Political Parties

There are a great number of active political parties in the Netherlands. This section presents the major parties which have a seat in parliament.

For more information (generally in Dutch) follow the link to each party's website (click on the titles):

• Christen Democratisch Appèl (CDA)
  The largest Christian Democratic Party in the Netherlands. It focuses on five points: democracy, safety, prosperity, the environment and culture, from a Christian point of view.
• ChristenUnie (CU)
  This is one of the smaller and more conservative Protestant parties. It tends to focus on Christian values to battle inequality and poverty.
• Democraten 66 (D66)
  This is a social-liberal party that focuses on an open and individual society with a good social cohesion. It places a strong emphasis on education, self-determination, freedom of choice and democratisation measures such as referendums and direct elections.
• GroenLinks
  This is a party based on environmental issues. It strives for a more balanced society based on equality and holds that differences between the poor and the rich must be reduced.
• Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA)
  The Dutch Labour Party. It focuses on education, health care and public safety as well as on the environment and economic progress.
• Partij voor de Dieren (PvdD)
  Party for the Animals is a party that aims to improve the position of animals in our society. Focus is on battling bio-industries and lab testing with animals.
• Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV)
  Party for Freedom is a far right-wing party led by the controversial politician Geert Wilders. It mainly focuses on an immigration stop for Muslims, improving safety, lowering taxes and improving education.
• Socialistische Partij (SP)
  The Dutch Socialists. Its program is based on human dignity, equality and solidarity. It tries to level out the differences between the rich and the poor through strict government control.
• Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP)
  This party is based on the word of God from a protestant point of view. It is a conservative party that focuses on a society based on the values outlined in the Bible.
• Trots op Nederland
  Proud of the Netherlands is a one-woman fraction of Rita Verdonk. Dutch nationalist and populist party.
• Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD)
  The Dutch Conservatives (although they're called liberal in Dutch). Focus on economic liberalism, self-determination, little government intervention and a touch stance on security and immigration issues.