The Netherlands

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Netherlands Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Beatrix  - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War   - Declared July 26, 1581   - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... Image File history File links Coat_of_arms_of_the_Netherlands. ...

Kingdom of the Netherlands Constitution Monarchy Queen Beatrix Cabinet (list) Present cabinet Coalition: CDA, VVD Prime Minister (list) Jan Peter Balkenende Parliament First Chamber (list) Second Chamber (list) Political parties Politicians Elections: 2006 Council of State Supreme Court Provinces Municipalities EU Politics Foreign relations Terminology

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The Politics of the Netherlands take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is described as a consociational state. Dutch politics and governance are characterized by a common strife for broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole. Wikibooks Cookbook has an article on Dutch cuisine Dutch cuisine is characterized by its somewhat limited diversity in relation to diner dishes, however it varies greatly from region to region. ... This article deals with the culture of the Netherlands. ... The Dutch have a code of etiquette, the code that governs the expectations of social behaviour, and it is considered very important. ... The population of the Netherlands is concentrated on a limited territory. ... Holidays in the Netherlands: Categories: | | ... The drug policy of the Netherlands is based on 2 principles: Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal matter A distinction between hard drugs and soft drugs exists It is a pragmatic policy. ... In 2002 Netherlands legalized euthanasia. ... Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands. ... The Netherlands has allowed same-sex marriage since April 1, 2001. ... A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red. ... Political scientists define a consociational state as a state which has major internal divisions along ethnic, religious, or linguistic lines, yet nonetheless manages to remain stable, due to consultation among the elites of each of its major social groups. ... Consensus has two common meanings. ...

Constitution

Main article: Constitution of the Netherlands The present constitution of the Netherlands dates back to 1815. ...

The constitution lists the basic civil and social rights of the Dutch citizens and it describes the position and function of the institutions that have executive, legislative and judiciary power. Civil rights or positive rights are those legal rights retained by citizens and protected by the government. ... Social rights refer to what are usually positive rights, which ensure to all people a fair standard of treatment. ...

It should be noted that the constitution of the Netherlands is only applicable in the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Kingdom as a whole has its own Statute, describing its federate political system which also includes the Caribbean islands of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Federation. ...

The Netherlands do not have a Constitutional Court and judges do not have the authority to review laws on their constitutionality. International treaties and the Statute of the Kingdom, however overrule Dutch law and the constitution and judges are allowed to review laws against these in a particular court case. Furthermore all legislation that is not a law in the strict sense of the word (such as policy guidelines or laws proposed by provincial or municipal government) can be tested on their constitutionality. A Constitutional Court is a high court found in many countries which deals primary with constitutional law. ... Judicial review is the power of a court to review a statute, or an official action or inaction, for constitutionality. ... Single European Act A treaty is a binding agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely states and international organizations. ...

Amendments to the constitution must be approved by both Houses of the States-General twice. The first time around, this requires a simple majority of fifty percent plus one vote. After parliament has been dissolved and general elections are held, both Houses must approve the proposed amendments with a two thirds majority. The Estates-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ...

Political Institutions

Monarchy

Main article: Dutch Monarchy The Netherlands have been an independent monarchy since March 16, 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since. ...

The Netherlands have been a monarchy since March 16, 1815, and have been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau ever since. Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in leap years). ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The House of Orange-Nassau (in Dutch: Huis van Oranje-Nassau), a branch of the House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands since William I of Orange (also known as William the Silent and Father of the Fatherland) organized the Dutch revolt...

The present monarchy was originally founded in 1813. After the expulsion of the French, the Prince of Orange was proclaimed Sovereign Prince of The Netherlands. The new monarchy was confirmed in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna as part of the re-arrangement of Europe after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. The House of Orange-Nassau were given the present day Netherlands and Belgium to govern as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Between 1815 and 1890, the King of the Netherlands was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Prince of Orange is a title of nobility, originally associated with the principality of Orange in southern France. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors from the major powers in Europe that was chaired by the Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich and held on the way to Vienna, Austria, from September 1, 1814, to June 9, 1815. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Bonaparte as general Napoleon Bonaparte ( 15 August 1769 Р5 May 1821) was a general of the French Revolution and was the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from November 11, 1799 to May 18, 1804, then as Emperor of the French (Empereur des... Map of the kingdom United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 - 1830) (1839) (Dutch: Verenigd Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, French: Royaume-Uni des Pays-Bas and German: Vereinigte K̦nigreich der Niederlande) were the unofficial names used to refer to a new unified European state created during the Congress of Vienna in... Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy whose Head of State is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg (or Grand Duchess of Luxembourg in the exceptional but twice occurred event of the sovereign being female). ...

