Recording Guidelines for journalists

As part of the right to free newsgathering, accredited journalists are permitted to make sound and image recordings on the premises of the House of Representatives, provided that these recordings relate to parliamentary reporting or to explaining parliamentary and political events. In these guidelines, the term “recordings” includes all forms of sound and/or image recording.

These Recording Guidelines for Journalists (hereinafter: the guidelines on recording) uphold the principle of free newsgathering while ensuring that representatives of the people and civil servants can carry out their duties properly.

Adopted by the Presidium

The guidelines on recording were adopted on 14 November 2018 by the Presidium of the House of Representatives, pursuant to its authority under Section 15.5 of the Rules of Procedure. In any cases not covered by the guidelines on recording, the Presidium shall decide on the procedure to be followed.

Amendements

On 11 March 2020, 24 February 2021, and 27 November 2024, the Presidium adopted several additions and amendments to these guidelines (7.4) (3.8) (5.1). Due to the relocation to the temporary housing B67, some locations were withdrawn and others were added (2.1). As of 21 March 2022, camera operators and photographers have been permitted to make recordings from the public gallery (2.1). On 27 November 2024, the guidelines were further updated following the move to temporary building B67, (2.1) (3.5), amendments were made with regard to recording in the Plenary Hall (3.3, the use of silent cameras) (3.10, the use of tripods) (3.11, commemorations) (4.3, the use of devices) and article (7.1, addressing people with a switched-on camera) was amended.

1. General

1.1 Recording on the premises of the House of Representatives is permitted only if the recordings are intended for parliamentary and political reporting, for the explanation of parliamentary and political events, or for coverage of activities or events in the House of Representatives.

1.2 Staged situations are not permitted.

1.3 It is prohibited to make recordings of documents, telephones, tablet or laptop computers etc. belonging to MPs, members of the cabinet, staff members of parliamentary groups, civil servants and other people present in the room, in such a way that the information displayed on these devices is readable.

1.4 Any deviation from these guidelines requires permission from the Communications Department.

1.5 When making recordings, the accreditation provided by the Communications Department must be worn visibly at all times.

1.6 Instructions from officials of the House of Representatives must be followed at all times. The House of Representatives reserves the right to change or withdraw recording privileges at any time.

2. Areas where recordings are not permitted

2.1. Recording is not permitted in/on/from:

the Cabinet section in the Plenary Hall (vak K);
the ministers’ room and the government officials’ room;
the vicinity of the ministers’ room and the government officials’ room;
the President’s wing;
the Members’ restaurant (Ledenrestaurant);
the Statenrestaurant;
the Statenlokaal;
the coffee corners on the first and third floor;
the offices of the staff members of the House of Representatives;
the offices of the parliamentary groups, unless permission is granted by MPs/representatives of parliamentary groups;
areas where security officers operate and where security equipment is installed;
the lobby area (the semi-circular corridor behind the Plenary Hall), with the exception of taking photographs only, provided that all persons visible in the photo have granted their permission prior to publication;
the hallway between the Members’s restaurant and the Plenary Hall;
all technical rooms of the House of Representatives;
journalists’ workrooms (except with permission from the editors) and the corridors leading to them.

2.2 Recording people present in the rooms listed in 2.1 from corridors or other vantage points is also prohibited. The same restriction applies to rooms in which closed (committee) meetings are in progress.

3. Recordings in the Plenary Hall during parliamentary sittings

3.1 Recordings are permitted in the Plenary Hall, providing that: (1) recordings are made by accredited photographers/camera operators; and (2) the recordings do not disrupt parliamentary proceedings.
The number of visual media representatives present during a sitting may be limited at the discretion of House staff.

3.2 Recording from the public gallery is permitted from certain vantage points, provided that the public’s view is not obstructed.

3.3 All recordings must be made as inconspicuously as possible. Only silent photo cameras are allowed. Camera operators or photographers must leave the Plenary Hall or the lobby area immediately if not actively recording.

3.4 When making recordings in the Plenary Hall, photographers and camera operators must remain out of sight and earshot of the President of the House of Representatives, MPs, members of the cabinet and clerks.

3.5 When making recordings in the Plenary Hall, photographers and camera operators are not permitted between the MPs’ seats, behind or between the government benches, behind the President’s chair or in the section for the Parliamentary Reporting Department.

