List of political parties in the Netherlands
This article lists political parties in the Netherlands, which has a multi-party system with numerous political parties, in which any one party has little chance of gaining power alone, and 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.
No party has won a majority of seats since the election of 1894, and no party has even approached the seats needed for a majority since the current proportional representation system was implemented in 1918. All Dutch 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, and all parties must adjust their goals to some extent in order to have a realistic chance at being part of the government.
General overview
- The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal party. As a centre-right movement, it attaches great importance to private enterprise, economic liberalism and the freedom of the individual in political, social, and economic affairs. The party is generally supportive of European economic integration, but is less supportive of political integration. The party's leader is Mark Rutte. VVD is a member of the Liberal International and Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party.
- The Labour Party, a social democratic party, and centre-left in orientation. Its program is based on more social, political, and economic equality for all citizens. Former PvdA-prime minister Joop den Uyl has called it an "equal distribution of knowledge, income and power." In recent years the PvdA has espoused a centrist Third Way programme. The PvdA is generally supportive of European integration. Although called the Labour Party, it has no formal links to the trade unions. In practice, however, strong links exist, with PvdA politicians often beginning their careers in the FNV trade union. The party is led by Lodewijk Asscher. The PvdA was a member of the Socialist International until it delisted in 2014.
- The Party for Freedom is a right-wing populist and national-liberal party. It was founded by Geert Wilders, who split from the VVD in 2004. The PVV seeks to lower taxation. It is Eurosceptical and seeks to limit immigration, especially from Islamic and non-Western countries.
- The Christian Democratic Appeal is a Christian democratic party on the centre to centre-right. It supports free enterprise and holds to the principle that government activity should supplement but not supplant communal action by citizens. On the political spectrum, the CDA sees its philosophy as standing between the "individualism" of the VVD and the "statism" of the Labour Party. The CDA favours European economic, cultural, and political integration. The party is led by Sybrand van Haersma Buma. The CDA is a member of the Centrist Democrat International.
- The Socialist Party is a left-wing populist party. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was a Maoist party supported by the People's Republic of China. But in 1991 the SP dropped its Communist course, and chose a more independent and less radical democratic socialist course, having long since denounced Maoism and the PRC. The party itself has called it a move "from socialism to a social-ism." The party opposes what it sees as the European Superstate. The SP operates as an independent party within the European United Left–Nordic Green Left in the European Parliament. Lilian Marijnissen is the leader of the SP.
- GreenLeft combines green politics with left-wing ideals. The party was founded in 1989 as a merger of the Radical, Pacifist, Communist, and Evangelical Left parties. It is led by Jesse Klaver. GreenLeft is a member of the Global Greens.
- The Christian Union is a socially conservative Christian democratic party, which mostly concentrates on ethical issues, such as a resistance against abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage. In other areas, the party often is closer to the left-wing parties. It is sceptical about European integration. The CU operates within the European Conservatives and Reformists group within the European Parliament and is a founding member of the European Christian Political Movement. Gert-Jan Segers leads the party.
- Democrats 66 has had widely fluctuating electoral fortunes since the party's founding in 1966. It is a centrist social liberal party, professing a pro-European platform of ethnic and religious tolerance. Rob Jetten leads the party. D66 is a member of the Liberal International.
- Party for the Animals is an animal rights party, which can be labeled as a one issue-party, though it claims not to be. The focus of the party is on animal welfare, protecting the environment and conservation. The party also has distinctive points of view about education, privacy, health care and the economy. Its founder is Marianne Thieme. Its current leader is Esther Ouwehand.
- The Reformed Political Party is a party of the Christian right, with stronger ethical points of view than the ChristianUnion. Although a small party on a national level, it is an important political power in some orthodox reformed municipalities. The party sees governments as unconditional servants of God. The party bases all of its views directly on the Bible. The party opposes European integration and operates within the European Conservatives and Reformists group and is a member of the European Christian Political Movement. Kees van der Staaij leads the SGP.
- 50Plus is a Pensioners' Party. It was led by Henk Krol who left the party in May 2020 due to internal quarrel. He then started the Party for the Future.
- Denk, a small political party mainly focusing on and promoting multiculturalism and social integration. The party also supports environmentalism and international justice. Tunahan Kuzu founded the party after splitting from the PvdA in 2014.
- Forum for Democracy, a right-wing, national conservative party. In favour of lower taxes, military investment and expansion, electoral reform, offering a referendum on European Union membership, reinstating border controls and ending what it perceives as mass immigration. The party was founded and is led by Thierry Baudet.
- The Independent Senate Group is a parliamentary party in the Dutch Senate with one senator, representing several provincial parties.
Parliamentary parties
Other national parties
Regional parties
Locally represented parties
Defunct parties
- Algemeen Ouderen Verbond
- Algemeene Bond van RK-kiesverenigingen
- Alliantie voor Vernieuwing en Democratie
- Artikel 50
- Algemeene Nederlandsche Fascisten Bond
- Anti-Revolutionaire Partij
- Arab European League
- Arbeiderspartij van Nederland
- Boerenpartij
- Bond Christen Socialisten
- Bond van Nederlandse Marxisten-Leninisten
- Bond van Vrije Liberalen
- Brabant Party
- Continue Directe Democratie Partij
- Centrumdemocraten
- Centrumpartij
- Centrumpartij '86
- Christen Democratische Partij
- Christelijk-Democratische Unie
- Christelijk-Historische Unie
- Christelijk Sociale Party
- Christelijk-Historische Kiezersbond
- 'Christelijk-Historische Partij
- Christian Organisation of Self-employed Persons
- Communistische Partij Nederland
- deConservatieven
- Democratisch Socialisten '70
- Duurzaam Nederland
- Economische Bond
- Europa Transparant
- Evangelische Volkspartij
- Fatherland League
- Friesche Bond
- Hervormd Gereformeerde Staatspartij
- Independent Socialist Party
- Islamitische Partij Nederland
- Katholieke Nationale Partij
- Katholieke Volkspartij
- Kommunistische Arbeidersorganisatie
- Kommunistische Eenheidsbeweging Nederland