The document summarizes key information about politics and government in the Netherlands. It outlines that the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy located in Western Europe with islands in the Caribbean. Amsterdam is the largest city and capital, though The Hague is the seat of government. It then provides details on the monarchy, current Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher, and the two main political parties, the conservative liberal VVD and the social democratic Labour Party, which are both currently in a ruling coalition government.

1. Politics of the
Netherlands
Created and presented by: Benedict S. Gombocz

2. Netherlands in brief
 Location: Western Europe,
with islands in Caribbean
Sea.
 Official name: Kingdom of
the Netherlands (Koninkrijk
der Nederlanden)
 Capital (and largest city):
Amsterdam*
 Official language: Dutch
 Demonym: Dutch
*Even though Amsterdam is
the constitutional capital of
the Netherlands, The Hague
(Den Haag) is seat of
government.

3. Netherlands’ islands in Caribbean

4. Geography of the Netherlands
 Mainland Netherlands
directly borders North Sea,
Belgium, and Germany; it
also shares maritime borders
with Belgium, Germany and
the United Kingdom.
 Netherlands is geographically
a flat (with exclusion of
foothills in far southeast and
various low-hill ranges in
central parts), low-lying
country, with approximately
25% of its area and 21% of
its population located under
sea level, and 50% of its soil
lying less than one metre
over sea level.

5. Netherlands’ membership in world
organizations
 One of the first nations to have a
parliamentary system.
 Founding member of EU, NATO, OECD
and WTO, and other affiliations.
 Forms Benelux economic union with
Belgium and Luxembourg.
 Home to Organization for Prohibition of
Chemical Weapons and five international
courts: Permanent Court of Arbitration,
International Court of Justice,
International, International Criminal
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia,
International Criminal Court and Special
Tribunal for Lebanon; former four are
headquartered in The Hague, much like
the EU’s criminal intelligence agency
Europol and judicial co-operation agency
Euro just, giving The Hague the
unofficial nickname of “the world’s legal
capital”.

6. Government of the Netherlands
 Government (overheid):
Constitutional monarchy, Unitary
parliamentary representative
democracy
 Monarch: Willem-Alexander
 Prime Minister (Demissionary): Mark
Rutte (VVD)
 Deputy Prime Minister
(Demissionary): Lodewijk Asscher
(PvdA)
 Current coalition (Demissionary):
VVD- PvdA coalition
 Legislature: States-General (Staten-
Generaal)
 Upper house: Senate (Eerste Kamer
der Staten-Generaal)
 Lower house: House of
Representatives (Tweede Kamer der
Staten-Generaal)

7. Parliamentary parties
 People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid
en Democratie, VVD)
 Labour Party (Partij van de Arbeid, PvdA)
 Party for Freedom (Partij voor de Vrijheid, PVV)
 Christian Democratic Appeal (Christen-Democratisch Appèl, CDA)
 Socialist Party (Socialistische Partij, SP)
 Democrats 66 (Democraten 66, D66)
 GreenLeft (GroenLinks, GL)
 ChristianUnion (ChristenUnie, CU)
 Reformed Political Party (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij, SGP)
 Party for Animals (Partij voor de Dieren, PvdD)
 50Plus (50+)
 Independents Senate Fraction (Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie, OSF)

8. States-General of the Netherlands
 Bicameral legislature of the
Netherlands, comprising Senate and
House of Representatives.
 The parliament meets at Binnenhof in
The Hague.
 Old-fashioned Dutch word staten
originally related to feudal classes
(“estates”) where medieval European
societies were arranged (clergy,
nobility, and commons).
 As in the United Kingdom, the
meaning of the Commons broadened
from only the social class, to
assembly where those were
represented; in Dutch, staten
became to refer to political body
where respective classes were (to an
extent) combined.
 Dutch explorers named distinct
places Staten Island, a name that
originates from name of parliament.

9. Willem-Alexander
 Reigning King of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
 Head of the Dutch royal house and the House of
Amsberg; when he assumed the throne, became the
Netherlands’ first male monarch since his grandfather
William III’s death in 1890.
 Born 27 April 1967 in Utrecht; oldest child of Beatrix
and German diplomat Claus von Amsberg.
 Became Prince of Orange and heir apparent to the
throne of the Netherlands on 30 April 1980, when his
mother became queen regnant; took the throne on 30
April 2013 upon his mother’s abdication, and, at 46,
was Europe’s youngest monarch when he assumed the
throne.
 Attended both primary and secondary schools, served
in the Royal Netherlands Navy, and majored in History
at Leiden University.
 Married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002; they have
three daughters Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange
(born 2003), Princess Alexia (born 2005), and Princess
Ariane (born 2007).
 Has an interest in sports and global water management
issues.
 Was a member of the International Olympic Committee
from 1998-2013; also served as chairman of the
Advisory Committee on Water to the Dutch Minister of
Infrastructure and the Environment (2004-2013), and
chairman of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations’ Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
(2006-2013).