3.6 Recording the desks in the hall is not permitted.

3.7 Recordings from the lobby corridor directed at the hall are permitted.

3.8 Use of flash equipment and/or additional lighting is not permitted.

3.9 Audio recording is not permitted. Microphones (including wireless microphones, directional and boom microphones) are not allowed in the hall. Built-in camera microphones must be switched off in the Plenary Hall, including at the beginning of a sitting, during suspensions, and at the end of a meeting or debate.

3.10 Tripods are not permitted in the Plenary Hall or the lobby area.

3.11 Recording is not permitted in the Plenary Hall during votes and during commemorations. Recordings directed at the hall are permitted from the lobby corridors.

3.12 When the President of the House of Representatives announces that the current sitting will continue as a closed (in camera) session, all journalists present must immediately switch off their recording equipment and leave the hall.

3.13 Reporters are not allowed in the Plenary Hall during sittings. With permission from the Communications Department, reporters may record pieces to camera during long suspensions.

4. Recording in the Plenary Hall outside sitting hours

4.1 Recording in the Plenary Hall outside sitting hours is allowed only with permission from the Communications Department.

4.2 Once the permission referred to in Article 4.1 has been granted, recordings and interviews may only involve MPs and/or members of the cabinet. It is prohibited to seat oneself in the President’s chair during these recordings/interviews.

4.3 Placing devices in the Plenary Hall for the purpose of making recordings there, after the permission referred to in Article 4.1 has been granted, is not permitted.

5. Recordings in committee rooms during public meetings

5.1 Recording during public meetings in the committee rooms is only permitted from fixed positions indicated by staff members of the House of Representatives. Audio recordings in committee meeting rooms are not permitted before or after meetings or during suspensions.

5.2 Where applicable, the same rules as mentioned under 3 shall apply, unless otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting.

5.3 Different guidelines on recording may apply for meetings of committees of inquiry.

6. Recordings in committee rooms outside meetings

6.1 When no meetings are in progress, recordings may only be made with the permission of the Communications Department.

6.2 Once the permission referred to in Article 6.1 has been granted, recordings and interviews in the committee rooms must involve MPs and/or members of the cabinet.

7. Other recordings

7.1 It is not permitted to address MPs and/or members of the cabinet on the premises of the House of Representatives with a switched-on camera without their permission (with the exception of the provisions of Article 7.2).

7.2 Before and after public meetings of the House (plenary sittings and committee meetings) it is permitted to address participating MPs and/or members of the cabinet, in the vicinity of the meeting rooms with a switched-on camera (doorstep reporting). If MPs and/or members of the cabinet object in advance to recording and/or broadcasting, this must be respected and any images/footage taken may not be published. If MPs and/or members of the cabinet address the media after a sitting, recordingis permitted as part of the right to free newsgathering.

7.3 Interviews and/or recordings are permitted in the corridors around the meeting rooms provided they cause no obstruction.

7.4 Addressing officials of the House of Representatives with a switched-on camera is not permitted. This also applies to people working on the instructions of the House of Representatives, officials from other bodies, parliamentary group staff members and visitors to the House of Representatives.

7.5 Access to spaces used by parliamentary groups (corridors, workrooms etc.) and permission to make recordings there can only be granted by the parliamentary groups (see also Art. 2.1). Journalists are not permitted in the areas around the entrances to the parliamentary group rooms or to make recordings there without the express permission of MPs or the representatives of the parliamentary group.

7.6 Interviews with and/or recordings of guests/visitors being received by parliamentary committees and/or MPs are permitted in the Central Passageway only, or in rooms specifically designated for that purpose by the Communications Department.

7.7 Recordings of candidates standing for election for the House of Representatives, the European Parliament, the municipal council or the provincial council are permitted. These recordings are only permitted in the Central Passageway and, with permission, in the rooms of the parliamentary group.

7.8 Recording events (exhibitions, the presentation of petitions etc.) is permitted in the Central Passageway

7.9 Special guidelines on recording may apply to recording events such as the reception of foreign delegations, lectures, book presentations etc.

8. Commemorations

8.1 During the moment of silence observed at commemorations, no movement or noise-producing activity is permitted.

9. Observance and enforcement

9.1 These guidelines were issued by the Presidium, pursuant to its authority under Section 15.5 of the Rules of Procedure. Implementation is the responsibility of the Messengers Department, the Security Department and the Communications Department.

9.2 Failure to observe these guidelines may result in sanctions.

9.3 In the event of disputes, parties may refer the matter to the Secretary-General, who will report on the matter to the Presidium.

9.4 In cases not covered by the guidelines, the Presidium shall determine the appropriate procedure.