2026 Dutch municipal elections
 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2026) |
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Municipal elections were held on 18 March 2026 in 333 municipalities in the Netherlands. This election will determine the composition of the municipal councils for the following four years.[1]
Election process
[edit]Ballot paper size
[edit]During the 2026 municipal elections, at least eleven municipalities will be experimenting with a smaller ballot paper (A3 format). These are Alphen aan den Rijn, Boekel, Gouda, 's-Hertogenbosch, Leiden, Meierijstad, Midden-Delfland, Nijmegen, Noordoostpolder, Soest and Tynaarlo.[2]
The municipality of Borne previously participated in the experiment, but decided not to participate in these elections due to concerns about the number of invalid votes and the reduced recognizability of candidates.
Both the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Electoral Council remain positive about the experiment, which should contribute to a simpler and faster voting and counting process.[3][4]
National
[edit]Opinion polling
[edit]| Polling firm | Fieldwork date | GL–PvdA | VVD | CDA | D66 | CU | SP | SGP | PvdD | FvD | CU–SGP | Denk | PVV | Volt | BBB | 50+ | JA21 | Local parties | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 election | 18 Mar 2026 | 14.6 | 11.6 | 11.1 | 9.3 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 33.4 | 1.2 |
| Ipsos I&O[5] | 6–9 Mar 2026 | 17.3 | 11.4 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 34.5 | 0.8 |
| 2022 election | 16 Mar 2022 | 17.8 | 11.7 | 11.2 | 8.8 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 31.3 | 2.2 |
Results
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local parties | 2,542,374 | 33.39 | 3,314 | +323 | |
| GroenLinks–PvdA | 1,109,827 | 14.58 | 1,051 | –219 | |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 885,123 | 11.63 | 1,071 | +71 | |
| Christian Democratic Appeal | 847,979 | 11.14 | 1,100 | –5 | |
| Democrats 66 | 708,261 | 9.30 | 656 | +36 | |
| Forum for Democracy | 307,605 | 4.04 | 299 | +249 | |
| Christian Union | 211,741 | 2.78 | 212 | –93 | |
| Reformed Political Party | 186,857 | 2.45 | 256 | +27 | |
| Socialist Party | 146,023 | 1.92 | 102 | –71 | |
| Party for the Animals | 127,945 | 1.68 | 59 | –4 | |
| Party for Freedom | 92,377 | 1.21 | 101 | +40 | |
| Denk | 86,894 | 1.14 | 31 | +7 | |
| Volt Netherlands | 74,829 | 0.98 | 25 | +5 | |
| 50PLUS | 64,407 | 0.85 | 39 | +15 | |
| Christian Union–SGP | 61,102 | 0.80 | 76 | –25 | |
| JA21 | 35,366 | 0.46 | 17 | +15 | |
| Farmer–Citizen Movement | 35,304 | 0.46 | 38 | –21 | |
| Frisian National Party | 32,127 | 0.42 | 41 | –8 | |
| BIJ1 | 22,235 | 0.29 | 4 | –1 | |
| BVNL | 14,614 | 0.19 | 12 | –5 | |
| D66–GL–PvdA | 7,404 | 0.10 | 12 | –14 | |
| Pirate Party | 3,256 | 0.04 | 1 | 0 | |
| CDA–CU | 1,895 | 0.02 | 3 | New | |
| Party for the Rule of Law | 1,773 | 0.02 | 1 | New | |
| LEF – For the New Generation | 1,757 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | |
| New Social Contract | 1,718 | 0.02 | 0 | New | |
| D66–GL | 1,141 | 0.01 | 2 | –10 | |
| Peace for Animals | 892 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Libertarian Party | 393 | 0.01 | 0 | New | |
