A week before the local elections in Hilversum, Village for Village removed its number-three candidate, Sil Kok. Group chairman Diederick Volkers said Kok was running his own campaign, seeking preferential votes and planning to move to Hart voor Hilversum after being elected. Kok denied the allegations and said the dispute mainly concerned whether candidates should give up a seat in favor of another candidate who received more preferential votes.

Volkers also accused Kok of inappropriate conduct, including being drunk at meetings and failing to follow the party’s social-media policy. Kok rejected those accusations. He said he was removed through a WhatsApp message and that his access to the party’s Instagram account was revoked. The party’s statutes reportedly require removal to be decided by a general members’ meeting, while Volkers said a two-thirds majority of the board had already approved it. Hart voor Hilversum’s list leader Ron Lancé said he first spoke with Kok only after the removal and denied any prior approach or commitment.