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Location: Netherlands
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure an effective and timely response to all forms of digital and online threats and further strengthen electoral integrity, consideration could be given to establishing a clear legal and institutional framework for monitoring the digital environment, including the definition of mandates, co-ordination arrangements among relevant bodies, and transparency safeguards governing response mechanisms.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Social media platforms should enhance accountability by providing timely responses to violations of platform policies and ensuring transparency regarding any election-specific mitigation measures, content moderation decisions, and responses to such violations.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To safeguard objective and neutral supervision over political finance, consideration should be given to setting up an independent oversight body.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance transparency in the sources of campaign financing, consideration should be given to prohibiting anonymous donations.
Recommendation # in final report:
14
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance the transparency of campaign finance, consideration should be given to lower the public disclosure threshold for donations. In addition, the law could be reviewed to require the submission and publication of post-election reports accompanied by all supporting materials.
Recommendation # in final report:
15
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
To ensure accountability, all campaign contributions should be registered, including donations in-kind. Consideration should be given to regulating donations from foreign donors and to introducing reasonable limits on donations.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Mostly
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
The supervision of political finance should be entrusted to an oversight body independent from the government, with powers clearly defined in the law.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
In order to increase the transparency of campaign funding, the law could be reviewed to lower the public disclosure threshold on donations and require the disclosure of donations received up until the election day. Consideration should be given to introducing a post-electoral reporting requirement, covering all campaign contributions and expenditures.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
The new PPA should clearly define the appointment process for members of the Dutch Authority for Political Parties to help ensure the independence and impartiality of its oversight role. The Authority’s mandate, resources, staffing, and enforcement powers, including investigative and sanctioning powers, should be clearly established in law to enable it to effectively carry out its functions.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
To prevent circumvention of donation limits and bans, consideration could be given to applying donation limits to local political parties and local branches of national parties, and to introducing additional safeguards to ensure that corporate contributions originate from national sources.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to introducing expenditure limits for electoral campaigns to prevent excessive funding requirements for contestants.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
To enhance campaign finance transparency and enable a comprehensive review of campaign financial transactions, all contesting parties could be required to open a dedicated bank account for campaign purposes and provide post-election reporting of campaign expenditures
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Campaign Finance
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Campaign Finance
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
All political groups should be permitted to nominate the same maximum number of candidates on their lists.
Recommendation # in final report:
11
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Electoral System
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The deadlines and resources of the Electoral Council for reviewing the candidate lists should be expanded to avoid possible inaccuracies and mistakes in the candidate registration process.
Recommendation # in final report:
12
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Building upon the existing good practice of some political parties, consideration could be given to introducing special measures in the legal framework to promote women candidates, in line with international standards. This could include a minimum number of candidates from each gender on all candidate lists or a specified placement order.
Recommendation # in final report:
13
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Women
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Candidate Registration
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
To support a more efficient candidate registration process, the Electoral Council could consider digitizing it, including allowing the electronic submission of candidacy nomination documents.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Candidate Registration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration could be given to amend the election legislation to make all election-related meetings public, in order to enhance the transparency of the election administration.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The Elections Act should be amended to clearly determine the framework for training polling staff, including mandatory usage of uniform materials on key procedures so as to ensure consistency and equal treatment of voters. These materials could incorporate best practices already used by different municipalities.
Recommendation # in final report:
8
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Guidance should be clarified to ensure the effective facilitation of existing rights for voters with physical disabilities, including the right to request assistance to vote from a person of their choice.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Type of change required:
Sub-legal
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Where emergency public health measures are applied, further efforts should be made by the authorities to provide for a uniform interpretation and implementation of these measures by the polling staff.
Recommendation # in final report:
9
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Administration
Secondary thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Day
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to reviewing the need to maintain proxy voting given the existing alternative methods to cast a ballot and with a view to ensuring the secrecy and equality of the vote. Alternatives to proxy voting should be explored for prisoners, which may include establishing polling stations in prisons or providing mobile ballot boxes.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Alternative Voting Methods
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to designing a more accessible and user-friendly format of ballot, for instance, by the use of logos or colours, or by providing a different format to make it easier for the voter to identify candidates and for polling officials to conduct the counting process.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Day and Post-Election Developments
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to equipping polling stations with sufficient supplies and to monitor their status throughout election day to prevent interruptions in the voting process.
Recommendation # in final report:
17
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Fully
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Day and Post-Election Developments
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to exploring alternative voting methods which duly uphold OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Alternative Voting Methods
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Additional voting methods should be introduced for voters in places of detention, enabling them to exercise their right to vote personally by a secret ballot.
Recommendation # in final report:
2
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Alternative Voting Methods
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to changing the law to allow for all ballots where the voter’s choice is expressed clearly to be counted as valid.
Recommendation # in final report:
10
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Election Day
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Day
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Adequate time limits for deciding on election-related complaints at all levels should be provided by the legislation to ensure the implementation of the right to an effective and timely remedy.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to explicitly provide the legal right to appeal election results to a competent court as the final authority.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to providing for an appeal to court against election results as the final authority.
Recommendation # in final report:
5
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Election Dispute Resolution (EDR)
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Complaints and Appeals
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The legal framework for elections should be reviewed to address shortcomings noted in this and previous OSCE/ODIHR reports. Consideration could be given to codify existing regulations into electoral legislation so as to ensure legal certainty and coherence. Legal reform should be undertaken well in advance of the next elections and involve open consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Recommendation # in final report:
1
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Legal Framework
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The system of funding and appointing members to the Media Authority could be revised to further safeguard the independence of the media oversight body.
Recommendation # in final report:
16
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Media
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Media
Netherlands
2017
EAM
Parliamentary
elections
The election legislation should be harmonized with the objectives of the CRPD, to ensure the full voting rights of persons with various types of mental disabilities, including the right to request assistance to vote from a person of their choice.
Recommendation # in final report:
3
Type of recommendation:
Priority
Thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Secondary thematic area:
Election Day
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Partially
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Election Administration
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Authorities at all levels should continue their efforts to make the electoral process more accessible to voters with disabilities, including voters with sensory impairments and voters with intellectual disabilities. To this end, alternative voting methods for voters with disabilities should be explored.
Recommendation # in final report:
7
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Secondary thematic area:
Election Administration
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Alternative Voting Methods
Netherlands
2025
Early election
EET
Parliamentary
elections
To promote effective participation, political parties should take additional steps to make campaign information, materials, and activities accessible to persons with various types of disabilities.
Recommendation # in final report:
4
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Persons with Disabilities
Secondary thematic area:
Campaign
Type of change required:
Practice
Status of implementation:
Not evaluated
Final report heading:
Election Campaign
Netherlands
2021
EET
Parliamentary
elections
Consideration should be given to introducing temporary special measures in the legal framework to promote women’s participation in elected office. Such measures could include quotas and placement requirements for candidate lists, as well as linking public subsidies for political parties to the representation of women among party members and candidates.
Recommendation # in final report:
6
Type of recommendation:
Other
Thematic area:
Participation of Women
Secondary thematic area:
Legal Framework
Type of change required:
Legal
Status of implementation:
Not implemented
Year of assessment:
2025
Final report heading:
Legal Framework