Wouter Lutkie

Who is Wouter Lutkie?

Wouterus Leonardus Lutkie was a Dutch Catholic priest and fascist.

Lutkie came from a wealthy business family and initially was influenced by the idealism of Ernest Hello and Léon Bloy. However he soon became more interested in nationalism and combining it with his fervent Catholicism. He was ordained in 1919 but never completed his studies and, following a clash with his bishop over articles he published in the rightist journal Vreugde, he was set up in Nuland where he spent the rest of his life.

Initially a supporter of Charles Maurras, Lutkie became drawn to Benito Mussolini and travelled to Italy in 1924, which increased his zeal. Writing for a number of fascist journals, he also set up his own Aristo in 1930. This lasted until 1943 before reappearing after the war and continuing until 1965. He also translated Mussolini's works into the Dutch language and conducted and published a series of interviews with the Italian leader. He would also co-operate with Arnold Meijer and the Black Front. In all however Lutkie sought to weld traditional Christianity to fascism's youthful dynamism and he built up a small but fanatical group of followers with the publication of Aristo.