Home | House of Representatives

Directly to the main navigation Directly to the content Directly to search Directly to the service menu

Dutch coalition talks will resume on 9 August

20 July

On Wednesday 9 August 2017, the leaders of VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie will continue their preliminary talks aimed at forming a coalition government in the Netherlands. These talks will be presided by Informateur Gerrit Zalm. The four parties met for the last time on Wednesday 19 July, ahead of a three-week break.
House of Representatives in summer recess

14 July
Informateur Tjeenk Willink continues discussions with party leaders

8 June
House of Representatives reappoints Ms Edith Schippers as informateur

17 May
Internal EU Council Documents often wrongly undisclosed

5 April

The House through the ages

Through the ages

Dossiers

Cabinet formation 2017

The election of a new House of Representatives is followed by the formation of a new Cabinet, which is a complex and exciting process. As from 2012, the House itself takes the initiative in the formation of a new Cabinet. Before 2012, the King played an important formal role in the formation process. The formation talks will be held in the Stadholder's Room in the building of the House of Representatives.

An outgoing Cabinet

On 14 March 2017, on the eve of polling day, Prime Minister Mark Rutte paid a visit to King Willem Alexander to tender the resignation of all the ministers and state secretaries to the King. The Rutte II Cabinet is now a so-called "caretaker Cabinet", until the completion of the formation of a new Cabinet. Five questions and answers about the relation between the House and the Cabinet during the formation process.

Photo of representatives debating in the Plenary Hall.

Parliamentary committee of inquiry into Tax structures set to work

Until Friday 16 June, the Parliamentary committee of inquiry into Tax structures will be hearing several experts and people directly involved in the financial sector, among whom the manager of the Rolling Stones and U2. The expert witnesses, 27 in total, will all take the oath or affirmation in the Inquiry Room.

Elections 2017

On Wednesday 15 March 2017 elections for the House of Representatives were held in the Netherlands. On that day the voters decided which candidates are to hold one of the 150 blue seats in the House on their behalf for the next four years. MPs scrutinize the work of the Government and they are entitled to make and amend bills.

Putting the ballot paper in the ballot box

Cookies and e-privacy

The European Commission wants to put an end to the mandatory cookie notice on every website. The Commission also wants to impose a ban on the reading of private email messages by internet service providers such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Gmail. On Tuesday 21 February the standing committee on Security and Justice had a debate with Mr Henk Kamp, minister of Economic Affairs, about the new rules for e-privacy.

Secure elections for the House of Representatives

How secure are the elections for the House of Representatives, to be held on 15 March 2017? Can hackers manipulate the elections? Does fake news pose a threat to democracy? On 9 February 2017 the standing committee on the Interior had a debate about these issues with Mr Ronald Plasterk, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.