2022 Dutch municipal elections explained

Election Name:2022 Dutch municipal elections
Country:Netherlands
Previous Election:2018 Dutch municipal elections
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2026 Dutch municipal elections
Next Year:2026
Election Date:16 March 2022

Municipal elections were held on 16 March 2022 in 333 municipalities in the Netherlands. This election determined the composition of the municipal councils for the following four years.[1]

Background

In the previous municipal elections, local political parties won by far the most votes and seats. Nationally, all local political parties won a total of 29% of the votes and around a third of municipal council seats.[2] Local parties have seen a steady rise since the 1990s and in Vlieland there are only local parties that participate.[3]

Of all national political parties, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) will contest the most municipal elections; the party will be on the ballot in all but five (Diemen, Ouder-Amstel, Rozendaal, Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog). The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) comes in second, contesting in 317 elections, while Democrats 66 participates in 289 elections. The Labour Party (PvdA) will participate in 303 elections, and GroenLinks in 229, many of which are joint lists between the two parties. Meanwhile, the ChristianUnion runs in 175 and the Reformed Political Party (SGP) in 96, with these parties also having many joint lists. The Socialist Party participates in 86, Forum for Democracy (FvD), which had previously only participated in Amsterdam, has expanded significantly to participate in 50 elections. The Party for Freedom (PVV) participates in 31, Party for the Animals (PvdD) in 30, DENK in 20, 50PLUS in 19 and BIJ1 in 5. There are also 3 national parties participating for the first time in municipal elections, BvNL in 20 municipalities, Volt in 10, and JA21 only in Amsterdam.[3]

Twelve municipalities will not have elections on 16 March due to mergers.

Electoral system

Municipal councils are elected using party-list proportional representation. The number of seats depends on the population of the municipality, ranging from nine seats for municipalities with a population below 3,000, to 45 seats for municipalities with a population over 200,000. All people above the age of 18, who are registered in a municipality, and have not been excluded from voting following a court's decision are eligible to vote. Dutch citizenship is not required to be eligible to vote for municipal elections, non-EU nationals who have legally resided in the Netherlands for at least five years and EU citizens are also eligible to vote.[4]

National

Opinion polling

Polling firmRelease
date
Sample
size
LocalVVDCDAD66GLPvdASPCUSGPPVVPvdDDENK50+FvDBIJ1VoltJA21OthersLead
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I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-03-10"10 Mar 20221,49535.4%11.2%6.8%7.5%7.8%7.4%3.6%3.8%2.9%3.3%3.6%0.9%1.1%1.3%0.5%1.5%0.6%0.4%24.2%
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-02-18"18 Feb 20221,44433.0%12.7%6.0%7.6%7.3%6.4%3.6%3.9%2.9%4.5%3.6%1.1%0.7%1.4%0.9%1.9%2.6%0.0%20.3%
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-01-31"31 Jan 20221,44431.8%12.3%5.2%7.2%7.3%6.0%3.0%3.3%3.0%6.3%4.0%1.3%1.1%2.5%0.9%2.6%2.2%0.0%19.5%
2018 electiondata-sort-value="2018-03-21"21 Mar 201828.7%13.5%13.4%9.2%8.9%7.5%4.4%3.8%1.9%1.4%1.2%1.0%0.8%0.3%0.1%did not contest4.6%15.2%

Results

Amsterdam

See also: Government of Amsterdam.

Opinion polling

Polling firmDateGLD66VVDPvdASPPvdDDENKFvDCDAPvdO CUBIJ1JA21VoltLead
OISdata-sort-value="2022-03-13"13 Mar 202277472421101243Tied
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-03-05"5 Mar 202288463421010323Tied
Peil.nldata-sort-value="2022-02-22"22 Feb 20225/6865/624311113132
OISdata-sort-value="2022-02-05"5 Feb 2022764524211112461
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-01-31"31 Jan 202288552422000324Tied
Peil.nldata-sort-value="2022-01-18"18 Jan 2022585524311113153
2018 electiondata-sort-value="2018-03-21"21 Mar 20181086533331111did not contest2

Results

Rotterdam

See also: Government of Rotterdam.

Opinion polling

Polling firmDateLRVVDD66GLPvdADENKSPCDAPvdD50+CUBIJ1FvDVoltS010 Lead
Peil.nldata-sort-value="2022-03-06"6 Mar 202213564341120121207
Peil.nldata-sort-value="2022-02-22"22 Feb 202213563331120121317
2018 electiondata-sort-value="2018-03-21"21 Mar 2018115555422111did not contest6

Results

The Hague

Opinion polling

Polling firmDateGDMVVDD66GLCDAPvdAHSP PvdDPVVCU-SGPSP50+FvDDENKLead
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-03-08"8 Mar 2022957524243110022
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-02-08"8 Feb 2022966515232120033
Peil.nldata-sort-value="2022-01-18"18 Jan 20221177423132110124
2018 electiondata-sort-value="2018-03-21"21 Mar 2018876533322111did not contest1

Results

Utrecht

Opinion polling

Polling firmDateGLD66VVDPvdACDAPvdDDENKCUS&SSPPVVSBU BIJ1VoltFvDLead
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-03-05"5 Mar 20229863143101212401
Peil.nldata-sort-value="2022-02-24"24 Feb 20227863133220/1220/1411
2018 electiondata-sort-value="2018-03-21"21 Mar 201812106322222211did not contest2

Results

Groningen

Opinion polling

Polling firmDateGLPvdAD66SPVVDCUPvdDCDASP100G S&SPVVPvhNLead
I&O Researchdata-sort-value="2022-03-05"5 Mar 20228593534140211
2018 reorganisation electiondata-sort-value="2018-11-21"21 Nov 2018116554332411did not contest5

Results

Nijmegen

Results

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gemeenteraden . Kiesraad.nl . Dutch . 22 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Gemeenteraad 21 maart 2018 . Verkiezingsuitslagen . Dutch . 22 February 2022.
  3. Web site: PvdA en SP in minder gemeenten op stembiljet CDA vrijwel overal . BNR . Dutch . 22 February 2022.
  4. Web site: Kiesgerechtigheid . Kiesraad . 29 March 2022 . nl-NL.