Part of the Politics series
Politics of the Netherlands
Azure, billetty Or a lion with a coronet Or armed and langued Gules holding in his dexter paw a sword Argent hilted Or and in the sinister paw seven arrows Argent pointed and bound together Or. [The seven arrows stand for the seven provinces of the Union of Utrecht.] The shield is crowned with the (Dutch) royal crown and supported by two lions Or armed and langued gules. They stand on a scroll Azure with the text (Or) "Je Maintiendrai" (French for "I will maintain".)
Constitution
Monarchy
Cabinet
States General
Judiciary
Elections
Local government
Foreign relations
Related topics
icon Politics portal

The Historic composition of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands gives an overview of the composition of the House of Representatives (lower house) of the Dutch parliament. It shows the composition after elections, splits from parties are not included.

1815 to 1887

The House of Representatives of the Netherlands was created in 1815 when the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was created. Initially it consisted of 110 members, chosen by the States-Provincial. Each year, one third of the members were up for reelection, and each member was elected for three years. In 1830, the southern provinces declared their independence in the Belgian Revolution, to become Belgium. Initially the Netherlands did not accept this, but the 55 members of the House of Representatives chosen by these provinces were no longer present at meetings, so the de facto membership was reduced to 55 members.[1] After the Treaty of London in 1839, the Dutch government accepted the separation of Belgium, and became the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1840 the constitution was changed; all southern provinces except the eastern half of the province of Limburg (with three representatives) had left the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so the size of the House of Representatives was fixed at 58 members.[1]

Following the revolutions of 1848, the constitution was changed. Elections for half of the house were held every two years, and each member held his seat for four years.[2] The total membership was set at one member for each 45000 Dutch citizens;[3] so the house increased to 68 members; in 1859 it grew further to 72 members.[1]

1888 to 1946

The constitution of 1887 changed the system; election were held every 4 years for all members at the same time,[2] using a district system, and the total membership was set at 100 members.[3]

In 1919, the constitution was changed: the districts system was abandoned, and proportional representation was used.[3]

Party Name 1888 1891 1894 1897 1901 1905 1909 1913 1917 1918 1922 1925 1929 1933 1937
Conservative 1
RKSP 25 25 25 22 25 25 25 25 24 30 32 30 30 28 31
RKVP/KDP 1 1
ARP 27 21 15 17 23 15 25 11 12 13 16 13 12 14 17
Vrij AR 5 7
CHP 7
CHU 10 10 9 7 11 11 11 10 8
CDP 1
CDU 1 2
SGP 1 2 3 3 2
HGSP 1 1 1
BVL 13 8 9 4 10 10 4
Liberal Union 46 53 57 35 18 25 20 19 21 6
EB 3
LSP 10 9 8 7 4
RB 1 3 4
VDB 9 11 9 7 8 5 5 7 7 6 6
SDAP 2 6 6 7 18 15 22 20 24 24 22 23
SDP/CPH/CPN 2 2 1 2* 4 3
RSP/RSAP 1
SP 1
PB 1 2 1 1 1
NSB 4
SDB 1
Independent Socialist 1 1 1
CHK 1 1
FB 1 1
Independent AR 1
BCS 1
VDW 1
NP 1
CSP 1
MP 1
LP 1
MPS&L 1
VNH 1
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

*: In 1929 the CPH entered with two lists, which both won one seat.

1946 to 1998

      Party Name       1946 1948 1952 1956 1959 1963 1967 1971 1972 1977 1981 1982 1986 1989 1994
KVP 32 32 30 49 49 50 42 35 27
ARP 13 13 12 15 14 13 15 13 14
CHU 8 9 9 13 12 13 12 10 7
CDA 49 48 45 54 54 34
PvdA 29 27 30 50 48 43 37 39 43 53 44 47 52 49 37
VVD 6 8 9 13 19 16 17 16 22 28 26 36 27 22 31
D66 7 11 6 8 17 6 9 12 24
SGP 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2
GPV 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2
RPF 2 2 1 1 3
PSP 2 4 4 2 2 1 3 3 1
PPR 2 7 3 3 2 2
CPN 10 8 6 7 3 4 5 6 7 2 3 3
EVP 1
GL 6 5
SP 2
CD 1 3
CP 1
AOV 6
Unie 55+ 1
DS '70 8 6 1
BP 3 7 1 3 1
RKPN 1
NMP 2
KNP 1 2
Total 100 100 100 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150

Note: in 1956 the House of Representatives was enlarged from 100 to 150 members.

1998 to now

      Party Name       1998 2002 2003 2006 2010 2012 2017 2021 2023
VVD 38 24 28 22 31 41 33 34 24
D66 14 7 6 3 10 12 19 24 9
PVV 9 24 15 20 17 37
CDA 29 43 44 41 21 13 19 15 5
SP 5 9 9 25 15 15 14 9 5
PvdA 45 23 42 33 30 38 9 9
GL 11 10 8 7 10 4 14 8
FVD 2 8 3
PvdD 2 2 2 5 6 3
CU 4 3 6 5 5 5 5 3
Volt 3 2
JA21 3 1
SGP 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3
DENK 3 3 3
50PLUS 2 4 1
BBB 1 7
GLPvdA 25
NSC 20
BIJ1 1
LPF 26 8
LN 2
RPF 3
GPV 2
Total 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal (1815-1861), Historici.nl
  2. ^ a b Ontwikkeling Grondwet artikel 85, www.europa-nu.nl
  3. ^ a b c Ontwikkeling Grondwet artikel 81, www.europa-nu.nl
Categories