On this page

1. Youth parliament

2. Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

3. Higher education student union(s)

4. School student union(s)

5. Other bodies

Youth parliament

In the Netherlands there is no youth parliament at the national level. 

Youth councils and/or youth advisory boards

The National Youth Council (Nationale Jeugdraad, NJR) is the national youth council in the Netherlands. The National Youth Council is an umbrella organisation of more than 40 youth organisations. They also often represent the voice of young people in conversations with the government. 

Structure

The National Youth Council is not part of the Dutch constitutional structure, but is supervised by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport) and cooperates with this ministry. There is no legislation or policy about the existence of the National Youth Council. 

Composition

The board consists of 7 people, who change every year. There is no information on the age range of the board. Candidate members can apply for a position in the board by sending an e-mail to the organisation. The sitting board is not involved in the selection of new members. The National Youth Council is an alliance of more than youth organisations. They select the board and the 8 youth representatives (jongerenvertegenwoordigers). Youth representatives are the link between young people and (political) institutions. The NJR aims to have youth representatives on the topics of sustainable development, human rights & safety, biodiversity & food, and European affairs. 

Role and responsibilities

The objective of the National Youth Council (Nationale Jeugdraad, NJR) is to stimulate and support youth participation at the national and local level. On an international level the National Youth Council also has an important role to send youth representatives (jongerenvertegenwoordigers) to European bodies and the United Nations. Youth representatives represent the voice of Dutch young people at the General Assembly of the UN, the European Union, UNESCO and the Climate and Sustainability Conferences. The Youth Council also advises national as well as provincial and local governments and other relevant organisations on youth policy. 

In 2025, the National Youth Strategy (Nationale Jeugdstrategie) was published by the National Youth Council (Nationale Jeugdraad - NJR). A delegation met with Ministers to discuss how their recommendations can be translated into policy in October 2025.  

Funding

The National Youth Council receives public funding  from the central level by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Ministerie voor Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport). The board of the National Youth Council is financially accountable to this ministry. 

National youth panels

Various parts of the national government works with a form of youth participation. Ranging from  temporary youth panels with regard to specific policy themes that affect young people to structural youth think thanks. Consequently, the structure, composition, role and responsibilities vary. For example, the West Wing (only in Dutch) is the youth think thank for the Minsitry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken). Other government organisations such as advisory councils often also have youth councils. See the youth platform (Jongerenplatform) of the Social and Economic Council (Sociaal-Economische Raad, SER) of the Education-Youth Council (JongerenOnderwijsraad) of the Education Council (Onderwijsraad). The ministries involved fund their youth panels.  

Higher education student union(s)

Dutch Students Union

Structure 

The Dutch Students Union (Landelijke Studentenvakbond, LSVB) has been an important representative of Dutch students in higher education since 1983. The local student unions wished to have a voice at the national level and this gave rise to the establishment of the Dutch Students Union. The local unions play an important role. They are the representatives of students and they identify problems that must be addressed at the national level. The local unions also decide on policy through the General Assembly of the Dutch Students Union.

Composition

The board consists of five members in 2025. They work fulltime and receive an administrative grant for their activities plus compensation for expenses like travelling expenses. The board members are responsible for the policy of the union. In addition to the board a team of volunteers is active. The Dutch Students Union has 18 paid staff members and a few interns. Interested students can apply for a position on the board by sending an e-mail to the organisation. The selection committee is responsible for the distribution of functions.

Role and responsibilities

The union has regular discussions with spokespersons in the education field from the Senate and the House of Representatives and with civil servants at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Minsiterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). For many years the Dutch Students Union has been an official interlocutor in the Studentenkamer (Students room). The Studentenkamer is a public consultation between the Minister of Education, the Dutch Students Union and the Dutch National Student Association (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg - ISO) (see below). The union also meets with educational institutions, the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen) and the Universities of the Netherlands (Universiteiten van Nederland).

Funding 

The Dutch Students Union (Landelijke Studentenvakbond, LSVB) is subsidised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Minsiterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). Information is not available on the amount of funding they receive.  

Dutch National Student Association

Structure

In 1973, the Dutch National Student Association (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg, ISO) was founded in Amsterdam as a national umbrella organisation for five university student councils from different cities in the Netherlands. These students felt the need to discuss affairs and exchange information with fellow student council members from other cities. It represents the interests of students in the Netherlands. Similar to The Dutch Students Union (Landelijke Studentenvakbond, LSVB), the the Dutch National Student Association (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg, ISO) regularly meets with spokespersons of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap), political parties and the Universities of the Netherlands (Universiteiten van Nederland). The student association has more than 40 member organisations (lidorganisaties), together they represent more than 800,000 students in higher education. These organisations are local students groups, councils and unions of universities and universities of applied sciences. Together they form the General Assembly, the highest body.

Composition

The board consists of 5 student members and is responsible for the policies. In 2025, the association has 15 staff members who work on specific topcis, including internationalisation, educational innovation, and student participation. 

Role and responsibilities

The Dutch National Student Association (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg, ISO) represents the interests of students in all universities and universities of applied sciences. It aims to make sure that education is accessible for all people who are motivated and have the intellectual capacities to complete an education, regardless of socio-economic and financial background. The board consults with students, politicians and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap).

Funding 

The Dutch National Student Association (Interstedelijk Studenten Overleg, ISO) is subsidised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Minsiterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). Information is not available on the amount of funding they receive.  

Youth Organisation Vocational Education 

Structure

The Youth Organisation Vocational Education (Jongeren Organisatie Beroepsonderwijs, JOBmbo) was founded in 1999 by the National Action Committee School Pupils (Landelijk Aktie Komitee Scholieren) (see below).

Composition

The board consists of 5 members who are vocational students. It is not known if there are other paid positions in the organisation.

Role and responsibilities

The Youth Organisation Vocational Education (Jongeren Organisatie Beroepsonderwijs, JOBmbo) is only for students in vocational education. They represent the interests of these students, but also act as an advisory and support office. The board consults with politicians and with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science on issues that matter to students. The current ‘hot topics’ on the question and answer section of the website are support for special needs, free public transport, and continuing education in higher education. 

Funding 

The Youth Organisation Vocational Education (Jongeren Organisatie Beroepsonderwijs, JOBmbo) is subsidised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Minsiterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). Information is not available on the amount of funding they receive.  

School student union(s)

National Action Committee School Pupils

Structure

In 1984, the National Action Committee School Pupils (Landelijk Aktie Komitee Scholieren, LAKS) was founded in Amsterdam by a few pupils to improve the legal status of pupils in secondary education. Thanks to the action committee it became mandatory by law that all schools have a student charter. This was achieved in 1993. The action committee is active at the national level and is highly independent.

Composition

The board consists of 7 members. The members are all pupils in secondary education. For the establishment of a new board the selection committee (Sollicitatie Commissie) selects the new members. After selecting new members the selection committee presents them at the spring assembly.

Role and responsibilities

The National Action Committee School Pupils (Landelijk Aktie Komitee Scholieren, LAKS) represents the interest of pupils in secondary education. Pupils can reach the action committee if they have questions concerning secondary education. Exam candidates in secondary education can call the Final Exams Complaint Hotline (eindexamenklachtenlijn) if they have questions or complaints about the conditions of their examination.

Funding

The National Action Committee School Pupils (Landelijk Aktie Komitee Scholieren, LAKS) is subsidised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (Minsiterie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap). Information is not available on the amount of funding they receive.

Other bodies

The organisation for Children’s rights in the Netherlands (Kinderrechten in Beweging, only in Dutch) tries to provide an overview of participation opportunities for children and young people, including the ones mentioned in this paragraph.