Politics of the Netherlands

Created and presented by: Benedict S. Gombocz

Netherlands in brief

Location: Western Europe, with islands in Caribbean Sea.

Official name: Kingdom of the Netherlands (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden)

Capital (and largest city): Amsterdam*

Official language: Dutch Demonym: Dutch

*Even though Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands, The Hague (Den Haag) is seat of government.

Netherlands’ islands in Caribbean

Geography of the Netherlands

Mainland Netherlands directly borders North Sea, Belgium, and Germany; it also shares maritime borders with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Netherlands is geographically a flat (with exclusion of foothills in far southeast and various low-hill ranges in central parts), low-lying country, with approximately 25% of its area and 21% of its population located under sea level, and 50% of its soil lying less than one metre over sea level.

Netherlands’ membership in world organizations

One of the first nations to have a parliamentary system.

Founding member of EU, NATO, OECD and WTO, and other affiliations.

Forms Benelux economic union with Belgium and Luxembourg.

Home to Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and five international courts: Permanent Court of Arbitration, International Court of Justice, International, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, International Criminal Court and Special Tribunal for Lebanon; former four are headquartered in The Hague, much like the EU’s criminal intelligence agency Europol and judicial co-operation agency Euro just, giving The Hague the unofficial nickname of “the world’s legal capital”.

Government of the Netherlands

Government (overheid): Constitutional monarchy, Unitary parliamentary representative democracy

Monarch: Willem-Alexander Prime Minister (Demissionary): Mark

Rutte (VVD) Deputy Prime Minister

(Demissionary): Lodewijk Asscher (PvdA)

Current coalition (Demissionary): VVD- PvdA coalition

Legislature: States-General (Staten-Generaal)

Upper house: Senate (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Lower house: House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal)

Parliamentary parties

People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie, VVD)

Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid, PvdA) Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid, PVV) Christian Democratic Appeal (Christen-Democratisch Appèl, CDA) Socialist Party (Socialistische Partij, SP) Democrats 66 (Democraten 66, D66) GreenLeft (GroenLinks, GL) ChristianUnion (ChristenUnie, CU) Reformed Political Party (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, SGP) Party for Animals (Partij voor de Dieren, PvdD) 50Plus (50+) Independents Senate Fraction (Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie, OSF)

States-General of the Netherlands

Bicameral legislature of the Netherlands, comprising Senate and House of Representatives.

The parliament meets at Binnenhof in The Hague.

Old-fashioned Dutch word staten originally related to feudal classes (“estates”) where medieval European societies were arranged (clergy, nobility, and commons).

As in the United Kingdom, the meaning of the Commons broadened from only the social class, to assembly where those were represented; in Dutch, staten became to refer to political body where respective classes were (to an extent) combined.

Dutch explorers named distinct places Staten Island, a name that originates from name of parliament.

Willem-Alexander

Reigning King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Head of the Dutch royal house and the House of

Amsberg; when he assumed the throne, became the Netherlands’ first male monarch since his grandfather William III’s death in 1890.

Born 27 April 1967 in Utrecht; oldest child of Beatrix and German diplomat Claus von Amsberg.

Became Prince of Orange and heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands on 30 April 1980, when his mother became queen regnant; took the throne on 30 April 2013 upon his mother’s abdication, and, at 46, was Europe’s youngest monarch when he assumed the throne.

Attended both primary and secondary schools, served in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and majored in History at Leiden University.

Married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002; they have three daughters Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (born 2003), Princess Alexia (born 2005), and Princess Ariane (born 2007).

Has an interest in sports and global water management issues.

Was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1998-2013; also served as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Water to the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment (2004-2013), and chairman of the Secretary-General of the United Nations’ Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (2006-2013).

Mark Rutte

Member of People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and current PM of the Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs, as head of cabinet since 14 October 2010; leader of VVD since 31 May 2006.

Born 14 February 1967 in The Hague. Was previously State Secretary for Social Affairs and

Employment from 22 July 2002-17 June 2004 in Cabinets Balkenende I and II; afterwards he was State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science from 17 June 2004 until he resigned on 27 June 2006, when he was elected to succeed Jozias van Aartsen as new VVD leader.

Member of House of Representatives from 30 January 2003-27 May 2003 and 28 June 2006-14 October 2010.

Leader of People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy in House of Representatives (29 June 2006-14 October 2010).

People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy under Rutte lost six seats in 2006 general election, making him opposition leader, serving during Cabinet Balkenende IV.

Following the end of Cabinet Balkenende IV, snap election was called, making Rutte VVD’s Lijsttrekker (top party list candidate) a second time for 2010 general election; VVD had greatest number of votes cast, winning the party 31 of 150 seats in House of Representatives.

Became PM after lengthy formation period and formed cabinet; became first liberal Dutch PM in 92 years when he assumed office on 14 October 2010.

Lodewijk Asscher

Member of Labour Party (PvdA). Born 27 September 1974 in Amsterdam. Current Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and Deputy PM

in Cabinet Rutte II since 5 November 2012; was alderman of Finances from 7 July 2010.

Previously served as Acting Mayor of Amsterdam between 12 March 2010 and 7 July 2010 after Job Cohen resigned as mayor to become Labour Party leader and lijsttrekker (top candidate) for 2010 general election.

Born to mixed religious family; his father is of Jewish descent while his mother is Roman Catholic.

His father is an affiliate of People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy; his mother is a member of Labour Party.

Entered city council following 2002 municipal elections; partook in commission on General Affairs, in addition to his role as Labour Party parliamentary leader in Amsterdam city council.

Taught Law at University of Amsterdam until 1 January 2006. Supported eventual disappearance of De Wallen (red-light

district) in his book New Amsterdam, but withdrew that statement shortly after that book was released, saying he was not opposed to prostitution, but opposed to sexual slavery.

Led Labour Party’s campaign after 2006 municipal elections and was installed as alderman on 26 April, serving as alderman of Economics, Airport and Harbour, and Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam for Labour Party from 2006-2010.

Has been married to Jildau Piena since 15 July 2007, and they have three sons.

People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy

Conservative-liberal party. Founded 24 January 1948. Advocates private enterprise in the

Netherlands; is often understood as economic liberal party, as opposed to social-liberal Democrats 66 (D66), along which it sits in European Parliament.

Second biggest opposition party in House of Representatives after formation of fourth Balkenende cabinet.

Acquired biggest number of votes cast during 2010 general election; subsequently gained 31 of 150 seats in House of Representatives.

Currently senior party in centre-right minority coalition with Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Rutte cabinet, backed by Party for Freedom (PVV) to win majority.

Current PM Mark Rutte is VVD’s leader since 31 May 2006.

Labour Party

Social-democratic political party. Second biggest political party in

the Netherlands since 2003 general election.

Was a coalition participant in fourth Balkenende cabinet after 22 February 2007.

Pulled out of government on 20 February 2010 after disputes concerning the Netherlands’ role in Afghanistan, leading to 2010 general election.

Is in coalition with conservative-liberal VVD in second Rutte cabinet since 5 November 2012, when Lodewijk Asscher assumed office of PM.

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