How the Dutch government is organised
The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. The King is the head of state, but the ministers are responsible for government decisions. Parliament checks the ministers, and the prime minister leads the cabinet.
Government in the Netherlands works at three levels:
- het Rijk (central government): the cabinet and the parliament in The Hague
- de provincie (province): there are 12 provinces, each with an elected council, the Provinciale Staten
- de gemeente (municipality): local government, with an elected gemeenteraad (municipal council)
The gemeente is the level closest to you. It keeps the population register, issues passports and ID cards, collects local taxes and pays bijstand (social assistance). The burgemeester (mayor) leads the gemeente together with the wethouders (aldermen). The mayor is appointed, not elected. Our guide to Dutch government organisations explains which office does what.
Parliament makes the laws
The Dutch parliament is called the Staten-Generaal. It has two chambers:
- de Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives): 150 members, elected by the voters, normally every four years
- de Eerste Kamer (Senate): 75 members, elected by the members of the Provinciale Staten
Most new laws start as a proposal from the government. A law is passed only when both chambers vote for it. Then the King and a minister sign it.
A question from DUO's 2025 example exam:
Wie mag nieuwe wetten aannemen in Nederland?
Who may pass new laws in the Netherlands? The answer is het parlement (parliament). A gemeente can make local rules, but it cannot pass national laws. A judge applies the law but does not make it.
The judge decides the punishment
The Dutch state is split into three powers, the trias politica:
- wetgevende macht (legislative power): parliament, together with the government
- uitvoerende macht (executive power): the government, which carries out the laws
- rechterlijke macht (judicial power): the judges
Judges are independent. A minister or a mayor may not tell a judge what to decide. If you disagree with a verdict, you can often go to hoger beroep (appeal).
This question from DUO's example exam is a popular search:
Maura rijdt auto. Ze moet stoppen van de politie. Maura heeft geen rijbewijs. Rijden zonder rijbewijs mag niet. Wie bepaalt de straf van Maura?
Maura is driving without a driving licence, and the police stop her. Who decides her punishment? The answer is de rechter (the judge). The police enforce the law, and the Openbaar Ministerie (public prosecution service), through an officier van justitie, brings the case. In a criminal case, the judge decides the punishment.
Democracy and voting rights
There are two kinds of kiesrecht (voting rights):
- actief kiesrecht: the right to vote
- passief kiesrecht: the right to be elected
For the Tweede Kamer and the Provinciale Staten, you need Dutch nationality and you must be 18 or older. The gemeenteraad is different. EU citizens who live in the gemeente may vote straight away. Other residents may vote after five years of legal residence in the Netherlands. Voting is secret, and nobody can make you vote.
From DUO's example exam:
Sam mag stemmen. Hij heeft kiesrecht. Hoe heet dit kiesrecht?
Sam may vote. What is this voting right called? The answer is actief kiesrecht. Our post on Dutch political parties explains how elections and the cabinet work.
The rule of law and your rights
In a rechtsstaat (rule of law), everyone must follow the law, including the government. The Grondwet (Constitution) lists your basic rights, for example:
- equal treatment and a ban on discrimination (Article 1)
- freedom of religion
- freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate
- the right to privacy
You are free to follow your religion. But religious or cultural rules never stand above Dutch law. For example, a religious wedding may not take place before the civil wedding at the gemeente. Since 1 July 2025, this point has more weight in the KNM themes.
If you need legal help, the Juridisch Loket gives free advice. With a low income, you can get a lawyer at a reduced price. Read more in our post on freedom and the rule of law.
Try a practice question
We wrote this question ourselves, in the same format:
Fatima heeft geen Nederlandse nationaliteit. Ze woont al zes jaar legaal in Nederland. Mag ze stemmen voor de gemeenteraad?
- A. Ja, dat mag.
- B. Alleen als ze goed Nederlands spreekt.
- C. Nee, dat mag niet.
Answer: A. After five years of legal residence, she may vote for the gemeenteraad. She may not vote for the Tweede Kamer without Dutch nationality.
How the KNM exam asks about staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat
The KNM exam has 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes. Each question has a picture, a short Dutch question and three options. You pass with at least 28 correct answers. In DUO's 2025 example exam, this theme had 5 of the 40 questions.
The questions ask for facts, not opinions. Typical forms are Wie ...? (which institution), Hoe heet ...? (a term) and Mag ...? (is something allowed). For a Mag question, the options are often yes, only in some cases, or no.
Learn each Dutch term together with its job:
| Dutch | English | Its job |
|---|---|---|
| het parlement | parliament | passes laws |
| de rechter | judge | decides a punishment |
| de gemeente | municipality | local matters |
| de Grondwet | Constitution | basic rights |
| het kiesrecht | voting right | voting and being elected |
Read how the KNM exam works for the full format. Then try questions on this theme in our free KNM practice.