The current monarch is Queen Beatrix. The heir apparent is Willem-Alexander, her son. Queen Beatrix (I) of the Netherlands (born as Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard van Oranje-Nassau, Prinses der Nederlanden, Prinses van Oranje-Nassau, Prinses van Lippe-Biesterfeld) (born January 31, 1938), has been the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands since April 30, 1980. ... The Netherlands applied Salic law until 1884 when King William IIIs last male heir died and Staten-Generaal adopted agnatic-cognatic primogeniture making Princess Wilhelmina heiress presumptive. ... His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, (born April 27, 1967) is the eldest son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and is the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, with the style HRH the Prince of Orange. ...

Constitutionally, the Queen is head of state and has a role in the formation of government and in the legislative process. She is ex officio chair of the Council of State, which advises the cabinet on every piece of legislation, she also has to co-sign every law. Although the Queen takes these functions seriously, she refrains from exerting her power in these positions. The Queen also plays a central role in the formation of a cabinet after general elections or a cabinet crisis. Since coalition cabinets of two or more parties are the rule, this process has influence on government policy for years to come. She appoints the (in)formateur, who chair the formation talks, after consulting the leaders of all parties represented in parliament. When the formation talks have been concluded the Queen appoints the cabinet. Because this advice is a matter of public record, the Queen can not easily take a direction which is contrary to the advice of a majority in parliament. On the other hand, what is actually talked about behind the closed doors of the palace is not known. When a cabinet falls, the prime minister has to request the Queen to dismiss the cabinet. Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

Cabinet

Main article: Cabinet of the Netherlands The cabinet of the Netherlands or council of ministers plans and implements government policy. ...

The government of the Netherlands constitutionally consists of the Queen and the cabinet ministers. The Queen's role is limited to the formation of government and she does not actively interfere in daily decision-making. The ministers together form the Council of Ministers. This executive council initiates laws and policy. It meets every friday in the Trêveszaal at the Binnenhof. While most of the ministers head government ministries, since 1939 it has been permissible to appoint ministers without portfolio. There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... The Binnenhof (Dutch, lit. ... A Minister without Portfolio is a government minister with no specific responsibilities. ...

The Cabinet is composed of all cabinet ministers and junior ministers, the staatssecretarissen. Junior ministers take over part of responsibilities of minister. They only attend the meetings of the Council of Ministers if the Council invites them regarding a specific subject. There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

The Council of Ministers makes decisions by means of collegiate governance. All ministers, including the Prime Minister, are (theoretically) equal. Behind the closed doors of the Trêveszaal, ministers can freely debate proposed decisions and express their opinion on any aspect of cabinet policy. Once a decision is made by the council, all individual members are bound by it and are obliged to support it publicly. If a member of the cabinet does not agree with a particular decision he will have to step down. Generally much effort is put into reaching relative consensus on any decision. A process of voting within the Council does exist, but is hardly ever used. Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. ...

The cabinet is collectively responsible to Parliament, and must enjoy its confidence. It is not possible to for a minister to be a member of parliament, although many ministers are selected from parliament and have to give up their seat as a result. Ministers or junior ministers who are no longer supported by a parliamentary majority are expected by convention to step down. In political science confidence refers to a governments support in the legislature. ... A constitutional convention is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state. ...

As a result of the electoral system and the lack of dominating parties, coalition cabinets, composed out of two or three parties, are the norm. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ...

Prime Minister

The Hague's Binnenhof. The ministry of General Affairs is in the centre with the Torentje, the office of the prime minister of the centre left

Main article: Prime Minister of the Netherlands Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 3499 KB) The image was made by me, Patrick Rasenberg, and is released for all usage anywhere in the world. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 3499 KB) The image was made by me, Patrick Rasenberg, and is released for all usage anywhere in the world. ... The Binnenhof (Dutch, lit. ... The prime minister of the Netherlands is the head of the cabinet, and, as such, coordinates the policy of the government. ...

The official task of the Prime Minister is to coordinate government policy. He is chairman of the Council of Ministers and as such has the power to set the agenda of its meetings. In addition, the Prime minister is also Minister of General Affairs. The task of this small department is basically supporting the Prime Minister in his tasks as described above and organizing publicity around government proposals and decisions. The position of the Prime Minister has become more important since the Second World War. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is also the political head of the Ministry of General Affairs (Ministerie van Algemene Zaken). With only about 400 employees this ministry is by far the smallest ministry in the Netherlands. ...

States-General

Main articles: States-General of the Netherlands and Elections in the Netherlands The States-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ...