| Ellect | 330 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Netherlands with a Plan | 236 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| 1 WORLD 1 FUTURE | 168 | 0.00 | 0 | New | |
| Total | 7,613,953 | 100.00 | 8,523 | +93 | |
| Source: Kiesraad[6] | |||||
Amsterdam
[edit]Results
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GroenLinks | 61,357 | 17.91 | 10 | +2 | |
| Democrats 66 | 55,069 | 16.08 | 8 | +1 | |
| Labour Party | 48,337 | 14.11 | 7 | -2 | |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 37,199 | 10.86 | 6 | +1 | |
| Party for the Animals | 20,123 | 5.87 | 3 | 0 | |
| Volt Netherlands | 17,371 | 5.07 | 2 | 0 | |
| JA21 | 16,665 | 4.87 | 2 | 0 | |
| Denk | 16,292 | 4.76 | 2 | 0 | |
| Bij1 | 13,002 | 3.80 | 2 | -1 | |
| Christian Democratic Appeal | 10,887 | 3.18 | 1 | 0 | |
| Forum for Democracy | 10,374 | 3.03 | 1 | 0 | |
| Socialist Party | 10,256 | 2.99 | 1 | -1 | |
| De Vonk | 5,428 | 1.58 | 0 | New | |
| Christian Union | 4,471 | 1.31 | 0 | 0 | |
| De Stem van Amsterdam | 3,990 | 1.16 | 0 | New | |
| 50Plus | 2,322 | 0.68 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hart voor Amsterdam/Partij van de Ouderen | 2,151 | 0.63 | 0 | New | |
| Pirate Party | 1,504 | 0.44 | 0 | New | |
| Namens Amsterdammers. | 1,094 | 0.32 | 0 | New | |
| Farmer–Citizen Movement | 592 | 0.17 | 0 | New | |
| Partij voor Morgen | 436 | 0.13 | 0 | New | |
| Amsterdamse Alternatieve Alliantie | 428 | 0.12 | 0 | New | |
| LEF – For the New Generation | 416 | 0.12 | 0 | 0 | |
| Liberaal Collectief Amsterdam | 396 | 0.12 | 0 | New | |
| Libertarian Party | 392 | 0.11 | 0 | New | |
| Het Elan | 336 | 0.10 | 0 | New | |
| ELLECT | 266 | 0.08 | 0 | New | |
| NL Plan | 240 | 0.07 | 0 | New | |
| Partij voor de Rechtsstaat | 202 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Partij voor Betaalbaar Leven | 195 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| Partij voor Ontwikkeling | 191 | 0.06 | 0 | New | |
| 1 WERELD 1 TOEKOMST (1W1T) | 179 | 0.05 | 0 | New | |
| De Republikeinse Politieke Partij | 134 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| De Nieuwe Politiek | 132 | 0.04 | 0 | New | |
| Anti-racistische Moslimpartij | 109 | 0.03 | 0 | New | |
| Total | 342,536 | 100.00 | 45 | – | |
| Source: NOS[7] | |||||
Opinion polling
[edit]| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | PvdA | GL | D66 | VVD | BIJ1 | PvdD | Volt | SP | JA21 | Denk | CDA | FvD | PvdO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 election results[8] | 18 Mar 2026 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| O&S/Het Parool & AT5[9] | 9–12 Mar 2026 | 771 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| O&S/Het Parool & AT5[10] | 27 Jan–9 Feb 2026 | 1,354 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| O&S/Het Parool & AT5[11] | 4–12 Mar 2025 | 846 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 election | 16 Mar 2022 | — | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Rotterdam
[edit]Results
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GroenLinks–PvdA | 46,542 | 22.05 | 11 | +2 | |
| Livable Rotterdam | 43,248 | 20.49 | 11 | +1 | |
| Democrats 66 | 22,689 | 10.75 | 5 | 0 | |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 20,256 | 9.60 | 5 | –1 | |
| Denk | 18,592 | 8.81 | 4 | 0 | |