10. Mark Rutte
 Member of People’s Party for Freedom and
Democracy (VVD) and current PM of the
Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs, as head
of cabinet since 14 October 2010; leader of VVD
since 31 May 2006.
 Born 14 February 1967 in The Hague.
 Was previously State Secretary for Social Affairs and
Employment from 22 July 2002-17 June 2004 in
Cabinets Balkenende I and II; afterwards he was
State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science
from 17 June 2004 until he resigned on 27 June
2006, when he was elected to succeed Jozias van
Aartsen as new VVD leader.
 Member of House of Representatives from 30
January 2003-27 May 2003 and 28 June 2006-14
October 2010.
 Leader of People’s Party for Freedom and
Democracy in House of Representatives (29 June
2006-14 October 2010).
 People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy under
Rutte lost six seats in 2006 general election, making
him opposition leader, serving during Cabinet
Balkenende IV.
 Following the end of Cabinet Balkenende IV, snap
election was called, making Rutte VVD’s Lijsttrekker
(top party list candidate) a second time for 2010
general election; VVD had greatest number of votes
cast, winning the party 31 of 150 seats in House of
Representatives.
 Became PM after lengthy formation period and
formed cabinet; became first liberal Dutch PM in 92
years when he assumed office on 14 October 2010.

11. Lodewijk Asscher
 Member of Labour Party (PvdA).
 Born 27 September 1974 in Amsterdam.
 Current Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and Deputy PM
in Cabinet Rutte II since 5 November 2012; was alderman of
Finances from 7 July 2010.
 Previously served as Acting Mayor of Amsterdam between 12
March 2010 and 7 July 2010 after Job Cohen resigned as mayor
to become Labour Party leader and lijsttrekker (top candidate) for
2010 general election.
 Born to mixed religious family; his father is of Jewish descent
while his mother is Roman Catholic.
 His father is an affiliate of People’s Party for Freedom and
Democracy; his mother is a member of Labour Party.
 Entered city council following 2002 municipal elections; partook
in commission on General Affairs, in addition to his role as
Labour Party parliamentary leader in Amsterdam city council.
 Taught Law at University of Amsterdam until 1 January 2006.
 Supported eventual disappearance of De Wallen (red-light
district) in his book New Amsterdam, but withdrew that
statement shortly after that book was released, saying he was
not opposed to prostitution, but opposed to sexual slavery.
 Led Labour Party’s campaign after 2006 municipal elections and
was installed as alderman on 26 April, serving as alderman of
Economics, Airport and Harbour, and Deputy Mayor of
Amsterdam for Labour Party from 2006-2010.
 Has been married to Jildau Piena since 15 July 2007, and they
have three sons.

12. People’s Party for Freedom and
Democracy
 Conservative-liberal party.
 Founded 24 January 1948.
 Advocates private enterprise in the
Netherlands; is often understood as
economic liberal party, as opposed to
social-liberal Democrats 66 (D66), along
which it sits in European Parliament.
 Second biggest opposition party in House of
Representatives after formation of fourth
Balkenende cabinet.
 Acquired biggest number of votes cast
during 2010 general election; subsequently
gained 31 of 150 seats in House of
Representatives.
 Currently senior party in centre-right
minority coalition with Christian Democratic
Appeal (CDA) and Rutte cabinet, backed by
Party for Freedom (PVV) to win majority.
 Current PM Mark Rutte is VVD’s leader
since 31 May 2006.

13. Labour Party
 Social-democratic political party.
 Second biggest political party in
the Netherlands since 2003
general election.
 Was a coalition participant in
fourth Balkenende cabinet after 22
February 2007.
 Pulled out of government on 20
February 2010 after disputes
concerning the Netherlands’ role in
Afghanistan, leading to 2010
general election.
 Is in coalition with conservative-
liberal VVD in second Rutte cabinet
since 5 November 2012, when
Lodewijk Asscher assumed office
of PM.

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