New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)
Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

Netherlands

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House of Representatives

This is a bicameral parliament. Switch to theSenate
Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
IPU membership Current membership status
Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
15.03.2017
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
23.03.2017
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.03.2021
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
150
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
1,114
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
721
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
393
The number of women candidates is not available from authoritative sources.
No
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
35.28%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
28

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
12,893,466
Votes Number of people who actually voted
10,563,456
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
81.93%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The 2017 elections returned an even more fragmented House of Representatives than in the previous legislature: 13 parties, up from 11 previously, entered the House of Representatives, the highest number of parties since 1972 (14 parties). Prime Minister Mark Rutte's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) remained the largest party, but reduced its share from 41 seats to 33. VVD's coalition partner, the Labour Party (PvdA), lost nearly 30 seats, taking nine. The Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Mr. Geert Wilders, became the second largest party in the House, winning five more seats than in the previous elections. Green Left led by Mr. Jesse Klaver nearly quadrupled its share, taking 14 seats. Immigration and integration dominated the 2017 election campaigning. Mr. Wilders pledged to withdraw the Netherlands from the EU, and close Dutch borders. Prime Minister Rutte urged voters to stop "the wrong sort of populism". 81.93% of 12.9 million voters went to the polls. This was the highest turnout since the 1986 elections (85.82%). On 15 May, chief negotiator of the coalition talks, Ms. Edith Schippers, announced the negotiations involving four parties - the VVD, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA, led by Mr. Sybrand Buma), the Democrats 66 (D66, led by Mr. Alexander Pechtold) and the Green Left (led by Mr. Jesse Klaver) - had reached stalemate over the issue of migration.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
13
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
46.43%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
22%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), Democrats 66 (D66), Christian Union
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) 33
Party for Freedom (PVV) 20
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) 19
Democrats 66 (D66) 19
Green Left 14
Socialist Party (SP) 14
Labour Party (PvdA) 9
Christian Union (CU) 5
Party for the Animals (PvdD) 5
Party for the over 50 (50Plus) 4
Reformed Political Party (SGP) 3
DENK 3
Forum for Democracy (FvD) 2
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
96
Number of women elected
54
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
36%
Other notes
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry. The duration of the term of the House is 4 years. However, in accordance with sections C1, C2 and C3 of the Electoral Act (Kieswet), members of the House of Representatives shall always retire in the period between 23 and 29 March. The outgoing legislature, elected September 2012, was thus dissolved on 23 March 2017 instead of September 2016.
Sources
Electoral Council Fondation Robert Schuman BBC Deutsch Welle The Telegraph Reuters
Women Directly Elected
54

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
96
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
54
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
58
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
29.03.2017
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Khadija Arib (Female)
Political party
Labour Party (PvdA)
Date of election
29.03.2017