# Government and rule of law in the Netherlands

URL: https://www.inburgeringklaar.nl/learn/knm/staatsinrichting-en-rechtsstaat
Course: KNM: Dutch society, theme by theme (https://www.inburgeringklaar.nl/learn/knm)
Level: A2 and B1
Publisher: Inburgeringklaar

> Understand the monarchy, parliament, elections and the basic rights in the Grondwet.

## Goals
- Explain the constitutional monarchy and the role of ministers
- Know the Tweede Kamer (150) and Eerste Kamer (75) and their tasks
- Know who may vote in which elections
- Explain article 1, separation of powers, and the limits of freedom

## A constitutional monarchy and a democracy

The Netherlands is a **constitutional monarchy** (*constitutionele monarchie*) and a **parliamentary democracy**.

- The **King** (Willem-Alexander since 2013) is head of state. He signs laws, reads the *Troonrede* on Prinsjesdag and represents the country, but he has **no political power** of his own.
- The **ministers** are responsible for government policy, not the King (*ministeriële verantwoordelijkheid*). The **minister-president** (prime minister) leads the cabinet.
- The **government** (*regering*) is the King plus the ministers.

## Parliament: the Staten-Generaal

| | **Tweede Kamer** | **Eerste Kamer** |
|---|---|---|
| Members | **150** | **75** |
| Elected by | The voters, directly | Members of the Provinciale Staten (and an electoral college for Dutch people abroad), indirectly |
| Normal term | 4 years (earlier if the cabinet falls) | 4 years |
| Main tasks | Makes and changes laws, checks the government, can ask questions and vote on motions, approves the budget | Checks laws once more; can only accept or reject them |

Parliament meets in **Den Haag**. The Tweede Kamer is the most important chamber. After elections, parties usually need to form a **coalition**, because no party wins a majority on its own.

## Levels of government and elections

| Level | Elected body | Who may vote (18+) |
|---|---|---|
| National | Tweede Kamer | Dutch nationals |
| Province | Provinciale Staten | Dutch nationals |
| Water board | Algemeen bestuur waterschap | Dutch nationals and, in many cases, non-Dutch residents living there legally |
| Municipality | Gemeenteraad | Dutch nationals, EU citizens living there, and non-EU nationals after **five years** of legal residence |
| Europe | European Parliament | Dutch nationals and EU citizens living in the Netherlands |

The gemeente is led by the **burgemeester** (mayor, appointed by the government, not elected), the **wethouders** (aldermen) and the elected **gemeenteraad**. The province has a **Commissaris van de Koning**.

**Voting is secret and free.** Nobody may tell you how to vote, and you vote **yourself** in the voting booth. You need your *stempas* and an ID.

## The Grondwet and basic rights

The **Grondwet** (constitution) contains the basic rights. The most famous is **article 1**: everyone in the Netherlands must be treated equally in equal cases, and discrimination because of religion, belief, political opinion, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation or any other ground is not allowed.

Other rights include:

- **freedom of religion** (*vrijheid van godsdienst*): you may have any religion or none, and change religion;
- **freedom of speech** (*vrijheid van meningsuiting*) and of the press;
- **freedom of education**: groups may start their own (e.g. religious) schools;
- the right to privacy, to vote, and to assemble and **demonstrate** (usually you notify the gemeente first).

**Separation of church and state:** the state does not interfere in religion, and religious organisations do not run the state.

## Limits to freedom

Freedoms are broad, but not unlimited. **Not allowed** are, for example: threatening someone, inciting hatred, discrimination or violence, insulting a group because of its religion or origin, and spreading someone's private information to harm them. Religious rules never stand above Dutch law.

## The rule of law (*rechtsstaat*)

In a *rechtsstaat* the government also has to follow the law, and citizens are protected against abuse of power.

**Separation of powers** (*trias politica*):

| Power | Who |
|---|---|
| Making laws (*wetgevende macht*) | Government and parliament together |
| Carrying out laws (*uitvoerende macht*) | Government (ministers) |
| Judging (*rechterlijke macht*) | Independent **judges** |

The **police** investigate and arrest, the **Openbaar Ministerie** (public prosecution) decides whether to prosecute, and a **judge** decides whether someone is guilty and what the punishment is. Everyone has the right to a lawyer. You may not take the law into your own hands.

## Exam logic

The King has no political power; the Tweede Kamer has 150 members; non-Dutch residents may vote for the gemeenteraad after five years; freedom has limits when you hurt others; a judge, not the police, decides on punishment.

## Useful Dutch
- **de koning**: the king
- **de minister-president**: the prime minister
- **de Tweede Kamer / de Eerste Kamer**: the lower house / the senate
- **de verkiezingen**: the elections
- **stemmen**: to vote
- **de stempas**: the polling card
- **de gemeenteraad**: the municipal council
- **de Grondwet**: the constitution
- **de vrijheid van meningsuiting**: freedom of speech
- **de vrijheid van godsdienst**: freedom of religion
- **de rechter**: the judge
- **de rechtsstaat**: the rule of law / constitutional state

## Worked example: Who may vote in the municipal elections?

*Elif komt uit Turkije. Ze woont al zeven jaar legaal in Nederland en heeft de Turkse nationaliteit. Ze is 35 jaar. Binnenkort zijn er verkiezingen.*

**Bij welke verkiezing mag Elif stemmen?**

A. Bij de verkiezingen voor de Tweede Kamer
B. Bij de verkiezingen voor de gemeenteraad
C. Bij geen enkele verkiezing

**Who?** A non-EU national, adult, who has lived here legally for more than five years. **Which rule?** For the Tweede Kamer and the Provinciale Staten you must have Dutch nationality. For the **gemeenteraad**, non-EU nationals may vote after five years of legal residence. So **B** is correct. A is wrong because she is not Dutch. C is wrong because she does have the right to vote locally (and in many cases for the water board too).

## Common mistakes
- Thinking the King makes political decisions; the ministers are responsible.
- Mixing up the numbers: the Tweede Kamer has 150 members, the Eerste Kamer 75.
- Believing freedom of speech allows threats or inciting hatred.
- Thinking the police decide on punishment; an independent judge does.

## Check yourself
1. Hoeveel leden heeft de Tweede Kamer?
   A) 75
   B) 100
   C) 150
   Answer: C. The Tweede Kamer has 150 members, elected directly by Dutch voters. The Eerste Kamer has 75.
2. In de Grondwet staat: 'Discriminatie wegens godsdienst, levensovertuiging, politieke gezindheid, ras, geslacht ... is niet toegestaan.' Welk artikel is dit?
   A) Artikel 1
   B) Artikel 50
   C) Artikel 100
   Answer: A. Article 1 of the Grondwet is about equal treatment and the ban on discrimination. It is the best-known article.
3. Iemand zegt op internet dat mensen een moskee moeten aanvallen. Hij zegt: 'Ik heb vrijheid van meningsuiting.' Wat is waar?
   A) Dat mag, want in Nederland mag je alles zeggen.
   B) Dat mag niet. Oproepen tot geweld is strafbaar.
   C) Dat mag alleen op internet.
   Answer: B. Freedom of speech has limits. Inciting violence or hatred is a crime, also online.