List of political parties in the Netherlands

This article lists political parties in the Netherlands. The country has a multi-party system with numerous political parties, in which any one party has little chance of gaining power alone; parties often work with each other to form coalition governments.

The lower house of the legislature, the House of Representatives, is elected by a national party-list system of proportional representation. There is no threshold for getting a seat, making it possible for a party to get a seat with only two-thirds percent of the vote—roughly one seat for every 67,000 votes.

The first national political party was the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), founded in 1879.[1]

No party has won (close to) a majority of seats since the introduction of proportional representation in 1918.[2] All governments since then have been coalitions between two or more parties. However, there is a broad consensus on the basic principles of the political system, with all parties having to adjust their goals to some extent in order to have a realistic chance at being part of the government.

National political parties

[edit]

Parties represented in the States General and/or European Parliament

[edit]
Political party Main ideology Position Leader Affiliation Seats Ref.
Eur. EP group Intl. Senators House reps. MEPs
PvdA Labour Party
Partij van de Arbeid
Social democracy Centre-left Frans Timmermans[3] PES S&D PA
14 / 75
25 / 150
4 / 31
[4][5]
GL GreenLeft
GroenLinks
Green politics Centre-left Frans Timmermans[3] EGP Greens–EFA GG
4 / 31
[5]
PVV Party for Freedom
Partij voor de Vrijheid
Right-wing populism Right-wing to far-right Geert Wilders ID PfE
4 / 75
37 / 150
6 / 31
[6][7][8][9]
VVD People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie
Conservative liberalism Centre-right Dilan Yeşilgöz ALDE Renew LI
10 / 75
24 / 150
4 / 31
[10][11][12]
BBB Farmer–Citizen Movement
BoerBurgerBeweging
Agrarianism Right-wing Caroline van der Plas EPP
16 / 75
7 / 150
2 / 31
NSC New Social Contract
Nieuw Sociaal Contract
Christian democracy Centre-right Pieter Omtzigt EPP
0 / 75
20 / 150
1 / 31
D66 Democrats 66
Democraten 66
Social liberalism Centre Rob Jetten ALDE Renew LI
5 / 75
9 / 150
3 / 31
[11][10]
CDA Christian Democratic Appeal
Christen-Democratisch Appèl
Christian democracy Centre-right Henri Bontenbal EPP EPP CDI
6 / 75
5 / 150
3 / 31
[13][14][15][16]
SP Socialist Party
Socialistische Partij
Democratic socialism Left-wing Jimmy Dijk
3 / 75
5 / 150
0 / 31
[17][18][19][20]
PvdD Party for the Animals
Partij voor de Dieren
Animal welfare Left-wing Esther Ouwehand APEU GUE–NGL
3 / 75
3 / 150
1 / 31
[21]
CU Christian Union
ChristenUnie
Christian democracy Centre Mirjam Bikker ECPM
3 / 75
3 / 150
0 / 31
[4][5][22][23]
FvD Forum for Democracy
Forum voor Democratie
National conservatism Far-right Thierry Baudet ESN
2 / 75
3 / 150
0 / 31
[24][25][26]
SGP Reformed Political Party
Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij
Christian right Right-wing Chris Stoffer ECPM ECR
2 / 75
3 / 150
1 / 31
[4][5][27]
JA21 Right Answer 2021
Juiste Antwoord 2021
Conservative liberalism Right-wing Joost Eerdmans ECR ECR
3 / 75
1 / 150
0 / 31
Volt Volt Netherlands
Volt Nederland
European federalism Centre Laurens Dassen Volt Greens–EFA
2 / 75
2 / 150
2 / 31
[28]
DENK DENK Minority interests Centre-left Stephan van Baarle
0 / 75
3 / 150
0 / 31
[29][30]
50+ 50PLUS Pensioners' interests Centre Gerard van Hooft EDP
1 / 75
0 / 150
0 / 31
[4][11][10][21]
OPNL Independent Politics Netherlands
Onafhankelijke Politiek Nederland
Regionalism Auke van der Goot EFA
1 / 75
0 / 150
0 / 31

