2021 Dutch general election facts for kids

The 2021 Dutch general election was held on 17 March 2021. In this election, people in the Netherlands voted for members of their parliament, called the House of Representatives. This group helps make laws for the country.

Before the election, the government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte had been in power for a while. Forming a new government in the Netherlands can take a long time because many different political parties need to agree to work together. This is called forming a coalition. After the previous election, it took 225 days to form the government, which was the longest time ever in Dutch history!

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government wanted to make sure everyone could vote safely. So, the Interior Minister, Kajsa Ollongren, suggested that people could vote over three days, from 15 to 17 March 2021, instead of just one day.

Just before the election, on 15 January 2021, the entire Dutch government, including Prime Minister Mark Rutte, resigned. This happened because of a problem where many families had to pay back childcare benefits they had received. The government took responsibility for the situation.

What are Elections?

Elections are how people choose their leaders. In the Netherlands, people vote for political parties. Each party has different ideas about how the country should be run. The parties that get the most votes win seats in the House of Representatives.

How the Government Works

The House of Representatives has 150 members. These members represent the people of the Netherlands. After an election, the political parties usually try to form a coalition government. This means several parties work together to have enough support to make decisions and lead the country. The leader of the largest party in the coalition often becomes the Prime Minister.

Who Voted in 2021?

Millions of people in the Netherlands were eligible to vote in the 2021 election. They cast their votes for the party they believed would best represent their interests and help the country.

Election Results

After the votes were counted, the seats in the House of Representatives were divided among the different parties. The table below shows some of the main parties and their leaders.

Images for kids

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  At least one polling station per municipality already opened its doors on Monday 15 March 2021 to offer people in the vulnerable target group the opportunity to vote at a quiet moment.

Related pages

• 2017 Dutch general election

• (nl) Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2021, Parlement.com

See also

In Spanish: Elecciones generales de los Países Bajos de 2021 para niños