Read what institutions do, explore their connections and find a region.
National
Parliament and government make laws together. The House and Senate hold the country’s government to account.
Dutch citizens aged 18 and over who have the right to vote. This includes the Caribbean Netherlands and, under certain conditions, Dutch citizens abroad.
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The directly elected House holds ministers and state secretaries to account and votes on bills. Its members can also propose and amend bills.
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- Scrutinises: Cabinet
Ministers and state secretaries are accountable to the House.
- Passed bills: Senate
After House approval, the Senate considers the bill. The Senate can approve or reject the bill, but cannot amend it.
The indirectly elected Senate reviews bills passed by the House. It can approve or reject them, but cannot amend them. It also scrutinises government policy.
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Eligible Dutch voters on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, and registered eligible Dutch voters outside the Netherlands.
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There are four electoral colleges: for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba and non-residents (Dutch citizens abroad). Their members elect the Senate together with provincial councillors.
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The King and all ministers together form the government. Ministers are politically accountable, including for the King’s actions.
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- Introduces bills: House of Representatives
Government bills are considered first by the House. House members can also introduce their own bills.
- Appoints through the Crown: King’s commissioner
The King and the minister sign the decree for a regular six-year appointment. Here, the Crown means the King and the responsible minister. They decide after the provincial council’s recommendation.
- Appoints through the Crown: Mayor
A regular mayor is appointed for six years by royal decree following the council’s recommendation. Here, the Crown means the King and the interior minister. The commissioner may appoint an acting mayor.
- Appoints for six years: Water-board chair
The government appoints the chair by royal decree for six years. The general board recommends a candidate.
All ministers and state secretaries. The King is not part of the cabinet. The Council of Ministers consists only of ministers.
Willem-Alexander has been King since 30 April 2013. Ministers are accountable for his actions as head of state.
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- Part of: Government
The King is part of the government. The King is not a cabinet member. Ministers are politically responsible for his acts.
- Appointment by royal decree: Ministers
After cabinet formation, the King and prime minister sign ministers’ appointment decrees. The House leads the cabinet formation process.
- Appointment by royal decree: State secretaries
State secretaries are also appointed by royal decree and take an oath or affirmation. The responsible ministers also sign the decree.
Ministers are responsible for their policies and answer to Parliament. The prime minister is also a minister. They belong to both the government and the cabinet.
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State secretaries have responsibilities assigned by their minister. They belong to the cabinet, but not to the government or the Council of Ministers.
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Provincial
Each province has an elected council and an executive. Together, they shape and carry out provincial policy.
Eligible residents of the province with Dutch citizenship, aged 18 and over.
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Provincial councillors set policy priorities and hold the provincial executive to account. They also help elect the Senate.
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- Elect through weighted votes: Senate
Members of all twelve provincial councils vote in Senate elections. Provincial councillors and electoral-college members vote together. Their votes carry different weights.
- Appoint: Provincial executive members
The provincial council appoints provincial executive members. The King’s commissioner follows a separate appointment process.
- Scrutinise: Provincial executive
The provincial council scrutinises its province’s executive.
- Recommend a candidate: King’s commissioner
The provincial council sends its recommended candidates for commissioner to the interior minister. The minister then nominates a candidate to the King.
Provincial executive members and the King’s commissioner run the province’s day-to-day administration. They prepare and carry out decisions.
The provincial council appoints executive members, each with their own policy responsibilities. They cannot hold a council seat at the same time.
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The commissioner chairs both the provincial council and executive, and is a member of the executive. A regular appointment is made by royal decree for six years.
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- Part of: Provincial executive
The King’s commissioner is a member of the provincial executive.
- Chairs: Provincial executive
The commissioner chairs provincial executive meetings.
- Chairs: Provincial council
The commissioner also chairs the provincial council. The commissioner chairs the meeting but is not an elected councillor.
Municipal
The municipal council and executive make decisions for their municipality. They have local powers and also carry out duties under national law.
Eligible residents aged 18 and over: Dutch and EU citizens, and other residents meeting the statutory residence conditions.
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Councillors set local policy, rules and the budget, and hold the municipal executive to account.
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- Appoints: Aldermen
The municipal council appoints aldermen. The mayor follows a separate appointment process.
- Scrutinises: Municipal executive
The municipal council scrutinises the mayor and aldermen as the executive.
- Recommends a candidate: Mayor
The council adopts a recommendation and sends it to the interior minister. The commissioner oversees the process; appointment follows by royal decree.
The mayor and aldermen form the municipal executive. They run the municipality and carry out council decisions and legal duties.
The council appoints aldermen. Each has their own policy responsibilities and answers to the council.
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The mayor chairs council and executive meetings and has responsibilities for public order. The mayor is a member of the executive, but not of the council.
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- Part of: Municipal executive
The mayor is a member of the municipal executive.
- Chairs: Municipal executive
The mayor chairs the municipal executive.
- Chairs: Municipal council
The mayor also chairs the municipal council. The mayor is not a councillor and has no vote in the council.
Water boards
The 21 water boards maintain flood defences and manage clean and sufficient water. They regulate water levels and treat wastewater, with their own boards and taxes.
Residents aged 18 and over who have the right to vote elect representatives every four years. Dutch citizens, EU citizens and other residents with a valid residence permit can vote.
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The general board decides water policy, the budget and taxes. It scrutinises the executive board. Most members are elected; four members hold reserved seats.
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- Appoints executive members: Executive board
The general board appoints the executive members other than the chair. The chair has a separate appointment process.
- Scrutinises: Executive board
The general board checks how the executive board carries out policy.
- Recommends a candidate: Water-board chair
The general board recommends a candidate for appointment as chair. The government decides the appointment.
Within the general board, two seats represent agriculture and two represent nature management. Their representative organisations appoint these members. This allocation has applied since the 2023 elections.
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The chair and other executive members prepare decisions and carry out policy. The general board appoints the other members, usually from among its own members.
The dijkgraaf or watergraaf chairs both boards. The government appoints this chair for six years. The chair votes in the executive board but is not a member of the general board.
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- Chairs: General board
The chair leads general-board meetings without a vote. The chair is not a general-board member.
- Chairs: Executive board
The chair leads the executive board and has a vote there. The chair is also an executive-board member.
- Part of: Executive board
The chair is a member of the executive board. The chair has a vote in the executive board.
Independent institutions
Regional government
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