Democracy
Since 1848, the Netherlands has been a parliamentary democracy. It was in that year that, under the leadership of Johan Rudolf Thorbecke—who hasn’t heard of him?—the Dutch Constitution was drastically revised. From that moment on, the king no longer ruled as an autocrat, and ministers became accountable to parliament (the House of Representatives). Democracy got a further boost with the introduction of male suffrage and proportional representation in 1917, followed by universal suffrage for women in 1919.
But all good things must come to an end. The democracy we’ve known seems to be slowly crumbling. You don’t have to be a political scientist to see that with your own eyes. So the big question is: Does democracy still have a future in the Netherlands?
The Reign of Compromise
Many people associate democracy with the principle of majority rule. That’s partly true, but it’s far from the whole story. Our parliament consists of 150 members in the House of Representatives and 75 members in the Senate. Decisions are made by voting. A bill, motion, or amendment (the latter only in the House of Representatives) passes if more than half vote in favor. That might suggest majority rule, but Dutch parliamentary democracy is based on a multi-party system. No single party holds a majority in either house, so governing always requires a coalition of two or more parties. Each party represents the interests of its own base, and to govern together, constant compromise is necessary.
Separation of Powers
This means a party representing a minority group in society, even with just one seat in the House of Representatives, can still achieve meaningful results. And that is the true essence of democracy. Another key element of a parliamentary democracy like ours is the trias politica—the separation of powers. Where once power was concentrated in a single authority (read: the king), it is now divided across three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
- The legislative power is shared between parliament (both houses) and the government.
- The executive power lies with the government, which consists of ministers and state secretaries, together with the king.
- The judiciary is formed by independent judges in courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court, the highest legal authority.
The legislative branch makes the laws, as the name suggests and the executive branch implements them and governs the country. The judiciary assesses whether laws are properly applied and delivers justice in conflicts.
Blurred Lines
You may notice that the separation of powers in the Netherlands is not entirely strict. For instance, ministers (executive power) co-create laws together with parliament (legislative power). This is likely for purely pragmatic reasons: ministers and state secretaries have access to highly skilled civil servants with the expertise needed for good legislation.
Also notable: the king is formally part of the government (executive) but also signs laws. What is strictly independent in the Netherlands, however, is the judiciary. And that independence is absolutely essential for a properly functioning rule of law.
Elections
Another cornerstone of democracy is free elections. In the Netherlands, we vote at the national level every four years to determine who will represent us in the House of Representatives. This gives us direct influence over the makeup of the legislative branch and, to some extent, the executive branch. We elect members of parliament directly—but not our ministers, state secretaries, or prime minister.
Still, Dutch voters have plenty of choice. As of June 2025, there are 15 political parties represented in the House of Representatives. One important area in which these parties differ is their commitment to the rule of law. In other words, how they interpret key principles like independent judiciary, separation of powers, constitutional rights, democratic procedures, and the protection of minorities.
Some parties fully respect the rule of law. Others formally acknowledge it but show a troubling attitude toward independent institutions like the judiciary or the press. And some go as far as to undermine the very foundations of the constitutional state, such as judicial independence, press freedom, or equality before the law.
Rule of Law
Parties that fully respect the rule of law include D66, GroenLinks–PvdA, Volt, Party for the Animals, CDA, Christian Union, and the Socialist Party. Parties that sometimes show a problematic stance toward independent institutions include the VVD, NSC, and BBB.
Two parties openly undermine the core principles of the rule of law: PVV and FVD.
- The PVV wants to abolish Article 1 (equality) and Article 23 (freedom of education) of the Constitution. It also advocates for banning Islam, which is incompatible with religious freedom. Moreover, the PVV consistently portrays the judiciary and the press as “left-wing” or “anti-people.”
- FVD, on the other hand, openly attacks the democratic legal order, spreads conspiracy theories, delegitimizes parliament, and opposes independent judiciary and journalism.
Something to Consider
Maybe something to think about before you head to the polls again on October 29—if democracy is still something you believe is worth preserving.