IT’S market day in Dutch new town Almere and stallholder Ria Hallie is singing the praises of a blond, bouffant-haired firebrand who wants to slam shut the borders to Muslims.

Not the new US ­President — though he, too, gets the nod of approval from many in this gritty, multicultural over-spill city in the Amsterdam commuter belt.

26 Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party, has been nicknamed the Dutch Trump Credit: Getty Images

She is talking about Geert Wilders, the so-called Dutch Donald Trump, who is leading polls for March’s ­general election after backing Nexit — a Netherlands’ exit from the EU.

From her clothing stall in the shadow of Almere’s town hall, mum-of-three Ria insisted: “Look at the British economy — it’s booming since Brexit. Holland would be the same.

“I’ll vote for Wilders. I want Nexit. We want to make our own rules.”

26 Market stall holder Nia would vote to leave the EU in a referendum Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

26 Many agree with the right-wing party leader Credit: AP:Associated Press

Only a 21-mile drive from the legalised prostitute booths and cannabis coffee shops of liberal bastion ­Amsterdam, Almere is another world.

It is a multicultural melting pot where nearly 40 per cent are immigrants.

It is also the heartland of extremist Wilders’ PVV, or Freedom Party, whose Nexit and anti-Islam rhetoric has propelled it to the top of opinion polls in a country where six per cent of the population is Muslim.

Trump is right – UK’s the first of many to leave EU

Flamboyant Wilders has called the Koran a “fascist book” and Islam a “retarded culture”.

In December he was convicted of inciting discrimination after leading an anti-Moroccan chant at a rally in The Hague.

And Wilders is seen as a symbol of the cracks forming across the EU.

With Nexit an increasingly popular prospect, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said this week that there was no room for immigrants unwilling to accept Dutch values, telling them: “Be normal, or go away.”

26 Many across Europe have protested the rise of the far right Credit: Getty Images

26 Mark Rutte has taken a stronger line against immigrants but Wilders accused him of simply trying to appeal to his followers Credit: AP:Associated Press

Wilders reacted angrily to Rutte’s attempt to appeal to his supporters.

Replying via Twitter, he called the PM “the man of open borders, asylum ­tsunami, mass immigration, Islamisation, lies and deceit.”

Like the rest of Europe, the Netherlands has suffered the effects of the migrant crisis.

Asylum seekers peaked at 58,900 in 2015 — a number which dropped by 46 per cent in 2016 following a new EU deal which saw Turkey agree to accept more Syrians.

26 Towns such as Almere are 40% immigrants now Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

26 We went to Almere to see the effect of immigration on the Dutch town Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Syrians are still the largest group of asylum seekers, making up 34 per cent of the total.

Blond Wilders, 56 — who some believe dyes his hair to conceal his part Dutch- ­Indonesian heritage — lives in a state-provided safe house and only gets to see his wife Krisztina once a week due to security worries.

This coiffured demagogue wears a bulletproof vest and is constantly shadowed by a security team.

In 2009 he was banned from visiting the UK when he hoped to show a film linking the Koran to terrorism.

26 Geert mocked Merkel over German terror attacks Credit: Twitter

26 There have been a number of anti immigrant protest across the country Credit: Twitter

Yet Wilders — whose campaign ­mottos include “Make the Netherlands great again” — has won popularity by tempering his anti-Islam outbursts with traditional Dutch liberalism.

Political historian Koen Vossen explained that Wilders has picked up the baton from anti-Islam leader Pim Fortuyn, who was assassinated by an animal rights fanatic in 2002.

Vossen told me: “Fortuyn said the Dutch are a very progressive, liberal country dealing with the conservative religion of Islam.

26 Wilders' slogan is Make The Netherlands great again Credit: Getty Images

26 People lay flowers for linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen who collapsed and fell into a coma after he was attacked by three Moroccan teenagers Credit: Getty Images

“He pointed out that immigrants are sometimes very hostile to homosexuals, Jews and women’s rights.

“Wilders, who is progressive on gay and women’s rights, has taken this message and radicalised it further.”

And that message resonates with people in Almere’s bustling market.

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Pitch holder Ria, 56, adds: “Being Muslim is not a problem, but they have to accept our way of life. Until then we have to close our borders.”

A recent ruling by the Dutch human rights institute backed a ­Muslim man who had applied for a job as a bus driver in Holland but later said he would not shake the hand of female passengers.

The bus company cancelled the man’s interview but were later ­censured for curtailing the man’s ­freedom of religion.

Textile stall holder and dad-of-two Rich Blom, 44, who has not decided who to vote for, said: “Refusing to shake hands with a woman is not our way. It’s time to close the borders.”

