Henricus Cornelis Maria "Henk" Krol (born 1 April 1950) is a Dutch public figure best known as a journalist, publisher and politician. He came to prominence as the founder and editor of the LGBT newspaper Gay Krant and later became a national politician, serving in the House of Representatives and as leader of the 50PLUS party. Krol is openly gay and has long been associated with advocacy for LGBT rights and visibility in the Netherlands.

Early life and media career

Krol was born in Tilburg and studied psychology at the Free University Amsterdam. He worked as a spokesman for the parliamentary group of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) between 1978 and 1985. In 1979 he founded the Gay Krant, a Dutch-language newspaper that addressed issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and provided news, commentary and cultural coverage for the community. He later ran the Best Publishing Group, the Gay Krant's publisher, and operated an online retail venture, Gaytel.

Political career and offices

Krol moved into elected politics in the early 2010s. He became leader of the 50PLUS party in 2012 and served as a member and parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (Second Chamber) in several terms between 2012 and 2021. He also held local and regional posts, including seats in the Provincial States of North Brabant and as a municipal councillor in Eindhoven. During his parliamentary career he represented issues affecting older citizens while remaining a visible advocate for LGBT concerns.

  • Spokesman for VVD parliamentary group (1978–1985) — VVD
  • Founder and editor of Gay Krant (from 1979) — often cited in LGBT media histories
  • Leader and parliamentary leader of 50PLUS (2012–2020)
  • Member of the House of Representatives (multiple terms between 2012 and 2021)

Business ventures, activism and later affiliations

Alongside journalism, Krol ran publishing and online businesses. The online shop Gaytel and related enterprises experienced financial difficulties, with bankruptcy reported in the early 2010s. Politically, after his leadership of 50PLUS he was associated with other political groupings, including the Party for the Future and later initiatives identified with his own name, such as the Henk Krol List. His public profile combines interest in social policy for older people and a record of LGBT advocacy — he has been open about being gay and engaged with LGBT rights causes.

Significance and notable aspects

Krol is notable for bridging two fields that do not always overlap: community journalism focused on sexual minorities and mainstream national politics addressing pensioners' and social policy. His career illustrates how media entrepreneurship can become a platform for political leadership. He has been a polarizing figure at times, combining outspoken personal visibility with leadership of a party centered on the interests of older voters.

For more information about his municipal and provincial roles see references to local offices and positions: municipal councillor role noted in municipal records and his provincial membership in North Brabant. Additional background on his journalistic work and public statements is available through archived issues of the Gay Krant and other media sources. For party details and political affiliations see the pages of 50PLUS, the Party for the Future, and materials associated with the Henk Krol List.