The Dutch Parliament or States-General consists of a Lower House or Second Chamber and an Upper House or First Chamber, also referred to as the Senate. Both houses of Parliament discuss proposed legislation and review of the actions of the cabinet. The Second Chamber also has the right to propose or amend legislation. The States-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ... The Eerste Kamer (literally First Chamber in Dutch) is the Upper House or Senate of the Netherlands parliament, the States-General. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ...

The general entrance of the Tweede Kamer

Members of the Second Chamber, generally considered the more important House, are elected directly every four years with a party-list proportional representation. Members are chosen on personal title, so in the relatively rare case that a member no longer agrees with his (or her) party, the member can decide to stay in the chamber, either as an independent representative, or connected to another parliamentary party. Currently four members of the Second Chamber have split from their parliamentary party and form a one person parliamentary party. If a member decides to resign, the empty seat falls to the original party collecting the votes, and can be filled by a member of that party. Coalition governments may fall before their term ends, which usually results in early dissolution of the Second Chamber and new elections. Image File history File links Tweede_Kamer1. ... Image File history File links Tweede_Kamer1. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ... Party-list proportional representation systems are a family of voting systems used in multiple-winner elections (e. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

Members of the First Chamber are elected indirectly by provincial councillors, again every four years, just after the elections of the provincial councils, via a system of proportional representation. This election method reflects the historical roots of the First Chamber as a representative body of the different regional entities that formed the Netherlands. Nowadays, the Senate is mainly considered to be a body of elderly statesmen reconsidering legislation at ease, away from the pressure of daily political and media hypes. There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

Dutch Tweede Kamer seats as of 2006 The 2006 Dutch general elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, and followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ... The Eerste Kamer (literally First Chamber in Dutch) is the Upper House or Senate of the Netherlands parliament, the States-General. ... The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) (Dutch: Christen Democratisch Appèl) is a Dutch christian-democratic political party. ... Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende   (born on 7 May 1956), has served as Prime Minister of The Netherlands since 22 July 2002. ... The Labour Party (in Dutch: Partij van de Arbeid, PvdA) is a Dutch social-democratic political party. ... Drs. ... The Socialist Party (SP, Dutch: Socialistische Partij) is a Dutch socialist political party. ... Johannes Guillaume Christianus Andreas Marijnissen (Oss, 8 October 1952, usually known as Jan Marijnissen) is a Dutch politician for the Socialist Party. ... The Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) (Dutch: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie) is a Dutch liberal political party. ... Mark Rutte Mark Rutte (born The Hague, February 14, 1967) is a Dutch Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) politician and State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the second Balkenende cabinet. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Historical liberal parties | Netherlands political parties ... Geert Wilders (born in Venlo on 6 September, 1963) is a Dutch right wing conservative politician who is best known for his views favoring the restriction of immigration, particularly from non-western countries, and his opposition to Turkey joining the European Union. ... GroenLinks (GL, GreenLeft) is a political party in the Netherlands. ... Femke Halsema attending a demonstration Femke Halsema (Haarlem, April 25, 1966) is a politician in the Netherlands. ... Democrats 66 (in Dutch: Democraten 66, D66, official name: Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party. ... Alexander Pechtold (born December 16, 1965) was elected president of the Dutch social liberal party Democrats 66 in 2002. ... The ChristianUnion (in Dutch: ChristenUnie, CU) is a relatively young Dutch orthodox Protestant political party. ... André Rouvoet is the political leader of the ChristenUnie, a Dutch political party. ... The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP, literally Constitutional Reformed Party) is a Dutch constitutional theocratic political party following conservative Christian principles, in the tradition of the Dutch Reformed Church. ... Bastiaan Johannis Bas van der Vlies (Sliedrecht, June 29, 1942) is a Dutch politician. ... The Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) is a political party in the Netherlands without parliamentary representation. ... Marianne Louise Thieme (Ede, March 6, 1972) is a Dutch politician, animal activist and publicist. ... The Independent Senate Group (Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie) is a parliamentary group in the Dutch Senate with one senator, representing several provincial parties. ...

Political Parties

Main article: Political parties of the Netherlands A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ...

