Netherlands

Senate

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
172
(2023)
Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
537
(2021-03)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
65
(2021-03)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
472
(2021-03)
Percentage of laws initiated by parliament in the previous legislature
12%
(2021-03)
Dates of the previous legislature
29 Mar 2017 to 30 Mar 2021
(2021-03)
Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
The legislation cannot be adopted unless both chambers agree

Sources: Constitution, art. 81

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
No

Sources: Constitution, art. 87

Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
0
(2023)
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
Other

Notes: In practice the King will always give assent to legislation.

Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Not applicable

Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation

There is a procedure for introducing emergency legislation into parliament
Yes
Number of times the procedure for emergency legislation was used, per year
0

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