Dutch MP Robert van Asten: ‘Our choices must also benefit future generations’
Alumnus Robert van Asten has been an MP for D66 since 2025. He studied Tax Law at Leiden University from 1997 to 2005. After a career in tax law, he moved into local politics and later national politics.
How do you look back on your student days in Leiden?
‘It was a great time. For the first few years, I stayed at home with my parents in Rijswijk. Then I moved to Leiden where I lived opposite an English pub called North End. The atmosphere in the city and the university’s location were amazing. I joined the tax law study association PNO (Pecunia Non Olet), was on its travel committee and then thoroughly enjoyed a year on the board.’
Why did you choose Tax Law?
‘I chose to study Law after going to an Open Day and a taster lecture on labour law. When it came to choosing a specialisation, I decided to go for tax law. I’d always been interested in economics, and I really enjoyed the course "Introduction to Tax Law”.’
What appealed to me most about the programme was the combination of interesting subject matter and the chance to gain practical experience during your studies. I did an internship and worked at Deloitte in Leiden and Ernst & Young in The Hague. I wrote my thesis when I was at Deloitte and could start work there afterwards. The transition to working life took some getting used to after being a student for seven years, but it turned out to be a good match for me in the end.’
Later, you switched to local politics. What attracted you?
‘After six years working at Deloitte, I felt I needed a change. I wanted more time to focus on issues in society. I started working at Vistra, a business-to-business service provider, and in the meantime my interest in politics was growing. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to focus on that full-time: I worked as a fundraiser at the D66 party headquarters, was a member of the municipal council in The Hague and became party chairman there. After the 2018 municipal elections, I became a member of the municipal executive in The Hague. That was the start of seven and a half years on the city executive board.’
Had you always dreamt of going into politics?
‘No, that developed over time. I’d always been interested in politics at secondary school and in discussions with my family, but I’d had no real interest in going into politics as a career. When I was working in the tax world, I noticed that social issues began to interest me more and more, even more than tax issues.’
You have a lot of experience in local politics. What’s the biggest difference between local and national government?
‘As a local politician – certainly on the city executive board – you can respond directly to problems. For instance, if you notice a pothole in the road you can pick up the phone and get someone to fix it. That direct contact and the visible impact make your work feel very tangible. National politics is different: you depend on procedures, written parliamentary questions, and decision-making from a distance. The focus is more on the long term and policies which means you have less direct impact on what’s happening on the streets.’
What do you hope to achieve as an MP?
‘Two of my major policy areas are asylum and migration, and housing and spatial planning. In the area of asylum, I’d like to see the asylum chain functioning properly again. When it comes to spatial planning, my main focus will be the long term: what will the Netherlands look like in 2050? Our choices must also benefit future generations, leaving enough space for the natural environment as well as for housing projects. That said, I want to accelerate housing construction by ensuring that national regulations align better with local needs. In four years’ time, there may still be no more than a handful of new cities, but I hope to see construction cranes in action all across the Netherlands.’
What’s your best memory from your student days?
‘Generally, just student life along the canals in Leiden, with the university in the heart of the city. Though one moment does stand out – a gig by Van Dik Hout in 1999 on the Rapenburg. I sat in the sun together with friends, just enjoying the music and each other’s company. That, to me, epitomises carefree student days.’
Do you have advice for current students?
‘Use your student years to try out as much as possible. If you don’t have too many actual teaching hours, see whether you can take extra courses or perhaps even do a dual degree. This is a unique time in your life when you can take a behind-the-scenes look at all kinds of things. So, give yourself that time and seize those opportunities!’