• Anyone interested in the Dutch Parliament can attend the public meetings of the House of Representatives. Plenary sittings of the House are held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Committee meetings are scheduled on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. You cannot make an appointment in advance. Question time, the general political and financial debates and thirty members debates generally attract a lot of people.

    You should also note the following:

    • There is a limited number of seats in the public gallery. If the public gallery is packed to capacity, you cannot be sure when a place becomes available.
    • Please be prepared for long waiting times. The scanning procedure at the entrance may cause long waiting lines.
    • The scanning procedure starts half an hour before the beginning of a meeting.
    • Priority is given to groups who participate in the House of Representatives' information programme and to government department officials who support the ministers and state secretaries.

    Attending a plenary sitting is subject to certain rules. For instance, taking photographs from the public gallery is prohibited and people are not allowed to react in word and gesture to what politicians say in the Plenary Hall. You have to observe the house rules. All those present on the premises of the House of Representatives must follow the directions of the Security Department in any case.

     

    top

  • The ProDemos Visitor Centre organises guided tours of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Hall of Knights. The tours focus on the history of Parliament and its buildings. Each tour is preceded by a video presentation. You are recommended to make a reservation in advance. The entrance fee depends on the programme. For more information, visit: ProDemos Visitor Centre guided tours.

    top

  • ProDemos, House for Democracy and the rule of law, offers educational excursions to political The Hague. This programme is free of charge and meant for pupils attending primary school, secondary school or senior secondary vocational education (mbo). The aim of the programme is to allow pupils to gain on-site experience with the political process, democracy and the rule of law. Read more about ProDemos Binnenhof for schools.

    top

  • The following access rules apply to visitors to the House of Representatives:

    • All visitors and guests who are given a day pass to access the secured area must be able to show some ID.
    • All visitors and guests have to walk through a detection gate.
    • All luggage of visitors and guests has to be security checked.
    • All visitors to the public gallery must leave their coats and bags at the cloakroom.
    • All lockers at the public cloakroom(s) will be checked and emptied after the closure of the meeting(s).
    • In the secured area, all visitors and guests, with the exception of government department officials who support the ministers and state secretaries, must be accompanied.
    top

  • Parliamentary documents can be examined at the Central Information Desk of the House of Representatives. You have to make an appointment in advance, by contacting the House of Representatives by telephone +31 (0)70 318 3000. It is not possible to make an appointment on days when the House sits (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

    top

  • On foot:

    • From The Hague Central Station
      It takes approximately 7 minutes to walk from The Hague Central Station. Leave the central hall at the front entrance and turn left onto the Bezuidenhoutseweg. Walk straight ahead (you cross a canal and walk along Herengracht, Korte Poten and Plein). You  will find the main entrance of the House of Representatives across the Plein. Alternatively, you can take the public entrance on Lange Poten. Continue past Plein square. You will find the public entrance after 100 meters on your right hand side.

    By public transport:

    • From The Hague Central Station
      Trams towards the city center leave from the platforms above the central hall. All trams toward the city center (lines 2 and 6, as well as RR 3 and 4) will stop at Spui (in a tram tunnel). 
    • From The Hague Hollands Spoor station
      Take tram 1 (direction Noorderstrand), and get off at the stop City Center. Walk onto the Lange Poten, where you will find the public entrance to the House of Representatives on your left.

    By car:

    There is an underground car park near the House of Representatives which has 560 spaces. The adress is: Plein 25.  

    top