Communists mourn the passing of Rinze Visser
Image via the CPN
Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN) stalwart Rinze Visser (December 18, 1938 – October 16, 2026), passed away on October 16..This was announced by the Central Committee of the CPN who issued a statement in his memory. The Communist Parties of Greece (KKE) and Turkey (TKP) have also issued statements of condolences.
On 16 October, our comrade Rinze Visser passed away. He was former chairman of the Central Committee and the longest-serving municipal councillor in the Netherlands. Rinze was always there for those facing hardship. He fought steadfastly against injustice and for a better, socialist future. He never lost sight of his ideals and principles. With his keen insight, humour and tireless commitment, Rinze contributed to the building, survival and rebuilding of the communist movement in the Netherlands.
Rinze grew up in a communist family, where he became acquainted with communist ideals at an early age. He worked as a street paver. In 1958, he joined the Communist Party of the Netherlands (CPN).
In 1970, he was elected to the municipal council of Lemsterland, which later became part of De FryskeMarren. He served as a councillor for more than 55 years, until his deteriorating health prevented him from standing for re-election in March of this year. During the 1970s, Rinze also served as a member of the Provincial Council of Friesland.
As an elected representative, Rinze distinguished himself by always being ready to offer practical assistance to people in need, earning the trust of the local population. He opposed every form of injustice and worked tirelessly to defend the interests of the working class in the municipality, without compromising his principles. Rinze was able to sustain this role because he consistently opposed the capitalist system.
Within the CPN of that time, Rinze held various cadre positions. In 1978, he was elected to the Central Committee. There, he opposed the reformist current that was gaining influence at the time and that was advancing the dissolution of the party. He was deeply convinced that a communist party founded on Marxist-Leninist principles was indispensable in the Netherlands.
For this reason, Rinze was closely involved in the Horizontal Consultation of Communists (HOC), which opposed this reformist tendency. He subsequently became a member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists in the Netherlands (VCN). From 1992 onwards, Rinze played an important role in the founding of the New Communist Party of the Netherlands (NCPN), which now bears the name CPN. Rinze served on its Political Bureau and was chairman of the Central Committee.
From the very beginning of the newspaper Manifest, Rinze regularly contributed articles. Since 2003, he had written the regular column MooieWoorden (‘Fine Words’), in which he addressed various social developments through the lens of personal and local experiences. He always wrote from the perspective of those facing hardship, making his column recognisable to the many people who understand the bitter reality of capitalism.
Rinze remained true to his ideals and principles throughout his life, including during the difficult years of the counter-revolutions in the socialist countries and when his health made his work difficult. He continued his steadfast struggle, convinced that a better, socialist future is both necessary and possible.
The Central Committee of the CPN extends its heartfelt condolences to his wife, our comrade Lenie, his children, grandchildren, other loved ones, and comrades in De FryskeMarren.
Central Committee of the CPN
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To the Communist Party of the Netherlands
Dear Comrades,
We would like to express our party’s heartfelt condolences on the passing of comrade Rinze Visser. Comrade Visser was a distinguished cadre of the CP of the Netherlands, and later of the New CP of the Netherlands, assuming many responsibilities, including that of a member of the Central Committee’s Political Bureau. As a member of the Party, he fought to defend its character and mission, as well as the communist ideals for a world without exploitation, for socialism.
He served as a municipal councillor for several years and as an elected representative of the Party, he defended the just cause of the working class and the rights of toiling people.
Please convey our deepest condolences to his family and comrades.
International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE
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To the leadership of Communist Party of Netherlands
Dear comrades,
We were saddened to learn of the passing of comrade Rinze Visser, who, for more than six decades, devoted his life to the communist movement in the Netherlands, remaining loyal to the cause of socialism and the working class. Even through the difficult decades of retreat and counter-revolution, he never wavered in his convictions or abandoned the struggle to which he had dedicated his life. His life and struggle are part of the history of the communist movement in Europe, and his unwavering commitment will remain an inspiration to future generations of communists.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, comrades and the Communist Party of the Netherlands. His memory will live on in our common struggle.
With comradely greetings,
Central Committee of TKP
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