| Forum for Democracy | 10,161 | 4.81 | 2 | +1 | |
| Christian Democratic Appeal | 7,189 | 3.41 | 1 | 0 | |
| Party for the Animals | 6,234 | 2.95 | 1 | –1 | |
| Volt Netherlands | 6,171 | 2.92 | 1 | –1 | |
| 50Plus | 5,521 | 2.62 | 1 | 0 | |
| Socialist Party | 5,055 | 2.39 | 1 | 0 | |
| Christian Union | 5,074 | 2.40 | 1 | 0 | |
| BIJ1 | 4,195 | 1.99 | 1 | –1 | |
| Rotterdam NEXT | 2,437 | 1.15 | 0 | New | |
| JOU, lijst Verkoelen | 2,387 | 1.13 | 0 | New | |
| Reformed Political Party | 1,636 | 0.77 | 0 | New | |
| Party for Sports | 790 | 0.37 | 0 | New | |
| Beweging Armoedebestrijding | 800 | 0.38 | 0 | 0 | |
| Peace for Animals | 892 | 0.42 | 0 | New | |
| Wij van de Wijk | 690 | 0.33 | 0 | New | |
| Wij Kleurrijk Rotterdam | 538 | 0.25 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 211,097 | 100.00 | 45 | – | |
| Valid votes | 211,097 | 99.10 | |||
| Invalid votes | 1,049 | 0.49 | |||
| Blank votes | 862 | 0.40 | |||
| Total votes | 213,008 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 525,071 | 40.57 | |||
| Source: [12] | |||||
Opinion polling
[edit]| Pollster | Fieldwork date | Party | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LR | GL/PvdA | D66 | DENK | VVD | FVD | PvdD | BIJ1 | CDA | 50PLUS | SP | Volt | CU | Other | Lead | ||
| 2022 result | 16 Mar 2022 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Peil.nl[13] | 15 Mar 2026 | 10–11 | 8–9 | 6–7 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2 |
| Peil.nl[14] | 22 Feb 2026 | 9–10 | 8–9 | 8–9 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1 |
| D66/ordered by D66[15] | 15 Feb 2026 | 10 | 9 | 9 | unclear | 6 | unclear | unclear | unclear | 4 | unclear | unclear | unclear | unclear | unclear | 1 |
| Ipsos I&O/ordered by GLPVDA[15] | 15 Feb 2026 | 16% | 21% | 15% | 10% | 9% | unclear | 9% | unclear | unclear | unclear | unclear | unclear | unclear | unclear | 5% |
Groningen
[edit]Results
[edit]| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GroenLinks–PvdA | 28,817 | 24.98 | 13 | -2 | |
| Democrats 66 | 14,238 | 12.34 | 6 | +1 | |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 10,286 | 8.92 | 4 | +1 | |
| Party for the Animals | 9,337 | 8.09 | 4 | 0 | |
| Student en Stad | 8,699 | 7.54 | 3 | 0 | |
| Christian Democratic Appeal | 8,052 | 6.98 | 3 | +1 | |
| Stadspartij 100% voor Groningen | 8,046 | 6.98 | 3 | -1 | |
| Socialist Party | 7,445 | 6.45 | 3 | -1 | |
| Christian Union | 4,428 | 3.84 | 2 | 0 | |
| Forum for Democracy | 4,284 | 3.71 | 1 | +1 | |
| Party for the North | 3,873 | 3.36 | 1 | -1 | |
| Party for Freedom | 3,639 | 3.15 | 1 | 0 | |
| Volt Netherlands | 3,032 | 2.63 | 1 | +1 | |
| Farmer–Citizen Movement | 674 | 0.58 | 0 | New | |
| DURF | 499 | 0.43 | 0 | New | |
| Total | 115,349 | 100.00 | 45 | – | |
| Source: NOS[16] | |||||
Opinion polling
[edit]| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | Sample size | GL–PvdA | D66 | PvdD | Stadsp. | SP | VVD | S&S | CU | CDA | PvhN | PVV | FvD | Volt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OOG/Onderzoekdoen.nl[17] | 3–9 Mar 2026 | 1,759 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 election | 16 Mar 2022 | — | 15[N 1] | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
- ↑ As GroenLinks (9 seats) and PvdA (6 seats).