The system of proportional representation, combined with the historical social division between Catholics, Protestants, Socialists and Liberals has resulted in a multiparty system. The major political parties are CDA, PvdA, SP and VVD. The parties currently represented in the Dutch Second Chamber are:

• CDA is a centre-right Christian Democratic party. It holds to the principle that government activity should supplement but not supplant communal action by citizens. The CDA sees its philosophy as standing between the "individualism" of the VVD and the "statism" of the PvdA.
• PvdA is a social democratic, centre-left Labour party. Its programme is based on greater social, political, and economic equality for all citizens.
• SP is a far-left socialist party, which has evolved from a Maoist split from the Communist Party Netherlands into a much less radical socialist party. It remains far more left-wing than the Labour party.
• VVD is a conservative-liberal party. It attaches great importance to private enterprise and the freedom of the individual in political, social, and economic affairs.
• PVV is an anti-Islam nationalist-conservative party. It has a plaftorm based on free market economics and opposition to immigration and European integration.
• GroenLinks combines, as it's name implies green, environmentalist, ideals with leftwing ideals.
• ChristenUnie is an orthodox protestant party, with conservative stances on abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage. In other areas the party is considered centre-left, for instance on immigration, welfare state and the environment.
• D66 is a social-liberal radical party. The party supports liberal policies on abortion and euthanasia and reform of the welfare state. The party is left-wing on immigration, the environment and foreign policy.
• The Party for the Animals is a single-issue animal rights party.
• SGP is an orthodox protestant party with conservative policies and it sees government as unconditional servant of God.

The Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA, Christian Democratic Appeal) is a political party of the Netherlands that was established in 1980. ... Christian Democracy is a heterogeneous political ideology and movement. ... Individualism is a term used to describe a moral, political, or social outlook, that stresses human independence and the importance of individual self-reliance and liberty. ... Statism (or Etatism) is a very loose and often derogatory term that is used to describe: Specific instances of state intervention in personal, social or economic matters. ... For the Belgian political party of the same name, see Partij van de Arbeid (Belgium). ... Social democracy is a political ideology emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from supporters of Marxism who believed that the transition to a socialist society could be achieved through democratic evolutionary rather than revolutionary means. ... The Socialist Party (Dutch: Socialistische Partij) is a socialist party in the Netherlands. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Communist Party of the Netherlands (Dutch: Communistische Partij Nederland, CPN) is a Dutch communist political party. ... The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), literally Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, is a free market liberal party in the Netherlands. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... Capitalism generally refers to a combination of economic practices that became institutionalized in Europe between the 16th and 19th centuries, especially involving the right of individuals and groups of individuals acting as legal persons (or corporations) to buy and sell capital goods such as land, labor, and money (see finance... The Party for Freedom (Dutch: , PVV) is a Dutch conservative political party. ... This article is about the Dutch political party. ... The ChristenUnie (Christians Union) is a relatively young political party in the Netherlands. ... Euthanasia (from Greek: ευθανασία -ευ, eu, good, θανατος, thanatos, death) is the practice of terminating the life of a person or an animal because they are perceived as living an intolerable life, in a painless or minimally painful way either by lethal injection, drug overdose, or by the withdrawal of life support. ... Same-sex marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. ... Democrats 66 (in Dutch: Democraten 66, D66, official name: Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... The term Radical (latin radix meaning root) has been used since the late 18th century as a label in political science for those favoring or trying to produce thoroughgoing political reforms which can include changes to the social order to a greater or lesser extent. ... The Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) is a political party in the Netherlands without parliamentary representation. ... The logo of the Great Ape Project, which is campaigning for a Declaration on Great Apes. ... The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP, literally Politically Reformed Party) is a Dutch political party following the conservative Christian principles, in the tradition of the Dutch Reformed Church. ...

High Colleges of State

The Dutch political system has five so called the High Colleges of State, which are explicitly regarded as independent by the Constitution. Apart from the two Houses of Parliament, these are the Council of State, the Algemene Rekenkamer (Court of Audit) and the Nationale Ombudsman (National Ombudsman). There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... An ombudsman is an official, usually (but not always) appointed by the government or by parliament, who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individual citizens. ...

The Council of State is an advisory body of cabinet on constitutional and judicial aspects of legislature and policy. All laws proposed by the cabinet have to be sent to the Council of State for advice. Although the advice is not binding, the cabinet is required to react to the advice and it often plays a significant role in the ensuing debate in Parliament. In addition the Council is the highest administrative court. Organisational use In some organisational analyses, administration can refer to the bureaucratic or operational performance of mundane office tasks, usually internally oriented. ...

The Algemene Rekenkamer investigates whether public funds are collected and spent legitimate and effectively. The Nationale Ombudsman investigates complaints about the practices of government. As with the advice of the Council of State, the reports from these organizations are not easily put aside and often play a role in public and political debate.

