The Party for the Animals was Niko Koffeman’s brainchild. Since 2007, he has been a member of the Dutch Senate for the Party for the Animals. In addition, he has been chair of our scientific bureau, the Nicolaas G. Pierson Foundation, since 2006.

Ever since his youth, Niko has been a passionate protector of animals, nature and the environment. Amongst others things, he has campaigned against bloodsports, against wild boar hunting by the Royal Family and the genetic manipulation of animals. Niko Koffeman was co-founder of Wakker Dier, the organisation that fights for the abolition of the factory farming industry. He is also responsible for dreaming up the Adopt-a-chicken scheme: organically free-range farmed chickens are ‘adopted’ by animal lovers, and every month they get six eggs from ‘their’ hen in exchange for their financial contribution. Niko also devised the VegaPolis, a collective health insurance for vegetarians and those giving up meat.

Niko Koffeman studied economics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam. After graduating he became an economics teacher. After a few years, he left education and chose to become a communication adviser and advertising strategist. In this capacity, he was closely involved in the rise of the Socialist Party (SP). Behind the scenes, he guided the SP in its growth from zero to 25 seats in the Dutch House of Representatives. Aside from his work for the Party for the Animals, Niko is also active in the Faunabescherming (‘Fauna Protection’), an organisation that represents the interests of animals that live in the wild.