Parties without representation in the States General and/or European Parliament

[edit]
Party Main ideology Position Leader Affiliation Ref.
European International
BIJ1 BIJ1
Anti-capitalism Left-wing to far-left Edson Olf
CO Code Orange
Code Oranje
Direct democracy Syncretic Bert Blase
NVU Dutch People's Union
Nederlandse Volks-Unie
Ethnic nationalism Far-right Constant Kusters
OPA Elderly Politically Active
Ouderen Politiek Actief
Pensioners' interests Single-issue politics Vacant
GOUD GOUD
Pensioners' interests Centre Vacant
HVV Heart for Freedom
Hart voor Vrijheid
Antivax Syncretic Vacant
LHK Henk Krol List
Lijst Henk Krol
Progressive conservatism Centre-right Vacant
BVNL Interest of the Netherlands
Belang van Nederland
Classical liberalism Right-wing Wybren van Haga
JL Jesus Lives
Jezus Leeft
Evangelism Right-wing Florens van der Spek
LEF LEF - For the New Generation
LEF - Voor de Nieuwe Generatie
Youth politics Daniël van Duijn
LibDem Liberal Democratic Party
Liberaal Democratische Partij
Social liberalism Centre Sammy van Tuyll
LP Libertarian Party
Libertaire Partij
Right-libertarianism Right-wing Tom van Lamoen EPIL LI [31]
MDD More Direct Democracy
Meer Directe Democratie
Direct democracy Centre-right Dorien Rookmaker EAFD
NCPN New Communist Party of the Netherlands
Nieuwe Communistische Partij van Nederland
Marxism–Leninism Far-left Rinze Visser IMCWP
NLB NLBeter Public sector interests Centre Esther van Fenema
NLPlan Netherlands with a Plan
Nederland met een PLAN
Participatory democracy Centre Kok Kuen Chan
PSP Pacifist Socialist Party '92
Pacifistisch Socialistische Partij '92
Pacifist socialism Left-wing Vacant
PvdR Party for the Republic
Partij voor de Republiek
Republicanism Centre Bruno Braakhuis
PvdS Party for Sports
PartijvdSport
Health promotion Centre Annemarie van Duivenboden
PDNM Party The New Human
Partij De Nieuwe Mens
Spiritual left Centre-left Niraï Melis &
Raishrie Gajadin
[32]
PPNL Pirate Party
Piratenpartij
Pirate politics Syncretic Mark van Treuren[33] PPEU PPI [34]
PPvB Political Party for Basic Income
Politieke Partij voor Basisinkomen
Universal basic income Single-issue politics Sepp Hannen
TON Proud of the Netherlands
Trots op Nederland
Conservative liberalism Right-wing Sander van den Raadt
SPL Splinter Secularism Femke Merel van Kooten
DG The Greens
De Groenen
Green politics Centre-left Mark van Treuren[33]
DFP The Party Party
De Feestpartij
Joke Party Syncretic Johan Vlemmix
SvN Together for the Netherlands
Samen voor Nederland
Right-wing populism Far-right Michel Reijinga
UCF Ubuntu Connected Front Ubuntuism Centre-left Regillio Vaarnold
VCP United Communist Party
Verenigde Communistische Partij
Communism Far-left Engel Modderman
VDR vandeRegio Regionalism Centre Sent Wierda EFA

Regional and local political parties

[edit]

European Netherlands

[edit]

Regional parties

[edit]
Political party Active in Seats in the
prov. council
European
affiliation
FNP Frisian National Party
Fryske Nasjonale Partij
 Friesland
4 / 43
EFA
GB Groninger Interest
Groninger Belang
 Groningen
3 / 43
LB Local Brabant
Lokaal Brabant
 North Brabant
2 / 55
LL Local Limburg
Lokaal-Limburg
 Limburg
2 / 47
PvhN Party for the North
Partij voor het Noorden
 Groningen
 Friesland
 Drenthe
Groningen:
1 / 43
PvZ Party for Zeeland
Partij voor Zeeland
 Zeeland
2 / 39
PBF Provincial Interest Fryslân [nl]
Provinciaal Belang Fryslân
 Friesland
1 / 43
SLD Strong Local Drenthe
Sterk Lokaal Drenthe
 Drenthe
1 / 43
SLF Strong Local Flevoland
Sterk Lokaal Flevoland
 Flevoland
1 / 41

Local parties

[edit]
Party Main ideology Position
Forza! Forza! Netherlands
Forza! Nederland
Right-wing populism Right-wing
HvDH Heart for The Hague
Hart voor Den Haag/Groep de Mos
Conservative liberalism Right-wing
LR Livable Rotterdam
Leefbaar Rotterdam
Fortuynism Right-wing
VSP United Seniors Party
Verenigde Senioren Partij
Pensioners' interests Single-issue politics

Water board parties

[edit]
Political party Main ideology Position
AWP General Water Board Party
Algemene Waterschapspartij
Apoliticism Syncretic
WN Water Natuurlijk Green politics Centre-left

