I'm Dutch. The article mentions this, but I think it's important to reiterate that the idea the Netherlands is especially progressive has always been a bit of a myth. It arose partly because people mistake tolerance for acceptance. The Netherlands has long been a tolerant country. That doesn't necessarily mean it's an accepting country.

For example, the Nazis were able to murder 75% of the Dutch-Jewish population in the Holocaust. Statistically, you were arguably safer being a Jew in Nazi Germany. My countrymen tolerated their Jewish neighbours. But they didn't care enough about them, to not look the other way or prioritize their career when the Nazis came along. The Dutch are often in denial about this, a bit like how the country still hasn't fully come to terms with its colonial past.

Anyway, it's not a huge surprise that right wing populists and Russia have had such success in the Netherlands. They're exploiting a nasty seam that has always been there.

Unfortunately I think it's like this everywhere. In France the historical right wing party (that gave us most of our presidents) has become a second lame far right, and even Macron or his party has some ideas that are in line with French far right.

We have come some way, have (too) much still to go.