Judicial System

The judiciary comprises 19 district courts, five courts of appeal, two administrative courts (Centrale Raad van Beroep and the College van beroep voor het bedrijfsleven) and a Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) which has 24 justices. All judicial appointments are made by the Government. Judges nominally are appointed for life but actually retire at age 70. The Council of State functions as the highest court in most administrative cases. Hoge Raad der Nederlanden is the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, situated in The Hague. ... In the Netherlands, the Council of State is a constitutionally established advisory body to the government which consists of members of the royal family and Crown-appointed members generally having political, commercial, diplomatic, or military experience. ...

Social Economic Council

Main article: Social Economic Council The Sociaal-Economische Raad (Social Economic Council; SER) is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. ...

Both trade unions and employers’ organisations are consulted beforehand in policymaking in the financial, economic and social area’s. They meet regularly with government the Social-economic council (Sociaal Economische Raad, SER). This body advises government and its advice, just like the advice of the High Colleges of State, cannot be put aside easily. The SER heads a system of PBO's, self-regulatory organizations that can make laws for specific economic sectors. A union (labor union in American English; trade union, sometimes trades union, in British English; either labour union or trade union in Canadian English) is a legal entity consisting of employees or workers having a common interest, such as all the assembly workers for one employer, or all the workers... The Sociaal-Economische Raad (Social Economic Council; SER) is a major economic advisory council of the Dutch government. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

The following organizations are represented in the Social Economic Council: the leftwing trade union FNV, the christian trade union CNV and the trade union for managerial staff MHP, the employers' organizations VNO-NCW, the employers' organization for smaller companies MKB, and the employers' organization for farmers LTO. One third of the members of the council is appointed by the government. These include both professors of economy and related fields and representatives of the economic planning institute CPB and De Nederlandsche Bank. In the working groups of the SER representatives of environmental and consumers' organizations are also represented. A Trade Union (Labour union) ... is a continuous association of wage-earners for the purpose of maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment. ... The Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging (FNV, Federated Netherlands Labour Movement) is the largest federation of trade unions in the Netherlands. ... Christelijk Nationaal Vakverbond (CNV, Christian National Trade Union) is a federation of trade unions of the Netherlands. ... The Federation of Managerial and Professional Staff Unions (MHP) is a national trade union center in the Netherlands. ... An employers organization, employers association or employers federation is an association of employers. ... VNO-NCW (known in English as the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers) is a Dutch employers federation. ... The CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (Dutch: , Central Planning Bureau) is an independent Dutch government agency founded in 1945 by Jan Tinbergen. ... De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB, The Dutch Bank) is the central bank of the Netherlands. ...

Subnational Government

Main article: Provinces of the Netherlands and Municipalities of the Netherlands The modern day Netherlands are divided into twelve provinces (provincies in Dutch), listed below with their capital city: Map of the Netherlands, with provinces and capital cities See also the ranked list of Dutch provinces // Structure A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the... All provinces of the Netherlands are divided into municipalities (gemeenten), together 458 (2006); among these we can distinguish: those comprising one main city, town or village with the same name as the municipality, and possibly some additional villages; for example Utrecht, comprising the city Utrecht and the villages De Meern...

Regional government in the Netherlands is formed by twelve provinces. Provinces are responsible for spatial planning, health policy and recreation, within the bounds prescribed by the national government. Furthermore they oversee the policy and finances of municipalities and waterboards. The executive power is in hands of the Queen's Commissioner and the College of the Gedeputeerde Staten. The Queen’s Commisioner is appointed by the national Cabinet and responsible to the minister of Internal Affairs. Members of the Gedeputeerde Staten are appointed by, and responsible to the provincial legislature, the Provinciale Staten, which is elected by direct suffrage. Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. ... People participating in summer luge as a form of recreation, in the Vosges. ... There are two levels of local government in The Netherlands, the provinces and the municipalities. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

Local government in the Netherlands is formed by 458 municipalities. Municipalities are responsible for education, spatial planning and social security, within the bounds prescribed by the national and provincial government. They are governed by the College of Mayor and Aldermen. The Mayor is appointed by the national Cabinet and responsible to the minister of Internal Affairs. The Aldermen are appointed by, and responsible to the Municipal Council, which is elected by direct suffrage. Spatial planning refers to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. ... Social security primarily refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

The major cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam are subdivided into administrative area’s (stadsdelen), which have their own (limited) responsibilities. Country Netherlands Province North Holland Coordinates Area 219. ... Rotterdam Location Coat of arms The coat of arms reads Sterker door strijd, i. ... A stadsdeel (pl. ...

