The Netherlands

The Netherlands and International IDEA

The Netherlands is one of the founding members of IDEA.

The Netherlands, a List Proportional Representation democracy, has worked with IDEA since its formation in 1995 and provides funding to the overall work of the Institute.

A large part of IDEA’s funding comes from its member states “core contributions”, which finance the entire work programme of the Institute: Programme of Operations 2007-09. Each of IDEA’s member states is therefore involved and instrumental in IDEA’s work to promote democracy worldwide.

Highlights of International IDEA’s activities in relation to The Netherlands:

• IDEA’s project in Armenia. Armenia is a young democracy willing to integrate and establish democracy; however it will have to address several issues to succeed. IDEA is focusing primarily on political participation and electoral process in Armenia.
• IDEA’s BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) project in the South Caucasus, training hundreds of people on election administration.

Senator Jos van Gennip, member of the Upper House of The Netherlands’ Parliament, is currently a member of the IDEA Board of Directors.

Ambassador Jan Berteling, former Director of Human Rights and Peace Building Department within The Netherlands’ Department of Foreign Affairs, was Chairman of the IDEA Council from 2003-2004.

Facts and figures about democracy in The Netherlands

Using IDEA’s worldwide democracy and elections databases, learn more about:

• The Netherlands’s electoral system (ACE),  ESD (Table of Electoral Systems Worldwide)
• Comparative data on election systems, laws, management and administration
• Voter turnout in The Netherlands 1946 – 2003
• Information on electoral quotas for women in The Netherlands
• Laws on funding of political parties in The Netherlands