Vrij Nederland (Free Netherlands) is a Dutch magazine, established during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II as an underground newspaper. It has since grown into a magazine. The originally weekly turned monthly magazine in 2016 is traditionally intellectually left-wing. Over the years, it has become more centrist, in recent years reverting back to a generally progressive outlook on politics, social justice and climate, among other topics. It is one of the four most influential written media in its sector, along with Elsevier, De Groene Amsterdammer and HP/De Tijd, all with a dwindling readership. Publisher of Vrij Nederland is WPG Uitgevers in Amsterdam. The offices of Vrij Nederland are in the headquarters of WPG at Wibautstraat 133. The first issue of Vrij Nederland was published on 31 August 1940. The chief editors were: 1940–1942: Frans Hofker 1941–1950: Henk van Randwijk 1950–1955: Johan Winkler 1955–1969: Mathieu Smedts 1969–1991: Rinus Ferdinandusse 1991–1997: Joop van Tijn 1998–2000: Oscar Garschagen 2001–2004: Xandra Schutte 2004–2005: Gerard van Westerloo (interim) 2005–2008: Emile Fallaux 2008–2015: Frits van Exter 2017–: Ward Wijndelts Circulation: 1945: 109,000 1951: 35,000 1955: 19,000 1960: 23,000 1965: 36,950 1970: 81,378 1975: 109,381 1980: 111,857 1985: 97,132 1990: 76,947 1995: 92,134 2000: 55,947 2005: 49,244 2010: 48,353 2015: 22,937 2020: 17,043 2021: 15,542 Source: Wikipedia (en)