Netherlands

House of Representatives

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources: No written rules. A member of the Executive (= the cabinet of ministers) can be summoned by means of a motion of no-confidence

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
No
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
No
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
1,893
(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
1,656
(2023)

Notes: Total written questions between 2013-2017 include those asked/answered for both chambers of the parliament.

Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
87.5%
(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 70

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
2
(2023)

Notes: Inquiries usually take more than one year and data reflects the starting year of an inquiry which may go on for several years, e.g. an inquiry on housing prices took place between 2012-2014 and the Breed welvaartsbegrip inquiry took place between 2015-2016

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 24

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 24

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No information available

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
Not applicable (there is no procedure)
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
Not applicable

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
Lower chamber

Sources: There is no written rule. The consequences of an adopted motion of censure are the resignation of the cabinet of ministers or the individual member of the cabinet mentioned in the motion.

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No