No elections
[edit]Reorganization
[edit]In the following municipalities, no regular municipal council elections will be held on 18 March 2026 because they have recently been involved in a reorganization operation:[18]
- Reorganization as of 1 January 2027
In the municipalities of Hilversum and Wijdemeren, redistricting elections will be held on 18 November 2026, if the parliamentary procedure regarding the merger bill is completed in time in 2026.[18][19]
Due to status as a public body
[edit]The public bodies of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands) have many tasks that are performed by municipalities in the rest of the Netherlands. However, the island council elections for these public bodies will take place simultaneously with the Provincial Council elections, which will be held for the first time in 2027.
Aftermath
[edit]Due to irregularities involving proxy votes, the municipal council of Gorinchem voted to annul the results of the election.[1][20] According to the NRC, voters (generally members of the Turkish minority) were coerced into giving away their voting passes and printed copies of their identity cards.[5] A repeat election was held on 29 April. In the re-election, D66 lost a seat which was won by the CDA.[21]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 "Nog geen nieuw stembiljet in 2026". Binnenlands Bestuur.
- ↑ "Elf gemeenten testen kleiner stembiljet tijdens gemeenteraadsverkiezingen". nos.nl. December 12, 2025.
- ↑ 5 gemeenten stemmen met een kleiner en handzamer stembiljet tijdens de Europees Parlementsverkiezing, rijksoverheid.nl, 11 maart 2024
- ↑ Nog geen nieuw stembiljet in 2026, Binnenlands Bestuur, 19 november 2024
- 1 2 "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen: lokale partijen kunnen doorgroeien". Ipsos I&O. 11 March 2026.
- ↑ "Kiesraad - Verkiezingsuitslagen".
- ↑ "Uitslagen Gemeenteraad 2026".
- ↑ "Voorlopige uitslag verkiezingen gemeenteraad en stadsdeel- en bestuurscommissies 2026 | Website Onderzoek en Statistiek". onderzoek.amsterdam.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ↑ "Peiling: PvdA en GroenLinks dicht bij elkaar, D66 blijft wat achter | Website Onderzoek en Statistiek". onderzoek.amsterdam.nl. 2026-03-16.
- ↑ "Peiling: PvdA, GroenLinks en D66 dicht bij elkaar | Website Onderzoek en Statistiek". onderzoek.amsterdam.nl.
- ↑ "Peiling: PvdA de grootste in Amsterdam | Website Onderzoek en Statistiek". onderzoek.amsterdam.nl.
- ↑ 0599 Rotterdam - Gemeentelijk stembureau - De verkiezing van de leden van de gemeenteraad 18 maart 2026 - Verslag en telresultaten per !ijst en kandidaat - Model Na 31-2
- ↑ "Nieuwe peiling De Hond: Leefbaar Rotterdam groter dan GroenLinks-PvdA en D66". ad.nl. 2026-03-15.
- ↑ "Peiling De Hond: Leefbaar grootste kanshebber in spannende Rotterdamse driestrijd". ad.nl. 2026-02-22.
- 1 2 "Peilingen wijzen op spannende driestrijd in Rotterdam". ad.nl.
- ↑ "Uitslagen Gemeenteraad 2026".
- ↑ Grote verschuivingen in Groningse peiling: lokale partijen verliezen, nieuwkomers Volt en FvD winnen | OOG Panel (in Dutch)
- 1 2 Wet algemene regels herindeling, artikel 56e.
- ↑ Wetsvoorstel herindeling gemeenten Hilversum en Wijdemeren naar Tweede Kamer rijksoverheid.nl, 21 November 2025
- ↑ Schipper, Meike; Groenendijk, Hans (2026-03-24). "Burgemeester Gorinchem had vóór de verkiezingen al informatie over het ronselen van stemmen". www.rijnmond.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-03-30.
- ↑ "Weinig verschuivingen bij herverkiezingen, Democraten Gorinchem blijft grootste". nos.nl (in Dutch). 2026-04-30. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
