Latest election news

The big issues in Gelderland
02-03-2011 - The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but......more

The big issues in Friesland
01-03-2011 - The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but......more

The big issues in Utrecht
27-02-2011 - The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but......more

The big issues in Groningen
27-02-2011 - The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but......more

The big issues in Zuid-Holland
27-02-2011 - The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but......more

Pro animal party heads for court over election debate invite
26-02-2011 - The animal rights party PvdD is going to court to force broadcaster Nos to include it in the final televised debate before Wednesday’s provincial elections, the Volkskrant reports.......more

Employers give the government 6 out of 10
25-02-2011 - Employers give the new government an average mark of 6.1 out of 10, according to small business website BusinessCompleet.nl.......more

The big issues in Flevoland
24-02-2011 - The Dutch are going to the polls on March 2 to elect their provincial representatives. Voting is often done with an eye on the national elections – those voted in will in their turn choose the new senate – but......more

No senate majority puts cabinet in 'very difficult position': PM
24-02-2011 - The government will be placed in a ‘very difficult’ position if it fails to win a majority of seats in the upper house of parliament, prime minister Mark Rutte told a television talk show on Wednesday evening.......more

Provincial councillors unhappy about their pay
24-02-2011 - Some three-quarters of provincial councillors are unhappy about their pay of €12,700 a year plus expenses, according to research by Daadkracht Advies.......more

More election news

Useful election resources

Kieskompas
The Kieskompas, another tool to help people make up their minds who to vote for, has also introduced a picture-based questionnaire for people who can't read Dutch well.

Provincial and senate Stemwijzer
The Stemwijzer - vote pointer - helps you make up your mind which party to vote for by asking you a string of questions. Dutch only.

Provincial government websites
What does the province do? The Netherlands consists of 12 provinces. The provinces form the link between the municipalities and the state. In other words, they deal with issues which are too substantial for the boroughs and not substantial enough for the state to take on. ...more

About provincial government
Executive tasks are carried out by a 'board' known as the Gedeputeerde Staten. Provincial councils are chaired by the Commissaris van de Koningin or queen's commissioner – a crown appointee with a six-year tenure....more

The big issues
This year's provincial vote is critical to the minority cabinet because it hopes to win a majority of seats in the 75-member upper house of parliament or senate. The results of the provincial elections determine the make-up of the upper house. ...more