hiː bɪkˌeɪm lˈiːdɚɹ ʌv vˌiːˌɛnvˈiː ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː, fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðə dˈɛθ ʌv stˈæf dᵻklˈɜːk, dᵻspˈaɪt ˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən ʌv ɡˈɑːtlɑːb bˈɜːdʒɚ, hˌuː wʌz səspˈɪʃəs ʌv hɪz vjˈuːz ˌɔn kˈiːpɪŋ ðə flˈɛmɪʃ dɪstˈɪŋkt fɹʌmðə dʒˈɜːmənz.
He became leader of VNV in 1942, following the death of Staf Declercq, despite opposition of Gottlob Berger, who was suspicious of his views on keeping the Flemish distinct from the Germans.