Almost 37,000 Polish nationals in the Netherlands registered to vote in Sunday’s general election and there were long queues outside the 13 locations nationwide where people could cast their ballot. 

The number of Poles who signed up to vote is a record, said journalist Malgorzata Bos-Karczewska from news website Polonia.nl. “I am truly proud of my fellow nationals who have taken the trouble to vote. I have spoken to people from all over the country, some of whom have given up their entire Sunday.” 

2x 👍gestemd voor de Sejm en de Senaat.
Bedankt (net als velen) voor de referendumkaart .
1,5 uur in de rij gestaan 😊
Polen verkiezingen: 37 duizend Polen in NL gaan stemmen.#Poolseverkiezingen pic.twitter.com/A8vPea5cR7

— M_Bos-Karczewska (@BosKarczewska) October 15, 2023

Polling stations were open in The Hague, Amsterdam, Groningen, Breda and Brunssum. 

“Everyone is aware of the importance of these elections,” Bos-Karczewska told RTL Nieuws. “We know what is happening and everyone realises that every vote counts.”

Groningen loopt uit voor Poolse verkiezingen: enorme rijen voor stembussen

Er staat ook nogal wat op het spel in Polen. En Groningen is een van de weinige plekken waar Polen in Nederland hun stem kunnen uitbrengen.#Groningen #Polen https://t.co/mQHeIU5PUo

— Sikkom (@Sikkom050) October 15, 2023

The right wing conservative PiS look likely to become the biggest party in Poland for the third time but may not have an absolute majority, making a coalition necessary. Pis’s main challenger is the Liberal citizens party set up by former prime minister and European Council president Donald Tusk. 

Find out more about the Polish general election

 The polling stations close at 9 pm.