A2 KNM: Government Structure
The Netherlands has three levels of government: national (Rijksoverheid), provincial (provincie), and municipal (gemeente). The national parliament consis...
Reviewed against official sources - Updated 2026-05-10
The Netherlands has three levels of government: national (Rijksoverheid), provincial (provincie), and municipal (gemeente). The national parliament consists of two chambers: the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives, 150 members) and the Eerste Kamer (Senate, 75 members). The prime minister leads the government.
| Dutch | English | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Rijksoverheid | National government | Laws, defense, foreign policy |
| Tweede Kamer | House of Representatives | Makes and votes on laws |
| Eerste Kamer | Senate | Approves or rejects laws |
| Minister-president | Prime Minister | Head of government |
| Provincie | Province | Regional planning, environment |
| Gemeente | Municipality | Local services, permits |
| Role | Dutch | What to Remember |
|---|---|---|
| King | Koning | Head of state; signs laws together with ministers |
| Cabinet | Kabinet | Ministers and state secretaries who govern |
| Minister | Minister | Responsible for one policy area, such as health or education |
| State secretary | Staatssecretaris | Helps a minister with part of the work |
| Mayor | Burgemeester | Chairs the local executive and works on public order |
| Alderman | Wethouder | Municipal executive member for local policy |
Examples
- Hoeveel leden heeft de Tweede Kamer?
- How many members does the House of Representatives have?
- De Tweede Kamer heeft 150 leden.
- The House of Representatives has 150 members.
- De gemeente geeft paspoorten uit.
- The municipality issues passports.
- Het Catshuis is de ambtswoning van de minister-president.
- The Catshuis is the prime minister's official residence.
Study note
The Netherlands almost always has a coalition government because one party usually does not win a majority. Multiple parties must work together, which is called 'polderen' - the Dutch art of compromise and consensus.
Practice after reading
Train A2 knowledge of Dutch society with timed KNM practice questions.
