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KNM

KNM 7: Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat

Government and the rule of law. This theme is about how the democratic rule of law is organized, which rights the Constitution protects, and how you can take part. Since 2025 it includes women's right to self-determination as a target of its own.

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  • Practice questions

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Study notes

Kingdom and parliament

  • The Netherlands is a kingdom. The King is Willem-Alexander; his role is mostly ceremonial. The government (regering) is the King and the ministers, and the ministers are responsible.
  • Parliament (the Staten-Generaal) has two chambers: the Tweede Kamer with 150 members, elected directly, and the Eerste Kamer with 75, elected by the members of the provincial councils. Both sit for four years.
  • The Tweede Kamer, the Eerste Kamer and the government make laws together. The Tweede Kamer also checks the government.
  • There are many political parties. After elections, parties form a government; the ministers are part of it.
  • The prime minister (minister-president) leads the ministers. In October 2026 that is Rob Jetten.
  • Every year on Prinsjesdag, the third Tuesday of September, the King reads the government's plans in the Troonrede.

Three levels and three powers

  • There are three levels of government: the national government (rijk), the 12 provinces and the municipalities, each with its own tasks. A municipality has a council (gemeenteraad) and is run by the mayor (burgemeester) and aldermen (wethouders).
  • Power is split into the legislative power (making laws), the executive power (carrying them out) and the judicial power (judges). This separation (trias politica) prevents misuse of power.
  • You must accept a judge's ruling, but you can appeal (in hoger beroep gaan).

The European Union

  • The Netherlands is a member of the EU and must follow the rules agreed there.
  • For citizens it means, in principle, free movement of people and goods between member states, the right to live in another member state, and a vote in the European elections.

Voting

  • Active voting right (actief kiesrecht) is the right to vote; passive voting right (passief kiesrecht) is the right to be elected.
  • Dutch citizens of 18 and older vote for the Tweede Kamer.
  • There are elections for the municipal council, the provincial councils, the Tweede Kamer, the European Parliament and the water boards (waterschappen). The European elections are every 5 years, the others every 4.
  • Non-Dutch residents who have lived here more than five years may vote in municipal elections.

Rights in the law

  • Article 1 of the Constitution (Grondwet): everyone in the Netherlands is treated equally in equal cases, and discrimination on grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation or any other ground is not allowed. You can report discrimination to an anti-discrimination service or the police.
  • Women and men are equal before the law and have the same chances, for example in education and work.
  • Women have the right to self-determination: they decide about their own body, life, relationships, work and money.
  • Freedom of speech protects your opinion, but not statements that the law forbids. Some statements in public debate can be hurtful.
  • Freedom of religion: everyone chooses their own religion or beliefs. The laws of the state stand above those of religion and tradition, and the state does not interfere in religious groups as long as they keep to the law.
  • Privacy is protected. Share only the personal data an organization needs, and you may always see and correct the data you shared.
  • The law protects your body. All unwanted intimacy and violence is punishable: domestic violence, honor-related violence, hitting children, female circumcision, violence on the street.
  • Organ donation: after death everyone is a donor unless they register that they do not want to be, or only partly.

Words to know

Dutch terms in this theme
DutchEnglish
de Koningthe King
de regeringthe government
de Tweede KamerHouse of Representatives
de Eerste KamerSenate
de minister-presidentprime minister
de gemeenteraadmunicipal council
de burgemeestermayor
de rechterjudge
het kiesrechtright to vote
de Grondwetthe Constitution
het zelfbeschikkingsrechtright to self-determination

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Official sources

Rules and amounts change: your letter from DUO and Mijn Inburgering always win.

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