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Pim Fortuyn's house for sale

Published: Saturday 23 May 2009 19:27 UTC
Last updated: Saturday 23 May 2009 20:25 UTC
Pim Fortuyn's house in Rotterdam is to be sold. Pim Fortuyn was a controversial right-wing politician whose swift rise in popularity rocked the political establishment in the Netherlands. Shortly before the 2002 elections he was shot dead in the Media Park in Hilversum following a radio interview.

The sale of the house will be mediated by Hessink's Auction House, which has also catalogued the contents for auction. The "Palazzo di Pietro" is valued to be worth 1.3 million euros.

At first one of the two owners of the house wanted to sell his share to the other owner. The contents were to be auctioned off to pay for the purchase of the half share. However, the second owner has now decided to sell his share too as he is no longer able to afford the high costs involved. The owners of the house have received threats from Fortuyn supporters who are furious about the sale of the contents of the house. They want the late politician's possessions to be kept together.

Pim Fortuyn was killed by left-wing activist Volkert van der Graaf just days before the 2002 parliamentary elections. His party Pim Fortuyn's List (LPF) won 26 seats and became a coalition partner in government. The coalition government known as Balkenende I fell after just 86 days in power due to in-fighting in the LPF party. The party disbanded at the beginning of 2008.