26 Not everyone agrees with Wilders Credit: Getty Images

26 Rich Blom thinks The Netherlands should close their borders Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

26 Ja Kamphuis says the Dutch are angry, just like in the UK and Us Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

26 Afghan men burn a Dutch flag during a protest to condemn a controversial film by a Dutch politician Geert Wilders on the Koran Credit: EPA

26 People have been protesting right-wing populist parties across Europe Credit: Getty Images

Flower seller Frans de Jong, 64, said: “We have 17million people. We’ve too many immigrants and too much crime. I’ll vote for Wilders.

“Trump’s right when he says the UK is the first of many to leave the EU.”

Almere has the same frustrations with globalisation and the political elite that is sweeping through British market towns and the US rust belt.

Tobacconist Ja Kamphuis, 62, explains: “People are angry here, just like in the US and Britain. Trump says what he thinks. It’s the same with Wilders.”

26 There have been anti-immigration protests across The Netherlands Credit: ANP

26 Many have drawn comparisons between Trump and Wilders Credit: Getty Images

Care worker Reinier Gemerts, 57, who was born in the former Dutch colony Suriname in South America, tells me: “You’ll probably be ­surprised to hear a black guy say this, but I support Wilders. We should quit the EU.”

Almere — population 200,000 — has a large immigrant community from Suriname and the descendants of Moroccan and Turkish guest workers who arrived in the 1960s and 1970s.

In 2012 amateur linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen, 41, was kicked to death by six teenagers and the father of one of the ­players at his son’s junior football match at Almere.

26 Richard Nieuwenhuizen Dutch linesman who died after being attacked by youths Credit: PA:Press Association

26 Almere is one of many small Dutch towns who feel angry about the current situation

26 A demonstrator is carried away by police during protest against fascism outside the Houses of Parliament, following a visit by the controversial Dutch politician Geert Wilders Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

The attackers were mainly of Moroccan descent. Wilders announced the death was “not a football problem but a Moroccan problem”.

His movement is the largest party in Almere’s city hall with eight councillors led by similarly bouffant-haired Toon van Dijk.

Van Dijk declined to be interviewed, directing us to Wilders’ office in The Hague. Wilders’ representative ignored repeated requests to talk.

Like Trump, the man nicknamed the Golden Pompadour has long used Twitter for much of his campaigning.

26 Many have protested against Geert Wilders Credit: Getty Images

He has attempted to capitalise on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s policy of welcoming asylum seekers.

After December’s terror attack in Berlin he controversially tweeted a mocked-up ­picture of Merkel with blood on her hands.

Outspoken Wilders recently tweeted: “#2017in3words No More Islam.”

In Almere city centre IT students Khalil Anzi, 17, and Amine Ben Amar, 19, say they were “shocked” by ­Wilders’ outburst against Moroccans.

If we had a referendum we would leave Europe

Khalil, of Moroccan descent, said: “I’m Muslim but have friends from all different communities. I think Wilders is trying to drive us apart.”

Civil servant Jerzy Soetekouw, 28, leader of the centre-left PvdA Party in Almere, told me: “Wilders is an extremist. People have said to me in the town, ‘If you don’t like it here go back to where you came from.’ But I’m a third-generation immigrant.

26 Demonstrators protest a meeting between Marine LePenn and Geert Wilders Credit: Getty Images

“Wilders has been very good at ­harnessing people’s fears. Traditional parties have to be better at making clear the benefits of a multicultural society.”

The dad-of-two added: “Nexit frightens me. Britain might be great enough to do it by yourself but ­Netherlands has always been about collaborating.”

#2017in3words



No More Islam — Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) December 30, 2016

Holland is the world’s second-biggest agricultural exporter after the US, with 77 per cent of farm products sold to other EU nations. Its system of multi-party coalitions means that ­Wilders is unlikely to become PM.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said there is “zero” chance of his VVD party — second in the polls — working with Wilder’s party. Time will tell whether Wilders will profit from a further Trump- and Brexit-like surge.

26 Extra police were drafted in for the protests Credit: Getty Images

26 Demonstrators holding cardboard cut-outs depicting Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, German dictator Adolf Hitler and Italian dictator Benito Mussolini during a protest against a meeting of the main leaders of Europe's populist and far-right parties in Koblenz Credit: Getty Images

26

Yet in Europe’s so-called super ­election year — with further polls in France and Germany — many see ­Wilders as a weathervane for an under-siege EU.

Back in the blustery Almere market, dad-of-three Ja adds: “If we had a referendum here we would leave.

“Now we need Nexit to control our borders, too.”