2012 Dutch general election facts for kids

The 2012 Dutch general election was held on September 12, 2012. During this election, people in the Netherlands voted for members of the House of Representatives. This is an important group of people who help make laws for the country.

What is a General Election?

A general election is when citizens vote for their representatives. These representatives then work in the government. In the Netherlands, people vote for members of the House of Representatives. This group has 150 members. They discuss and decide on new laws.

Why are Elections Important?

Elections are a way for people to choose who they want to represent them. It's how citizens have a say in how their country is run. Each political party has different ideas. Voters choose the party whose ideas they like best.

How the Votes Turned Out

The 2012 election had some interesting results. Many political parties competed for seats. A "seat" means a spot in the House of Representatives. The more votes a party gets, the more seats they win.

• The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) won the most seats. They got 41 seats, which was 10 more than before. Their leader was Mark Rutte.
• The Labour Party (PvdA) came in second. They won 38 seats, gaining 8 new ones. Their leader was Diederik Samsom.
• Other parties also won seats. The Party for Freedom (PVV) and the Socialist Party (SP) both got 15 seats.
• The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) lost some seats, ending up with 13.
• The Democrats 66 (D66) gained 2 seats, reaching 12.
• Smaller parties like the ChristianUnion (CU), GreenLeft (GL), Reformed Political Party (SGP), Party for the Animals (PvdD), and 50PLUS also won seats.

Forming a New Government

After an election, the parties that won seats try to form a new government. This often means two or more parties work together. They form a "coalition" to get enough support to lead the country. The party with the most votes usually takes the lead in this process.

Election results by municipality. This map shows how different areas voted.

Related Elections

• 2010 Dutch general election: This was the election held before 2012.
• 2017 Dutch general election: This election happened after 2012.
• Second Rutte cabinet: This refers to the government formed after the 2012 election. It was led by Mark Rutte.

More Information

• (nl) Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2012, Parlement.com

Images for kids

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  A polling station in Silvolde, Gelderland, where people cast their votes.

See also

In Spanish: Elecciones generales de los Países Bajos de 2012 para niños