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

Parties represented in the States General and/or European Parliament

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 [6]	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	[7] [8] [9] [10]
	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	[11] [12] [13]
	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	[12] [11]
	CDA		Christian Democratic Appeal Christen-Democratisch Appèl	Christian democracy	Centre-right	Henri Bontenbal	EPP	EPP	CDI	6 / 75	5 / 150	3 / 31	[14] [15] [16] [17]
	SP		Socialist Party Socialistische Partij	Democratic socialism	Left-wing	Jimmy Dijk	—	—	—	3 / 75	5 / 150	0 / 31	[18] [19] [20] [21]
	PvdD		Party for the Animals Partij voor de Dieren	Animal welfare	Left-wing	Esther Ouwehand	APEU	GUE–NGL	—	3 / 75	3 / 150	1 / 31	[22]
	CU		Christian Union ChristenUnie	Christian democracy	Centre	Mirjam Bikker	ECPM	—	—	3 / 75	3 / 150	0 / 31	[4] [5] [23] [24]
	FvD		Forum for Democracy Forum voor Democratie	National conservatism	Far-right	Thierry Baudet	ESN	—	—	2 / 75	3 / 150	0 / 31	[25] [26] [27]
	SGP		Reformed Political Party Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij	Christian right	Right-wing	Chris Stoffer	ECPM	ECR	—	2 / 75	3 / 150	1 / 31	[4] [5] [28]
	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	[29]
	DENK		DENK	Minority interests	Centre-left	Stephan van Baarle	—	—	—	0 / 75	3 / 150	0 / 31	[30] [31]
	50+		50PLUS	Pensioners' interests	Centre	Gerard van Hooft	EDP	—	—	1 / 75	0 / 150	0 / 31	[4] [12] [11] [22]
	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

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	[32]
	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	—	—	[33]
	PPNL		Pirate Party Piratenpartij	Pirate politics	Syncretic	Mark van Treuren [34]	PPEU	PPI	[35]
	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 [36]	—	—	—
	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

European Netherlands

Regional parties

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

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

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

Caribbean Netherlands

Bonaire

Political party			Main ideology	Position	Leader	Affiliation
						American	Intl.
	PDB	Bonaire Democratic Party Partido Demokrátiko Boneriano	Social democracy	Centre-left	Clark Abraham	—	—
	UPB	Bonaire Patriotic Union Union Patriótiko Boneriano	Christian democracy	Centre	James Kroon	ODCA	CDI
	MPB	Bonaire People's Movement Movementu di Pueblo Boneriano	Christian socialism	Centre	Elvis Tjin Asjoe	—	—
	FSP	Social Progressive Front Frente Sosial Progresivo	Social democracy	Centre-left	Robby Beukenboom	—	—

Saba

Political party			Main ideology	Position	Leader	American affiliation
	SLP	Saba Labour Party	Social democracy	Centre-left	Monique Wilson	—
	WIPM	Windward Islands People's Movement	Christian democracy	Centre	Rolando Wilson	ODCA

Sint Eustatius

Political party			Main ideology	Position	Leader
	DP	Democratic Party	Christian democracy	Centre	Adelka Spanner
	PLP	Progressive Labour Party	Social democracy	Centre-left	Rechelline Leerdam

Defunct political parties

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	[37]
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
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
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
National Alliance
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
League of Communists in the Netherlands
Alliance for National Reconstruction Verbond voor Nationaal Herstel		1933	1941	0.8
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		[38]

See also

• Politics of the Netherlands
• List of ruling political parties by country
• Liberalism in the Netherlands
• Socialism in the Netherlands
• Christian democracy in the Netherlands
• Republicanism in the Netherlands
• Fascism in the Netherlands

References

1. "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. Lead candidate of the joint list GreenLeft and Labour Party at the 2023 general election.
4. Wolfram Nordsieck. "Parties and Elections in Europe" . Retrieved 8 June 2015.
5. Josep M. Colomer (24 July 2008). Comparative European Politics. Taylor & Francis. p. 221f. ISBN   978-0-203-94609-1 . Retrieved 13 July 2013.
6. Lead candidate of the joint list GreenLeft and Labour Party at the 2023 general election.
7. Pauwels, Teun (2014). Populism in Western Europe: Comparing Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Routledge. pp. 117–118. ISBN   9781317653912.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. "Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) — Europe Politique". www.europe-politique.eu. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
11. Andeweg, R. and G. Irwin Politics and Governance in the Netherlands, Basingstoke (Palgrave) p.49
12. Hans Keman (2008), "The Low Countries: Confrontation and Coalition in Segmented Societies", Comparative European Politics, Taylor & Francis, p. 221, ISBN   9780203946091
13. Sean Lusk; Nick Birks (2014). Rethinking Public Strategy. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 168. ISBN   978-1-137-37758-6.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
14. "CDA: partij van samenleving en van waarden" (in Dutch). Reformatorisch Dagblad. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Bremmer, Ian (13 September 2012). "Going Dutch: The Netherlands' election results roll in". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
18. José Magone (3 July 2013). Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction. Routledge. p. 533. ISBN   978-1-136-93397-4.
19. "European Social Survey 2012 - Appendix 3 (in English)" (PDF). European Science Foundation. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
20. Watkins, Susan (May–June 2005). "Continental tremors". New Left Review . II (33). New Left Review.
21. "Contemporary Far Left Parties in Europe", published November 2008, retrieved 18 November 2016: http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id/ipa/05818.pdf
22. "Parties and Elections in Europe". Parties-and-elections.eu.
23. 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)
24. Rudy B. Andeweg; Galen A. Irwin (2014). Governance and Politics of the Netherlands (4th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. p. 74.
25. "Standpunten" (in Dutch). Forum voor Democratie. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
26. "Forum voor Democratie: Why has the Dutch far right surged?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
27. 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.
28. "Far-right MEPs form group in European Parliament". EurActiv. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
29. Stagni, Federica (6 December 2018). "Time For Change: How Volt Wants To Fix Europe". Italics Magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
30. "A Pro-Immigrant Party Rises in the Netherlands". The New York Times. 29 July 2016.
31. "Ethnic minorities desert Labour, turn to Denk ahead of March vote". Dutch News. 6 February 2017.
32. "Verkiezingsprogramma 2017 – 2021" (in Dutch). Libertarische Partij. 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
33. "Doelstellingen" (in Dutch). Partij voor Mens en Spirit. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
34. Lead candidate of the joint list Pirate Party and The Greens at the 2023 general election.
35. Piratenpartij (13 April 2010). "Structuur" [Structure] (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
36. Lead candidate of the joint list Pirate Party and The Greens at the 2023 general election.
37. "Actie Bouwman" (PDF). Repetorium kleine politieke partijen (in Dutch).
38. "Verbond van Actualisten" (PDF). Repetorium kleine politieke partijen (in Dutch).

External links

• Documentation Centre for Dutch Political Parties (DNPP) at University of Groningen