Ten Dutch towns and cities will have a Kieskompas or Stemwijzer voting aid in English for the local elections on March 18, according to research by Dutch News.

The Stemwijzer and Kieskompas help voters to make up their minds which party to vote for by asking a string of questions about policies and the local political situation.

Utrecht and Rotterdam have opted not to pay for a voting aid in English, in contrast to Oegstgeest, a town of 25,000 in Zuid Holland, which has gone all out to make sure its foreign population can vote. In addition, the Amsterdam Kieskompas was developed by local television station AT5, not the city council.

In total, 258 local councils have commissioned a Stemwijzer voting aid this time round and 50 have opted for a Kieskompas. Here are the English options:

• Amsterdam
• The Hague
• Diemen
• Haarlemmermeer
• Oegstgeest
• Veldhoven 
• Wageningen 
• Eindhoven
• Groningen
• Maastricht
•  Zaanstad

Legislation currently pending in the European parliament would require the authorities in any EU country to “appoint authorities that will proactively inform mobile EU citizens” about their rights to vote and stand in the elections.

Although first mooted in 2022, the draft regulations have been stalled since 2023.

People who are eligible to vote (EU nationals and other internationals who have lived here for five years), should by now have had a voting card. If not, they should apply to the council for a replacement.  Voters need to take this card, and ID, to the polling station when they go to cast their vote.

A number of meetings and other events are also being organised to alert the Netherlands’ international population to the elections as political parties wake up to the expat vote.

Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, five parties of the biggest city parties will hold an English language debate on March 9, sponsored by Dutch News and IamExpat.

The Hague
In The Hague, two events are still on the calendar – a debate featuring the main parties on March 10 at The Hague Tech and a Student & Stand Debate is on March 5.

Utrecht
The VVD, D66, and GroenLinks/PvdA will host a political mixer on March 14.

Maastricht
Maastricht University is hosting a debate featuring three of the biggest parties on March 10.

Leiden
Leiden International centre has organised an election edition of ‘Meet & Mingle’, a monthly English language gathering on March 12 from 6pm to 8pm.

Delft
On March 11, TU Delft will hold an election debate with the six largest parties on the city council.

Eindhoven
News Brainport has organised an election debate in the main council chamber on March 13 from 6pm featuring seven parties.

Amstelveen
“Bridging the Gap” is organising an English municipal election information panel on March 12 from 7.30pm, featuring parties and an open session for questions.

Groningen
The University of Groningen is hosting a meeting entitled “We need to talk about the municipal elections” on March 11 at USVA, Munnikeholm 10 from 7.30pm. Tickets (entrance is free) available here.