House of Representatives news

Rutte III cabinet sworn in at Noordeinde Palace

On Thursday morning 26 October 2017, the Rutte III cabinet was sworn in by King Willem Alexander at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, followed by the traditional photograph on the steps of the palace. The taking office of the new cabinet also causes changes in the composition of the House of Representatives. On Tuesday 31 October, twelve new MPs will be sworn in: six VVD, three D66, two CDA and one ChristianUnion MPs. The debate about the Government Statement will be held on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 November.
the Rutte III cabinet with King Willem Alexander on the steps of Noordeinde Palace

New cabinet presents Coalition Agreement

On Tuesday, 10 October 2017, VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristianUnion presented the Coalition Agreement entitled 'Confidencein the Future'. Early in the afternoon, the leaders of these four political groups commented on the Coalition Agreement in the Old Plenary Hall, shortly after the presentation by informateur Mr Gerrit Zalm of his final report to the President of the House, Ms Khadija Arib. Earlier that day, the VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristianUnion groups in the House agreed to the final version of the Coalition Agreement. On Thursday, 12 October, the House will hold a debate about the final report of informateur Zalm.
First copy of the coalition agreement

Mr Anne Mulder (VVD) observer at German elections

From Friday 22 September until Monday 25 September Mr Anne Mulder MP (VVD) will act as an observer at the parliamentary elections in Germany. On behalf of the Senate and the House of Representatives Mr Mulder takes part in an observer mission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA).
German Bundestag

Dutch coalition talks resumed

On Wednesday 9 August 2017, the leaders of VVD, CDA, D66 and ChristenUnie have continued their preliminary talks aimed at forming a coalition government in the Netherlands. These talks are presided by Informateur Gerrit Zalm.

The House opens its doors for Heritage Day

Saturday 9th September 2017, the House of Representatvies opens its doors for Heritage Day (Open Monumentendag). Visitors are welcome to see the Old Library and the Chamber of the House.
Old Library (Handelingenkamer)

House of Representatives in summer recess

Thursday, 6 July, was the last sitting day of the House of Representatives before the summer recess. On that last day, the House often sits late into the night, but this year, due to the ongoing Cabinet formation, the House's schedule was less packed than usual in the weeks before the summer recess. The House is in recess up to and including Monday 4 September. The first plenary sitting after the summer will take place on Tuesday, 5 September. In the meantime, the negotiations on the formation of a new Cabinet will continue, except for a short holiday break.
plenary hall

Informateur Tjeenk Willink continues discussions with party leaders

On the afternoon of Tuesday, 6 June 2017, Informateur Herman Tjeenk Willink held discussions with party leaders Mark Rutte (VVD), Sybrand van Haersma Buma (CDA) and Alexander Pechtold (D66) regarding continuing the process of forming a new government. The meeting was held in the Stadholder’s Room in the House of Representatives. Earlier in the day, the Informateur held discussions with Jesse Klaver (GroenLinks) and Gert-Jan Segers (ChristenUnie).
On Tuesday, 30 May, Speaker of the House of Representatives Khadija Arib officially presents Tjeenk Willink with his assignment as Informateur.

House of Representatives reappoints Ms Edith Schippers as informateur

On Wednesday 17 May 2017, the House of Representatives reappointed Edith Schippers as informateur in the Cabinet formation process, in a debate on the foundered negotiations between the parliamentary groups VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks. Schippers was assigned the task to investigate, in the short term, the various possibilities for the formation of a new Cabinet that can rely on a productive co-operation with both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Khadija Arib will inform His Majesty the King on the outcome of the debate.
The chairmans of all political parties discuss the results of the 2017 Elections

Internal EU Council Documents often wrongly undisclosed

The rules for non-disclosure of internal documents of the Council of Ministers of the European Union, including documents concerning new European legislation, are contrary to the Lisbon Treaty. That is what the parliamentary counsel concluded in an advice to the House of Representatives. A strong information position for MPs is one of the spearheads of the House of Representatives, hence the House asked the parliamentary counsel to prepare a legal analysis of public access to internal Council documents. This was done on the basis of the findings of the rapporteur on the provision of EU information, Mr Pieter Omtzigt MP (CDA).

Rapporteurs present recommendations regarding Brexit

Guarantee the rights of Dutch citizens in the United Kingdom and preserve the close trading relationship with the United Kingdom. Those are two of a total of five recommendations in the report delivered by Marit Maij (former Member of Parliament for the PvdA) and Pieter Omtzigt (Member of Parliament for the CDA) on Tuesday 21 March 2017 about the intended exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU).
View of the River Thames and the Houses of Parliament

New House of Representatives

On March 23, the new House of Representatives was sworn in. All 150 MP's took either the oath or the affirmation.
Also prime minister Mark Rutte was sworn in as MP. The old Cabinet has resigned, and the formation of a new Cabinet is under negotiation.

Debate about Europe

National level where possible, European level where necessary. That is the Cabinet's stance on European cooperation. On Thursday 9 february 2017 the House of Representatives had a debate with Foreign Minister Mr Bert Koenders and Prime Minister Mr Mark Rutte about the State of the European Union. Dutch members of the European Parliament also took the floor in this annual debate in the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives.
EU Parliament