House of Representatives news

House of Representatives to increase number of debates

The Dutch House of Representatives will increase the number of physical debates in the coming weeks. The House will continue to scrutinise the work of Government with due regard for the health and safety of everyone working in the House. President of the House Khadija Arib writes this in a letter to Members of Parliament, on behalf of the Presidium. During the coming recess, the House will continue to hold debates on the coronavirus.

House of Representatives: steps to preserve the operation of the parliamentary process

On Sunday March 15, the President of the House of Representatives, ms Khadija Arib, announced new steps in parliament to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. The parliamentary process will continue, but the number of physical debates will be reduced. Only debates that are of the utmost importance will continue to be held in the plenary hall; this goes for all debates concerning the coronavirus. The only plenary session during week 12 will be on Wednesday 18 March, when there will be a debate on the current government strategy to fight the coronavirus.

Wartime Netherlands captured on camera

At the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen on January 30 2020, Khadija Arib, President of the House of Representatives, joined other members of the judging panel to view numerous photographs of the Netherlands during wartime. The photographs are part of the exhibition entitled World War II in a hundred photographs (De Tweede Wereldoorlog in honderd foto's) that will be on display in the House of Representatives from 30 March onwards. The photographs, 25 for each Dutch province, originate from professional photographers and private collections.

'The public know how to have their say in The Hague’

In 2019, the Dutch House of Representatives featured at the very heart of public debate. According to President of the House of Representatives, ms. Khadija Arib, in her traditional pre-Christmas address, this was made even clearer by the numerous civil protests that were held. She cited the debate about the childcare allowance as one of those that had the greatest impact in the last year.

House of Representatives appoints integrity adviser for MPs

The Presidium of the House of Representatives has appointed Jacqueline Biesheuvel-Vermeijden as the independent integrity adviser for MPs. They can approach her for advice on the interpretation and application of the rules governing integrity.

Transparency rapporteurs Omtzigt and Leijten visit Venice Commission

On Thursday 10 October 2019, the Transparency Rapporteurs from the Dutch House of Representatives, Pieter Omtzigt (CDA) and Renske Leijten (SP), paid a working visit to the European Commission for Democracy through Law (also known as the Venice Commission) of the Council of Europe.

Emergency provisions in parliamentary constitutional law under scrutiny

At the request of the Presidium, a working group consisting of MPs Mr Joost Sneller (D66, chair), Mr Jeroen van Wijngaarden (VVD) and Ms Anne Kuik (CDA) has scrutinized the continuation of the people's representation in case of an extreme emergency. The working group has examined which legal and statutory provisions are in place in case of an emergency, to make sure that the House can carry on with its business, thus guaranteeing the democratic legitimation of the national government. The working group recently published its findings.

Proposal from Dutch rapporteurs adopted in Helsinki

At the proposal of Ms Agnes Mulder (CDA) and Mr Matthijs Sienot (D66), the Inter-parliamentary Conference on Climate Change in Helsinki was concluded with an appeal for the European Commission and the European Council to set the long-term goal that the EU should be climate-neutral by 2050. The European Commission and the European Council were also called upon to increase the current EU's 2030 reduction targets.

Programmers assist members of the House of Representatives

Dozens of programmers and data analysts 'took over' the Central Passageway of the House of Representatives on Friday, 4 October 2019. During this third edition of the Accountability Hack, they came up with open data solutions to assist members of the House in addressing issues pertaining to education funding and medicine prices.

Festival year '100 years of universal suffrage' concluded

The year in which the Netherlands celebrated 100 years of universal suffrage for men and women was concluded in a festive way in the House of Representatives. To mark the occasion, an investigation report into the lives of Suze Groeneweg and Carry Pothuis-Smit, the first two women ever to become members of parliament in the Netherlands, was presented to the President of the House, Ms Khadija Arib, and the President of the Senate, Mr Jan Anthonie Bruijn.

Battle of Arnhem commemorated

The Battle of Arnhem was commemorated on Friday evening, 20 September 2019, at the Airborne Monument in Arnhem. The President of the House of Representatives, Ms Khadija Arib, laid a wreath on behalf of the States General.

House debates Budget Memorandum

On Thursday, 19 September 2019, the House of Representatives concluded its annual General Political Debate on the Budget Memorandum. Two days earlier, on Prince's Day, the President of the House Ms Khadija Arib had received the documents, traditionally presented to her by the minister of Finance in the Prince's Day briefcase. On 19 September 2019, Prime Minister Rutte replied to the contributions made by the leaders of the parliamentary groups the day before.

General debates 2019

Commemoration ceremony of the evacuation of Camp Vught

The evacuation of SS concentration camp Vught, now 75 years ago, was commemorated on Sunday, 8 September 2019, with a silent march, speeches and the laying of wreaths. The President of the House, Ms Khadija Arib, shared a few reflections with the participants in the commemoration in Vught.

100 Students scrutinise government policy

On Tuesday, 20 May 2019, 100 students from colleges of further education all over the Netherlands came to the House of Representatives today for the annual V-100. This is a citizens’ panel which sits once a year to scrutinise the accountability documents issued by the various ministries in The Hague and to formulate critical questions about government policy. This is the third time that the House has organised a V-100 session.