Dutch begin voting in local elections, anti-immigration parties set to gain ground

Dutch begin voting in local elections

AMSTERDAM — Dutch have begun voting in local elections, with political parties opposing immigration expected to book gains before national elections in June.

The elections Wednesday in theory cover matters such as parking fees and dog leash laws, but national politicians have put their stances on the NATO mission in Afghanistan and immigrant crime on display in hopes of influencing the local vote.

Prominent anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders is running in The Hague and Almere, where most opinion polls put him in second place.