Voting in House of Representatives elections

To vote in Tweede Kamer verkiezingen (House of Representatives elections), you must have Dutch nationality and meet a number of other requirements. Elections to the House of Representatives are held every 4 years.

Last updated 23 November 2023

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Who can vote in House of Representatives elections?

To vote in House of Representatives elections, you must:  

  • have Dutch nationality;  
  • be at least 18 years of age;  
  • not be excluded from voting (in Dutch). 
  • Conditions also apply to residents of the islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. 
  • Dutch residents of the islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten can only vote if they have been residents of the Netherlands for at least 10 years or have worked in Dutch public service on one of these islands. These voters can register with the municipality of Den Haag (The Hague) as overseas voters (in Dutch).

Voting in House of Representatives elections in the Netherlands

At least 14 days before the election, you will be sent a stempas (voting pass) in Dutch by post. You must take the polling card, together with proof of your identity (in Dutch), to a stembureau (polling station).  

You will receive the list of candidates no later than 4 days before the election, including the addresses of the polling stations.

Proxy voting

If you are unable to vote in person, for example because you have to work or are on holiday, you can authorise another voter to cast your vote on your behalf (in Dutch). 

Voting in House of Representatives elections from outside the Netherlands

If you wish to vote from outside the Netherlands, there is a one-time registration process with the municipality of Den Haag (The Hague). Afterwards, you will be able to vote via: 

  • a postal vote plus a ballot paper;  
  • a written proxy form; 
  • a voter ID (for this option, you must be in the Netherlands on the day of the election). 

More information about voting from outside the Netherlands (in Dutch) is available in Dutch from the Kiesraad (Electoral Council).

Laws and regulations (in Dutch)

Grondwet, artikelen 4 en 129

Kieswet, artikelen B 1 en B 5

Kiesbesluit, afdeling II

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