Furthermore there are waterboards which are responsible for the country’s polders, dikes and other waterworks. These bodies are elected in non-partisan elections and have the power to tax their residents. Waterboard redirect here. ... A polder is a low-lying tract of land that forms an artificial hydrological entity, enclosed by embankments known as dikes and requiring drainage by pumps to prevent the water table within it from rising too high. ... Dyke (normal International spelling) or Dike (normal American spelling) can mean several things: A dyke / dike is a long wall built to keep out the sea or enclose land. ... Waterworks may be: Look up waterworks in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Policy

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign relations of the Netherlands The Netherlands abandoned its traditional policy of neutrality after World War II. The Dutch have since become engaged participants in international affairs. ...

The foreign policy of the Netherlands is based on four basic commitments: to the atlantic cooperation, to European integration, to international development and to international law. While historically the Netherlands was a neutral state, since the Second World War the Netherlands became a member of a large number of international organisations. Most prominently the UN, NATO and the EU. The Dutch economy is very open and relies on international trade. One of the more controversial international issues surrounding the Netherlands is its liberal policy towards soft drugs and the position of the Netherlands one of the major exporters of hard drugs. Since the golden age, the Dutch built up a colonial empire, which fell apart after the Second World War. A foreign policy is a set of political goals that seeks to outline how a particular country will interact with the other countries of the world. ... Transatlanticism was released October 2003 by Death Cab for Cutie under the Barsuk record label. ... European integration is the process of political and economic (and in some cases social and cultural) integration of European states into a tighter bloc. ... This article is about International Development. ... International law (also called public international law to distinguish from private international law, i. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation[1] (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ... The drug policy of the Netherlands is based on 2 principles: Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal matter A distinction between hard drugs and soft drugs exists It is a pragmatic policy. ... Rembrandt The Nightwatch (1642) The Dutch Golden Age (1584-1702) was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. ... A map showing the territory that the Netherlands held at various points in history. ...

Ethical issues

Dutch policies on recreational drugs, prostitution, same-sex marriage, abortion and euthanasia are among the most liberal in the world. The drug policy of the Netherlands is based on 2 principles: Drug use is a public health issue, not a criminal matter A distinction between hard drugs and soft drugs exists It is a pragmatic policy. ... Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands. ... The Netherlands has allowed same-sex marriage since April 1, 2001. ... In 2002 Netherlands legalized euthanasia. ...

Political history

Main article: History of the Netherlands: modern history (1900-present)

For an overview of the election results and cabinets since WWII, see the table at the bottom of Elections in the Netherlands

Elections in the Netherlands gives information on election and election results in the Netherlands. ...

1800-1966

The Netherlands has been a constitutional monarchy since 1815 and a parliamentary democracy since 1848; before that it had been a republic from 1581 to 1806 and a kingdom between 1806 and 1810 (it was part of France between 1810 and 1813). Constitutional monarchies with representative parliamentary systems are shown in red. ... A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in U.S. English), is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state or country that is led by people whose political power is based on principles that are not beyond the control of the people of that state or country. ...

Before 1917, the Netherlands had a first past the post single seat system with census suffrage (per the constitution of 1814), in which only property-owning adult males had the right to vote. Under influence of the rising socialist movement the requirements were gradually reduced until in 1917 the present voting system of a representative democracy with male universal suffrage was instituted, expanded in 1919 to include women. Year 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... An example of a plurality. ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ... Suffrage is the civil right to vote, or the exercise of that right. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ... Representative democracy is a form of democracy founded on the exercise of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Universal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief, or economic or social status. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Until 1966, Dutch politics were characterised by pillarisation: society was separated in several segments (pillars) which lived separate from each other and there was only contact at the top levels, in government. These pillars had their own organisations, most importantly the political parties. There were four pillars, which provided the five most important parties, the socialist Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid; PvdA), the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie; VVD), the Catholic Catholic People's Party (Katholieke Volkspartij; KVP) and the two conservative-Protestant parties, the Christian Historical Union (Chirstelijk Historische Unie; CHU) and the Anti Revolutionary Party (Anti-Revolutionaire Party; ARP). Since no party ever gained an absolute majority, these political parties had to work together in coalition governments. These alternated between a centre left, Rooms Rood, coalition of PvdA, KVP, ARP and CHU and a centre right coalition of VVD, KVP, ARP and CHU. Pillarisation (Verzuiling in Dutch, Pilarisation in French) is a term used to describe the way the Dutch and Belgians used to deal with their multicultural (but not multiethnic) societies. ... The Labour Party (in Dutch: Partij van de Arbeid, PvdA) is a Dutch social-democratic political party. ... The Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD), literally Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, is a free market liberal party in the Netherlands. ... The Katholieke Volkspartij (in English: Catholic Peoples Party; abbreviated as KVP) was a Catholic Christian-democratic Dutch political party. ... Christelijke-Historische Unie was a union of Dutch Christian political parties. ... The Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (Dutch for Anti Revolutionary Party) was the first Dutch political party. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ...

