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1. Young people as voters

2. Young people as political representatives

Young people as voters

The age limit for voting is 18. At this moment there are no plans to lower the age of voting and there are no special provisions for young people in the electoral law and rules.

The turnout of young people in the national elections in 2012 was 71%. The age range of these voters was between 18-25 years. The overall population turnout was 74,6% in 2012.

In the latest national elections of March 2017 the overall population turnout was 89,1%, which was the highest turnout since 1989. Statistics Netherlands published about the outcome of the national elections in March 2017: ‘Political commitment in the Netherlands’ (Politieke betrokkenheid in Nederland, CBS, December 2017). Political participation by voting has risen compared to the years before. An important incentive for political participation is interest in politics. One of the outcomes is that the youngest voters (18-25 years) are more political active eg. in demonstrations and campaigns compared to people of 65 years and up, but they vote less often.

The latest elections for the municipal councils were held in March 2018, with an overall population turnout of 55%. The elections for the European Parliament in May 2014 had an overall turnout of 37,3%. No information could be found on the turnout of young people in these latest local and European Parliament elections.

The overall population turnout for the municipal elections in March 2022 was relatively low with 51%. No information could be found on the turnout of young people in these latest local elections. 
There is no final statement about the lower turnout at the municipal council elections of 2022 compared to 2018. Research shows that the low turn-out and non-voting at these elections is mainly caused by structural factors. About one third of the non-voters structurally does not vote, or never in local elections. Voters' confidence in the government and politics in the studied districts with a particularly low turnout is an important reason for not voting. The researchers note that the structural lack of confidence has been further tightened by how people have been affected by the various crises in recent years (including the corona crisis).

Among certain groups of eligible voters, the percentage of non-voters in municipal elections is significantly higher than among other groups. This is especially visible among women, young people, people with a practical education, Dutch people with a migration background and residents of very urban municipalities. When it comes to turnout among young people, researchers see major differences between practically and theoretically educated young people. Only 24% of young people with only a VMBO (preparatory secondary vocational education) diploma cast a vote in the municipal elections, compared to 42% of young people with a theoretical level of education.

The turnout of young people in the national elections in November 2023 was 73%. The age range of these voters was between 18-34 years. The overall population turnout was 77,8% in 2023. 

Young people as political representatives

Following the constitutional reform of 1983, the minimum age to become eligible as a member of the Tweede Kamer (The House of Representatives) was decreased to 18 years. There is no quota of seats reserved for young people. Almost every political party has a youth wing of which young people between 14 and 27 years can become members.

Examples are:

• ROOD (RED) (only in Dutch) is  formally affiliated with the Socialistische Partij (SP) (Socialist Party) and is dependent upon the political party.

  De Jongeren Organisatie Vrijheid en Democratie (The Youth Organization Freedom and Democracy) (only in Dutch) is  formally affiliated with the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy) but is independent.

More information about Dutch polititical youth wings can be found on the website parlement.com (only in Dutch). The age range of the members of the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives) (only Dutch) varies from 25 to 71 years.