hiː dʒˈɔɪnd ðə flˈɛmɪʃ nˈæʃənəl jˈuːniən vˌiːˌɛnvˈiː ˌɔn ɪts fɔːɹmˈeɪʃən ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi θɹˈiː ænd sˈuːn ɡˈeɪnd ɐ ɹˌɛpjuːtˈeɪʃən æz ɐ lˈiːdɪŋ mˈɑːdɚɹət ɪnðə pˈɑːɹɾi, dᵻspˈaɪt ɛkspɹˈɛsɪŋ ɐ stɹˈɔŋ pˈɜːsənəl ˌædmɚɹˈeɪʃən fɔːɹ ˈædɑːlf hˈɪtlɚ.
He joined the Flemish National Union (VNV) on its formation in 1933 and soon gained a reputation as a leading moderate in the party, despite expressing a strong personal admiration for Adolf Hitler.