This figure shows the seat distribution in the Dutch second chamber from the first general elections after the Second World War (1946), to the current situation. The left wing parties are on the bottom, the christian-democratic parties in the center, with the right wing parties closer to the top. Occasionally one issue parties have arisen that are shown at the extreme top. Vertical lines indicate general elections.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (960x720, 9 KB) License I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (960x720, 9 KB) License I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... Christian Democracy is a heterogeneous political ideology and movement. ... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... Single-issue politics involves political campaigning or political support based on one essential policy area or idea. ...

1966-1994

In the 1960's, new parties appeared, which were mostly popular with young voters, who felt less bound to the pillars. The post-war babyboom meant that there had been a demographic shift to lower ages. On top of that, the voting age was lowered, first from 23 to 21 years in 1963 and then to 18 years in 1972. The most successful new party was the progressive-liberal D66, which proposed democratisation to break down pillarisation. Pillarisation indeed declined, with the three christian-democratic parties losing almost half of their votes. In 1977 they formed the Christian-democratic CDA, which became a major force in Dutch politics, partaking in governments from 1977 until 1994. Meanwhile the conservative-liberal VVD and progressive-liberal D66 made large electoral gains. A baby boom is any period of greatly increased birth rate within temporal and usually geographical bounds. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... Democrats 66 (in Dutch: Democraten 66, D66, official name: Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party. ... The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) (Dutch: Christen Democratisch Appèl) is a Dutch christian-democratic political party. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... Democrats 66 (in Dutch: Democraten 66, D66, official name: Politieke Partij Democraten 66) is a Dutch progressive-liberal and radical-democratic political party. ...

The Dutch welfare state had become the most extensive social security system in the world by the early eighties. But the welfare state came into crisis when spending rose due to dramatic high unemployment rates and poor economic growth. The early eighties saw unemployment rise to over 11% and the budget deficit rose to 10.7% of the National Income. The centre-right and centre-left coalitions of CDA-VVD and CDA-PvdA reformed the Dutch welfare state to bring the budget deficit under control and to create jobs. The motto of the coalition was accordingly 'jobs, jobs, jobs'. Social benefits were reduced, taxes lowered and businesses deregulated. Gradually the economy recovered and the budget deficit and unemployment were reduced considerably. It has been suggested that Welfare capitalism be merged into this article or section. ... Social security primarily refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ... An 1837 political cartoon about unemployment in the United States. ... A budget deficit occurs when an entity (often a government) spends more money than it takes in. ...

When the far-left parties lost much electoral support in the 1986 elections, they decided to merge into the new GreenLeft (GroenLinks) party in 1989, with considerable success. GroenLinks (GL, English: GreenLeft) is a Dutch Green political party. ...

1994-now

In the 1994 general election the Christian-democratic CDA lost nearly half its seats The social-liberal D66, on the other hand, doubled their size. For the first time in eighty years a coalition was formed without the Christian-democrats. The Purple Coalition was formed between PvdA, D66 and VVD. The colour purple symbolised the mixing of socialist red with liberal blue. During the Purple years, which lasted until 2002, the government introduced legislation on abortion, euthanasia and gay marriage. The Purple coalition also marked a period of remarkable economic prosperity. Elections in the Netherlands for the Tweede Kamer of Parliament The 1994 elections led to a landslide loss for the governing coalition of PvdA and CDA. The two liberal parties, VVD and D66 profited from this. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... There are several terms used in Dutch politics which are not easily translated into English. ... Euthanasia (from Greek: ευθανασία -ευ, eu, good, θανατος, thanatos, death) is the practice of terminating the life of a person or an animal because they are perceived as living an intolerable life, in a painless or minimally painful way either by lethal injection, drug overdose, or by the withdrawal of life support. ... Same-sex marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. ...

