Geert Wilders, the anti-immigration party leader in pole position to be the next Dutch prime minister, said on Monday the Netherlands was “Europe’s fool” for accepting too many Ukrainian refugees.
The hard-Right nationalist won a shock landslide victory in the Dutch general election three months ago but has so far failed to form a coalition government.
“Ukrainians are coming to the Netherlands in droves, not because of the war, but for free housing, free care and our jobs,” Mr Wilders said.
“Once again, we are Europe’s fool,” the divisive firebrand said on social media.
Mr Wilders, who has faced accusations of being soft on Vladimir Putin, wants to stop Dutch military aid to Ukraine. He argues the Netherlands needs weapons to defend itself.
“The Dutch Donald Trump” triumphed after an anti-migrant campaign focused on closed borders and “zero asylum seekers”.
More than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine have arrived in the Netherlands, which has a population of about 18 million, since Putin’s illegal invasion two years ago.