The people's opinion matters!

People can influence politics by expressing their opinion. By casting their votes, the Dutch have a say in how and by whom their country is run. After the elections, however, there are also opportunities to criticise and influence the actions of the Government and Parliament.

Individual citizens may have little influence, but when like-minded people with shared interests join forces, they have the power to put forward their ideas more forcefully. Read more about the ways in which Dutch citizens can make their opinions and ideas known to Parliament.

The media

People can use the media and the internet to criticise the Government and Parliament. They can try to exercise influence by exposing abuses and by publicly disclosing injustice and arbitrariness...

Political parties

People who share the same ideas about how society should be organised often join forces in the same political party. Political parties constitute a bridge between the voters and the...

A collection of campaign posters on a billboard in The Hague

Extra-parliamentary groups: lobbies

Politicians will take into account the opinions of important movements that enjoy major public support, such as trade unions, the farming sector or the Royal Dutch Touring Club (ANWB). Some...

Getting in touch with MPs

Once every four years the Dutch elect the people who will represent them in the House of Representatives. MPs are there for the people they represent. MPs are active all...

a member of parliament receives two visitors in the central hall of the House of Representatives

Citizens' Initiative

Anyone can put an item on the agenda of the House of representatives by means of a citizens' initiative. A citizens' initiative is a detailed proposal, for instance to improve...

Citizens presenting the amount of signatures they collected for their citizen's initiative in the central hall of the House of Representatives.

A written request

A written request or individual petition relates to an individual case in which the petitioner believes the Central Government has made the wrong decision.

a hand holding a pencil hovering over pieces of paper