948, following in the tradition of the liberal parties

On September 2nd, 2004, VVD MP Geert Wilders left the party after a dispute with chairman Van Aartsen. He has chosen to continue as a one-man's party (in Dutch: eenmansfractie) in the Tweede Kamer. The current coalition ( CDA, VVD and D66, now lead with a majority of two seats in the parliament.

1 Seats in parliament

Development of the number of seats in the Tweede Kamer, of the 150 total:

• 1948 - 8
• 1952Summary of notable events in 1952 . Events January events January 8 West Germany has 8 million refugees inside its borders. January 24 Sudden heavy snowfall in Algeria. January 24 Vincent Massey sworn in as first Canada-born Governor-General of Canada. - 9
• 19561956 is a leap year starting on Sunday. see link for calendar) Events January January 1 End of Anglo- Egyptian Condominium in Sudan. January 16 President Gamal Abdal Nasser of Egypt vows to reconquer Palestine January 26 1956 Winter Olympic Games open in - 13
• 1959Events January-February January 1 Cultivars of plants named after this date must be named in a modern language, not in Latin. January 1 Cuba: Fulgencio Batista flees Havana when forces of Fidel Castro advance January 2 CBS Radio cuts four soap operas: Bac - 19 (represented in cabinet of Jan de Quay )
• 1963Events January-March January 11 The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. January 14 George Wallace becomes governor of Alabama. January 22 Elysee treaty between France and Germany January 28 Black student Harvey - 16 (represented in cabinet of Victor Marijnen )
• 1967 - 17 (represented in cabinet of Piet de Jong )
• 1971 - 16 (represented in first and second Biesheuvel cabinet )
• 1972 - 22
• 1977 - 28 (represented in first cabinet of Andreas van Agt )
• 1981 - 26
• 1982 - 36 (represented in first cabinet of Ruud Lubbers )
• 1986 - 27 (represented in second cabinet of Ruud Lubbers )
• 1989 - 22
• 1994 - 31 (represented in first cabinet of Wim Kok )
• 1998 - 38 (represented in second cabinet of Wim Kok)
• 2002 - 24 (represented in first Balkenende cabinet)
• 2003 - 28 (represented in second Balkenende cabinet)