Factbox: Five facts about Dutch politician Geert Wilders

Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party talks to the media in Amsterdam June 23, 2011.

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch politician and outspoken critic of Islam Geert Wilders, 47, was acquitted on Thursday of charges of inciting hatred against Muslims.

Here are some facts about Wilders.

* Wilders, born on September 6, 1963, in Venlo in the predominantly Catholic south of the country, is one of the Netherlands' most recognizable figures thanks to his dyed blonde mane, which earned him the nickname "the golden pompadour" in the WikiLeaks cables.

He said he spent much of his youth traveling in Israel, Iran and the Middle East, takes the view that the Koran is dangerous and incites violence, and likens Islam to Nazism.

* Wilders' anti-Islam Freedom Party wields considerable political clout. His party is now the third-largest in parliament with 24 seats following the June 2010 elections when no single party won a majority. That put Wilders in the position of kingmaker, and he agreed to support a minority Liberal-Christian Democrat coalition in return for concessions on immigration and social policies.

* His influence extends to both domestic and foreign policy. At home, he has pushed to ban the burqa and face veils, halt Muslim immigration and the building of mosques, and increase spending on the elderly.

He also wants the Netherlands to cut foreign aid, stay out of military operations in conflicts such as Afghanistan and Libya, and prevent Turkey from joining the European Union.

As a populist, he is quick to jump on hot-button issues ranging from the role of the monarchy (he wants to reduce the queen's political powers) to bankers' bonuses (his party proposed a punitive 100 percent tax on such rewards).

* His outspoken views on Islam have prompted death threats, and for many years he had to move between various safe houses and use disguises such as wigs and glasses when traveling. He now lives with bodyguards in a secure house.

* Wilders' supporters tend to be predominantly white middle class Dutch who feel that immigration has gone too far.

He has been careful to distance himself from other far right groups in Europe, particularly the British National Party (BNP) and Jean-Marie Le Pen.

Mainstream political leaders have tended to shun him, and the U.S. clearly considers him a threat to Dutch international presence as shown by a WikiLeaks cable.

(Reporting by Sara Webb; Editing by Jan Harvey)