Netherlands
The Netherlands is a high-performing democracy, exhibiting high levels of performance across all attributes of the Global State of Democracy Indices (GSoDI). Over the past five years, it has only seen a notable decline in the Effective Parliament sub-attribute (which still remains in the high-performing range). Shortcomings in parliamentary scrutiny, particularly in the Childcare Allowance Case (known as “toeslagenaffaire”), may have contributed to this decline. The Netherlands is home to various intergovernmental organizations and international courts in The Hague, which is regarded as an international symbol for peace and justice. The country has a highly competitive and developed economy with low rates of unemployment.
Dutch politics is marked by party fragmentation, sometimes referred to as “Dutchification.” Some argue that such fragmentation is positive, representing a more engaged electorate that votes along nuanced lines that go beyond traditional dividing lines and allowing voters to choose parties that are closer to their own specific combinations of priorities and values. Fragmentation can also be problematic because of resulting difficulty in forming majorities and seeking approvals to government proposals.
Increasing levels of political polarization also impact the Netherlands, especially regarding gender, climate change and the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some experts claim that these issues reflect public distrust of government, which is tasked with tackling crises like climate change and pandemics. Growing concern about polarization exists at the public level as well. Polarization is also especially stark with regard to cultural issues and the populist radical right.
Dutch society has a long tradition of social tolerance, with liberal views on issues such as sexual orientation and multiculturalism. Over at least the last two decades, however, an increase in the number of immigrants and concomitant fears about Dutch identity contributed to the rise of the far-right and a focus on the perceived threat of Islam. The far-reaching effects on society were captured in a 2020 report by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, who described the situation in the Netherlands as one in which “race, ethnicity, national origin, religion and other factors determine who is treated fully as a citizen”. At the end of 2022, a government-commissioned report found widespread racism at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as evidence of racism as a persistent problem at the societal level, prompting an apology from the Ministry’s Secretary-General.
Since 2019, some of the popularity of the anti-immigrant far-right has waned. It has been partially replaced with the recent, dramatic rise of the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), a party based in rural areas that came to power on a wave of anger at the government’s plans to cut nitrogen emissions. This election result has brought to the fore urban-rural divides and highlights the difficulties the government faces in achieving some of its goals, including with regard to fighting climate change.
Going forward, it will be important to watch Fundamental Rights, especially as the government responds to the findings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ report on racism and in light of the ongoing work of the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism. Effective Parliament is also likely to experience changes following reforms that were implemented in the wake of the Childcare Allowance Case. Finally, it will be important to watch attempts to address polarization within society.
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
January 2024
Senate passes law on fair distribution of asylum seekers
On 23 January, the Dutch Senate approved a law on fair distribution of asylum seekers between Dutch municipalities. Over the past decade, only roughly half of Dutch municipalities have provided accommodations for asylum seekers. With 32,000 people currently housed in temporary shelters, the objective of the law is to tackle the lack of accommodation by granting the government authority to override municipalities’ refusal to accept asylum seekers. The Senate approved the law with 43 votes in favour, 27 against, and 5 abstentions. The law could be passed largely due to the support of the conservative-liberal People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVP), the party of former prime minister Mark Rutte, even though Geert Wilders’ right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), currently trying to form a government, voted against it.
Sources: Netherlands government, Dutch News (1), Dutch News (2), NL Times, RTL Nieuws
November 2023
Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders wins elections
On 22 November, the country held early general elections to elect the members of the House of Representatives following the collapse of the fourth Rutte cabinet in July, triggered by immigration policy disagreements among the coalition partners. The right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, secured 37 out of the 150-seats, becoming the largest party for the first time. All four parties of the incumbent coalition government experienced losses. With doubled support, PVV wants to focus on issues such as cost-of-living, an exit from the EU (Nexit), closing the borders to all immigration and to the “de-Islamisization” of the country. Voter turnout was 78 per cent, down from 81 per cent in 2017. Similar to the previous legislature, women will constitute 40 per cent of the parliament.
Sources: Kiesraad, RTL Nieuws, Dutch News, IPU, International IDEA
August 2023
Far-right Dutch Pegida leader desecrates Quran in The Hague
Following the Quran desecrations in Denmark and Sweden, the far-right Dutch Pegida leader, Edwin Wagensveld, tore up a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in The Hague. A counter-protest organised by the DENK political party to condemn Wagensveld’s actions took place simultaneously. Justice Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz declared that she personally thinks the act is ‘primitive and sad,’ but added that it’s a freedom allowed in the country. The minister also cautioned that the act could lead to an increased terror threat, as seen in Sweden. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned the Dutch deputy ambassador to condemn the act. Wagensveld has provoked protests in the past as well, when he tore up a copy of the Quran and referred to it as a “fascist book”, a remark for which he has yet to appear in court for hate speech.
Sources: NL Times, Euractiv, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2)
July 2023
Government collapses amid migration row
Mark Rutte, the longest-serving Prime Minister in the Netherlands, resigned on 8 July due to irreconcilable differences in opinion between the coalition parties on migration policy. Of the four parties in the 18-month-old coalition, Rutte’s Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy and the Christian Democrats supported a stricter approach compared to D66 and the Christian Union (ChristenUnie). Specific issues debated included whether the rights of family members to join refugees should be restricted. A general election will be held in autumn. Until then, Rutte’s government will act in a caretaker capacity. The fragmented 20-party lower house, along with the rapid rise of the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement party in the March 2023 provincial elections, add another layer of uncertainty to the country’s political future.
Sources: DutchNews, Euronews, New York Times, Guardian, NL Times
First female Finance Minister quits after intimidation and threats
Sigrid Kaag, the first female Finance Minister of the Netherlands and leader of the D66 party, announced on 13 July that she is stepping down from both positions. In her farewell speech, she cited “hate, intimidation and threats” as the reasons for her decision, adding that the situation took a large toll on her family. Kaag has been the target of misogyny and her family has been the target of racism. According to a 2021 study by Utrecht University and De Groene Amsterdammer, Kaag receives the most hate messages among all female MPs in the Dutch Parliament, with 22 per cent of her incoming tweets being hateful in nature. Kaag hopes that her move to step down “does not discourage Dutch girls and women from entering politics.” Independent MP Liane den Haan also announced her departure from politics due to hate messages. Both resignations come in the aftermath of the Dutch government collapse on 8 July.
Sources: Politico, De Groene Amsterdammer, Euractiv, EUROMIX Research Project
Holocaust and genocide denial become explicitly illegal
The caretaker cabinet has introduced a specific criminal prohibition of the condonement, trivialization and denial of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, with explicit reference to the Holocaust. The law punishes violations with a prison sentence of up to one year and implements a 2008 European Union Framework Decision seeking uniformity in national legislation on historical denialism. The importance of this ban is underlined by a rise in antisemitism in the Netherlands in recent years. A study published in January 2023 by the nonprofit Claims Conference revealed that almost a quarter of Dutch citizens born after 1980 believe that the Holocaust is a myth or that it has been greatly exaggerated. Before 1939, almost 150,000 Jews lived in the Netherlands, around 75 per cent of whom were murdered.
Sources: Government of the Netherlands, European Parliament, Claims Conference, Reuters, DutchNews
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GSoD Indices Data 2014-2023
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