Netherlands

Senate

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Openness and transparency

Information about access to parliamentary documents, parliament’s reporting to the public, parliament’s relation to Freedom of Information laws, and lobbying.

Parliamentary documents

The agendas of plenary meetings are published online in advance
All
The agendas of committee meetings are published online in advance
All
Results of votes on draft legislation are published on the parliamentary web site
All
Draft legislation is published on the parliamentary website
All
Citizens can submit comments on draft legislation on the parliamentary web site
No

Annual reporting by parliament

Parliament publishes an annual report on its activities
Yes

Notes: https://www.tweedekamer.nl/zoeken?qry=de+staat+van+de+kamer&form_build_id=form- gb7p3qtigIKoYzcLp9i98XFtbLZJPmpY2KYOy3vARJw&form_id=tk_external_data_autonomy_search_form

The annual report is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes
Parliament publishes the parliamentary budget
Yes
Level of detail of the parliamentary budget made available to the public
The complete budget
The parliamentary budget is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes

Access to parliament

Plenary meetings are open to the public
Yes

Notes: No restrictions other than a security/safety check.

Committee meetings are open to the public
Yes

Notes: Senate committee meetings are open to the public in principle, but this is only possible for meetings in the plenary hall. The regular committee meeting rooms are too small to accommodate visitors.

There is a dedicated channel for broadcasting parliamentary meetings
Yes
Media used for the dedicated channel
TV
Webcast
Meetings broadcast on the dedicated channel
Plenary sittings

Freedom of information

There is a freedom of information law in the country
Yes
Parliament is subject to the freedom of information law
Yes
Parliament has an office/division dedicated to FOI requests
Yes
Categories of Information that are exempt from disclosure

A new Dutch Open Government Act (Wet Openbaar Overheid, Woo) came into force on 1 May 2022 replacing the 1991 Government Information Act. Exemptions are noted under Article 5.

https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0045754/2022-08-01/0

Lobbying

There are rules about the activities of lobbyists in parliament
Yes

Notes: Since 1 July 2012, the House of Representatives has a public register of interest representatives/lobbyists with a permanent access pass for the House.

Sources: https://www.tweedekamer.nl/contact_en_bezoek/lobbyisten

There is a register of accredited lobbyists
Yes
The register of accredited lobbyists is available on the parliamentary web site
Yes

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