Hugo Berkhout

Senator (2020–2023) When Senator Annabel Nanninga went on parental leave in 2020, Berkhout was installed as temporary senator on 26 October. A crisis broke out within Forum for Democracy in late November, when newspaper Het Parool published an article about extremist messages in WhatsApp groups of the party's youth organization. On 27 November, fellow Forum for Democracy Senator Bob van Pareren posted a statement on Twitter on behalf of himself and three other senators including Berkhout, in which they announced that they would leave the party. They said they did not want to be part of "a party that does not distance itself from racism, antisemitism, and Nazism and that does not listen to criticism". Berkhout officially left the Forum for Democracy caucus on 29 November and joined Fractie-Van Pareren (renamed Fractie-Nanninga in February 2021). He also became the treasurer of his caucus. Berkhout ran for re-election in 2023 as the 18th candidate of JA21. The party won three seats, causing Berkhout's membership of the Senate to end on 13 June.

Parliamentary committees While a temporary senator: Committee for Immigration and Asylum/Justice and Home Affairs Council Committee for Infrastructure, Water Management, and Environment Committee for Kingdom Relations Committee for Education, Culture, and Science

While a permanent senator: Committee for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy/Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality Committee for Finances Committee for Kingdom Relations Committee for Social Affairs and Employment

Personal life He lives in The Hague, is married, and has a daughter.