The Purple coalition parties together lost their majority in the 2002 elections due to the rise of List Pim Fortuyn, the new political party led by the flamboyant populist Pim Fortuyn. He campaigned on an anti-immigration programme and spoke of the "Purple Chaos" (Dutch: "Puinhopen van Paars"). Fortuyn was shot dead a week before the elections took place. In the elections the LPF entered parliament with one sixth of the seats, while the PvdA (Labour) lost half its seats. A cabinet was formed by CDA, VVD and LPF, led by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. It proved short-lived: after only 87 days in power, the coalition fell apart as a result of consecutive conflicts within the LPF and between LPF ministers. Elections in the Netherlands for the Tweede Kamer of Parliament Introduction The Dutch general election of 2002, held on May 15, 2002 was completely focused on the assassination of populist leader Pim Fortuyn, who questioned all forms of policies undertaken by the “purple cabinet” of Wim Kok. ... Lijst Pim Fortuyn (List Pim Fortuyn) is a political party in the Netherlands. ... Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn (surname pronounced somewhat like for-TOYN, IPA: ), (February 19, 1948 – May 6, 2002), was a controversial, openly gay, charismatic politician in the Netherlands who formed his own party Lijst Pim Fortuyn (List Pim Fortuyn or LPF). ... The first cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende was in office in the Netherlands from July 22, 2002 until October 16 of the same year. ... The prime minister of the Netherlands is the head of the cabinet, and, as such, coordinates the policy of the government. ... Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende   (born on 7 May 1956), has served as Prime Minister of The Netherlands since 22 July 2002. ...

In the ensuing elections in January of 2003, the LPF dropped to only five percent of the seats in the Second Chamber. The left-wing Socialist Party (Socialistische Partij; SP) led by Jan Marijnissen became the fourth party of the Netherlands. The centre-right Balkenende II cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic CDA, the conservative-liberal VVD and the progressive-liberal D66. Against popular sentiment, the right-wing coalition initiated an ambitious programme of welfare state reforms, health care privatisation and stricter immigration policies. On June 1, 2005, the Dutch electorate voted in a referendum against the proposed European Constitution by a majority of 62%, three days after the French had also rejected the treaty. Introduction The Dutch general election of 2003 held on January 22, 2003 was held after the fall of the first Balkenende cabinet on October 16, 2002. ... The Tweede Kamer (second chamber) is the lower house of the Staten-Generaal, the parliament in the Netherlands. ... The Socialist Party (Dutch: Socialistische Partij) is a socialist party in the Netherlands. ... Johannes Guillaume Christianus Andreas Marijnissen (Oss, 8 October 1952, usually known as Jan Marijnissen) is a Dutch politician for the Socialist Party. ... The second cabinet of Jan Peter Balkenende is in office in the Netherlands from May 27, 2003 It consists of three political parties: VVD, CDA and D66. ... Social liberalism is either a synonym for new liberalism or a label used by progressive liberal parties in order to differentiate themselves from the more conservative liberal parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. ... It has been suggested that Welfare capitalism be merged into this article or section. ... Health care or healthcare is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions. ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... On 1 June 2005 a consultative referendum was held in the Netherlands to ask whether the country should ratify the proposed Constitution of the European Union. ... The constitutional treaty as signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 by representatives of the EU member states The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE), commonly referred to as the European Constitution, was an international treaty intended to create a constitution for the European Union. ...

In June 2006 D66 withdrew its support for the coalition in the aftermath of the upheaval about the asylum procedure of Ayaan Hirsi Ali instigated by the Dutch immigration minister Verdonk. The coalition collapsed as a result and the Balkenende III caretaker cabinet was formed by CDA and VVD. The ensuing general elections that were held on 22 November 2006 saw a landslide victory for the Socialist Party, which almost tripled in size and became the third largest party with 17% of the seats, while the moderate PvdA (Labour Party) lost a quarter of its seats. At the other end of the spectrum LPF lost all its seats, while the new islamophobic PVV went from nothing to 6% of the seats, becoming the fifth biggest party. This polarisation of the Second Chamber, with an even distribution between left and right made the formation negotiations very difficult. As of 29 december 2006, these negotiations are still underway. Ayaan Hirsi Ali ( ; Somali: ; born Ayaan Hirsi Magan 13 November 1969[1] in Mogadishu, Somalia) is a Dutch feminist and politician, daughter of the Somali warlord Hirsi Magan Isse. ... Rita Verdonk Drs. ... The Third Balkenende cabinet is the current cabinet of the Netherlands. ... Dutch Tweede Kamer seats as of 2006 The 2006 Dutch general elections were held in the Netherlands on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, and followed the call for new elections after the fall of the Second Balkenende cabinet. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The Socialist Party (Dutch: Socialistische Partij) is a socialist party in the Netherlands. ... PVV can mean: Programvareverkstedet Partij voor Vrijheid en Vooruitgang (Party for Freedom and Progress), is the former name of the Flemish Liberals and Democrats a Flemish/Belgian liberal party This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... After the 2006 general election, held on November 22, a process of cabinet formation has started. ...

External links

• www.parlement.com (in Dutch). Extremely detailed information about politicians elections, cabinets, parties, etc since 1814.