Defunct political parties

[edit]
History and evolution of all Dutch political parties to ever have had seats in the House of Representatives.
List of parties that have participated in elections for the House or European Parliament since 1918.
Party Ideology Start End Max
vote
share
Ref.
Actie Bouwman 1934 1940 0.57 [35]
General Elderly Alliance
Algemeen Ouderen Verbond (AOV)
1993 3.63
General League of Roman Catholic Electoral Associations
Algemeene Bond van Roomsch-Katholieke Kiesverenigingen
1904 1926 30.03
Article 50
Artikel 50
2012 2015 0.51
General Dutch Fascist League
Algemeene Nederlandsche Fascisten Bond (ANFB)
Fascism 1932 1934
Anti-Revolutionary Party
Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP)
1879 1980 [1]
Workers Party of the Netherlands
Arbeiderspartij van Nederland
Farmers' Party
Boerenpartij
1958 1981 4.77
League of Christian Socialists
Bond Christen-Socialisten
League of Free Liberals
Bond van Vrije Liberalen
1906 1921
Centre Democrats
Centrum Democraten (CD)
1984 2002 2.46
Centre Party
Centrumpartij
1980 1986 0.83
Centre Party '86
Centrumpartij '86
1986 1998 0.40
Christian Democratic Party
Christen-Democratische Partij
Christian Democratic Union
Christelijk-Democratische Unie
1926 1946 2.09
Christian Historical Union
Christelijk-Historische Unie (CHU)
1908 1980
Christian Social Party
Christelijk-Sociale Partij (CSP)
1907 1926
Christian Historical Voters' League
Christelijk Historische Kiezersbond (CHK)
1897 1903
Christian Historical Party
Christelijk Historische Partij
1903 1908
Communist Party of the Netherlands
Communistische Partij Nederland (CPN)
1901 1991 10.56
Democratic Party
Democratische Partij
1921 1932
Democratic Socialists '70
Democratisch Socialisten '70 (DS'70)
1970 1983 5.33
Economic League
Economische Bond (EB)
1917 1921 3.11
Entrepreneurs' Party
OndernemersPartij (OP)
2015 2019 0.12
Europe Transparent
Evangelical People's Party
Evangelische Volkspartij (EVP)
1981 1991 0.69
Fatherland League
Free and Social Netherlands
Frisian League
Friesche Bond
1898 1908
Reformed Political League
Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond (GPV)
1948 2003 1.77
Hervormd Gereformeerde Staatspartij 1921 1946 1.06
Independent Socialist Party
Islam Democrats
Islam Democraten
2005 0.0 [36]
Catholic National Party 2.71
Catholic People's Party 1945 1980 31.88
Communist Workers Organisation (Marxist–Leninist)
Communist Unity Movement of the Netherlands (Marxist–Leninist)
Kommunistiese Eenheidsbeweging Nederland
Communism 1964 1985 0.03
Independent Citizens' Party
Livable Netherlands
Leefbaar Nederland (LN)
1999 2007 1.61
Liberal State Party
Liberale Staatspartij (LSP)
1921 1946 9.26
Liberal Party
Liberale Partij
1922 1925
Liberal Union 1885 1921
Pim Fortuyn List
Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF)
2002 2008 17.00
Ratelband List
Middle Party for City and Country
Middle Class Party
National Socialist Dutch Workers Party
Nationaal-Socialistische Nederlandsche Arbeiderspartij (NSNAP)
National socialism 1931 1941 0.02
National Socialist Movement
Nationaal-Socialistische Beweging (NSB)
Fascism 1931 1945 4.22
Dutch Block
New Middle Party
Neutral Party
New National Party
Nieuwe Nationale Partij (NNP)
1998 2005
New Right
Nieuw Rechts
2003 2007
NIDA
New Ways
Nieuwe Wegen
0.14
Pacifist Socialist Party 1957 1991 3.03
Party of the Future 2021
Party for Neighbourly Love, Freedom and Diversity 2022
Freedom Party
Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV)
1946 1948 6.41
Party for Justice, Action and Progress
Peasants' League
Political Party of Radicals
Politieke Partij Radikalen (PPR)
1968 1990 4.80
Progressive Integration Party
Radical League
Reformatory Political Federation 1975 2003
Roman Catholic Party of the Netherlands 0.92
Roman Catholic State Party 1926 1945 29.64
Social Democratic Workers' Party 1894 1946 23.81
Social Democratic League
Socialist Party
Union 55+
Alliance for the Democratisation of the Army 0.51
League of Communists in the Netherlands
Alliance for National Reconstruction
Verbond voor Nationaal Herstel
1933 1941 0.80
VoorNederland 2014 2017 0.36
Free-minded Party
Free-thinking Democratic League
Vrijzinnig Democratische Bond (VDB)
1901 1946 9.06
Free Anti Revolutionary Party
Vrij-Antirevolutionaire Partij (VAR)
1898 1903
Union of Actualists
Verbond van Actualisten
Actualism 1923 1928 [37]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Anti-Revolutionaire Partij (ARP)". Documentatiecentrum Nederlands politieke partijen (in Dutch). 27 July 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  2. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1412 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  3. ^ a b Lead candidate of the joint list GreenLeft and Labour Party at the 2023 general election.
