Voting passes arrive and Amsterdam, Delft host English debates

Everyone entitled to vote in the March 16 local elections should have received their voting pass (stempas) by Wednesday, two weeks ahead of the vote.

Voters have to take the stempas and ID with them to vote in the polling station of their choice, some of which will be open on March 14 and 15 to allow people who want to avoid queues to vote early.

Some 13 million people are eligible to vote in the elections, including all EU nationals and other foreigners who have lived in the Netherlands for at least five years.

How to vote

Meanwhile, more cities are organising election debates in English, so that international workers who don’t speak fluent Dutch can find out about the candidates in their area.

On Wednesday night there is a debate for students and locals in Delft, organised at the university. Sign up here.

In Amsterdam an event involving the five parties forecast to do best – the VVD, GroenLinks, PvdA, Volt and D66 – will take place on March 9 at the Podium Mozaiek in the city’s Bos en Lommer district. Sign up here.

An election themed event is also being organised for international workers in The Hague. That will take place on March 9. More details will follow.

There have already been debates in Eindhoven and Groningen.