With 13 days to go before the general election, here is a round-up of the latest election news.

BBB gets tougher on Islam

The far-right, pro-countryside BBB now says it wants to ban people from covering their faces in public altogether, not just at demonstrations as stated in its election manifesto.

The party has issued a new document ahead of the October 29 vote aimed at tackling “Islamic extremism” and “legalism”, which housing minister Mona Keijzer told news agency ANP means “allowing Islamic laws to become part of daily life step by step”.

Other measures in the document include limits on calls to prayer and a ban on praying in the street, which Keijzer described as “a show of power” in which public space is “claimed”.

More Dutch voters abroad

A record 136,272 Dutch nationals living permanently or temporarily abroad have registered to vote in the general election, compared with 109,436 in the November 2023 vote.

In 2023, almost 65% of those registered to vote actually cast their ballot. The increase means that votes cast outside the Netherlands are now equivalent to two seats in the 150-member Tweede Kamer, the lower house of parliament.

It is the first time that the vote of Dutch expats will have carried this much weight.

The Hague city council is responsible for organising the overseas vote. Registered voters who have not received their voting documents can apply until October 17 for a replacement certificate, which is sent by email.