  4. ^ a b c d Wolfram Nordsieck. "Parties and Elections in Europe". Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d Josep M. Colomer (24 July 2008). Comparative European Politics. Taylor & Francis. p. 221f. ISBN 978-0-203-94609-1. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  6. ^ Pauwels, Teun (2014). Populism in Western Europe: Comparing Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Routledge. pp. 117–118. ISBN 9781317653912.
  7. ^ Merijn Oudenampsen (2013). "Explaining the Swing to the Right: The Dutch Debate on the Rise of Right-Wing Populism". In Ruth Wodak, Majid KhosraviNik, Brigitte Mral. Right-Wing Populism in Europe: Politics and Discourse. A&C Black. p. 191.
  8. ^ Tjitske Akkerman (2015). "Gender and the radical right in Western Europe: a comparative analysis of policy agendas". Patterns of Prejudice. 49 (1–2): 37–60. doi:10.1080/0031322X.2015.1023655. S2CID 144264153.
  9. ^ "Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) — Europe Politique". www.europe-politique.eu. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Andeweg, R. and G. Irwin Politics and Governance in the Netherlands, Basingstoke (Palgrave) p.49
  11. ^ a b c Hans Keman (2008), "The Low Countries: Confrontation and Coalition in Segmented Societies", Comparative European Politics, Taylor & Francis, p. 221, ISBN 9780203946091
  12. ^ Sean Lusk; Nick Birks (2014). Rethinking Public Strategy. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 168. ISBN 978-1-137-37758-6.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "CDA: partij van samenleving en van waarden" (in Dutch). Reformatorisch Dagblad. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  14. ^ Syuzanna Vasilyan (2009). "The integration crisis in the Netherlands: the causes and the new policy measures". In Ditta Dolejšiová; Miguel Angel García López (eds.). European Citizenship in the Process of Construction: Challenges for Citizenship, Citizenship Education and Democratic Practice in Europe. Council of Europe. p. 73. ISBN 978-92-871-6478-0.
  15. ^ Hans Vollaard; Gerrit Voerman; Nelleke van de Walle (2015). "The Netherlands". In Donatella M. Viola (ed.). Routledge Handbook of European Elections. Routledge. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-317-50363-7.
  16. ^ Bremmer, Ian (13 September 2012). "Going Dutch: The Netherlands' election results roll in". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  17. ^ José Magone (3 July 2013). Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction. Routledge. p. 533. ISBN 978-1-136-93397-4.
  18. ^ "European Social Survey 2012 - Appendix 3 (in English)" (PDF). European Science Foundation. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ Watkins, Susan (May–June 2005). "Continental tremors". New Left Review. II (33). New Left Review.
  20. ^ "Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe", published November 2008, retrieved 18 November 2016: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf
  21. ^ a b "Parties and Elections in Europe". Parties-and-elections.eu.
  22. ^ Jort Statema; Paul Aarts. Timo Behr; Teija Tiilikainen (eds.). The Netherlands: Follow Washington, Be a Good European. note on p. 237. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  23. ^ Rudy B. Andeweg; Galen A. Irwin (2014). Governance and Politics of the Netherlands (4th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. p. 74.
  24. ^ "Standpunten" (in Dutch). Forum voor Democratie. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  25. ^ "Forum voor Democratie: Why has the Dutch far right surged?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  26. ^ Tierolf, Bas; Drost, Lisanne; van Kapel, Maaike (December 2018). Zevende rapportage racisme, antisemitisme en extreemrechts geweld in Nederland (PDF) (Report) (in Dutch). Verwey-Jonker Instituut. p. 35. ISBN 978-90-5830-912-9. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Far-right MEPs form group in European Parliament". EurActiv. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  28. ^ Stagni, Federica (6 December 2018). "Time For Change: How Volt Wants To Fix Europe". Italics Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  29. ^ "A Pro-Immigrant Party Rises in the Netherlands". The New York Times. 29 July 2016.
  30. ^ "Ethnic minorities desert Labour, turn to Denk ahead of March vote". Dutch News. 6 February 2017.
  31. ^ "Verkiezingsprogramma 2017 – 2021" (in Dutch). Libertarische Partij. 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  32. ^ "Doelstellingen" (in Dutch). Partij voor Mens en Spirit. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  33. ^ a b Lead candidate of the joint list Pirate Party and The Greens at the 2023 general election.
  34. ^ Piratenpartij (13 April 2010). "Structuur" [Structure] (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  35. ^ "Actie Bouwman" (PDF). Repetorium kleine politieke partijen (in Dutch).
  36. ^ "Islam Democraten/Lijst 21". Documentatiecentrum Nederlandse Politieke Partijen (in Dutch).
  37. ^ "Verbond van Actualisten" (PDF). Repetorium kleine politieke partijen (in Dutch).
[edit]