2022 Dutch municipal elections

Municipal elections were held on 16 March 2022 in 333 municipalities in the Netherlands. This election determined the composition of the municipal councils for the following four years.^[1]

Background

In the previous municipal elections, local political parties won by far the most votes and seats. Nationally, all local political parties won a total of 29% of the votes and around a third of municipal council seats.^[2] Local parties have seen a steady rise since the 1990s and in Vlieland there are only local parties that participate.^[3]

Of all national political parties, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) will contest the most municipal elections; the party will be on the ballot in all but five (Diemen, Ouder-Amstel, Rozendaal, Vlieland and Schiermonnikoog). The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) comes in second, contesting in 317 elections, while Democrats 66 participates in 289 elections. The Labour Party (PvdA) will participate in 303 elections, and GroenLinks in 229, many of which are joint lists between the two parties. Meanwhile, the ChristianUnion runs in 175 and the Reformed Political Party (SGP) in 96, with these parties also having many joint lists. The Socialist Party participates in 86, Forum for Democracy (FvD), which had previously only participated in Amsterdam, has expanded significantly to participate in 50 elections. The Party for Freedom (PVV) participates in 31, Party for the Animals (PvdD) in 30, DENK in 20, 50PLUS in 19 and BIJ1 in 5. There are also 3 national parties participating for the first time in municipal elections, BvNL in 20 municipalities, Volt in 10, and JA21 only in Amsterdam.^[3]

Twelve municipalities did not have elections on 16 March due to mergers.

Electoral system

Municipal councils are elected using party-list proportional representation. The number of seats depends on the population of the municipality, ranging from nine seats for municipalities with a population below 3,000, to 45 seats for municipalities with a population over 200,000. All people above the age of 18, who are registered in a municipality, and have not been excluded from voting following a court's decision are eligible to vote. Dutch citizenship is not required to be eligible to vote for municipal elections, non-EU nationals who have legally resided in the Netherlands for at least five years and EU citizens are also eligible to vote.^[4]

National

Opinion polling

Polling firm	Release date	Sample size	Local	VVD	CDA	D66	GL	PvdA	SP	CU	SGP	PVV	PvdD	DENK	50+	FvD	BIJ1	Volt	JA21	Others	Lead	Ref
Polling firm	Release date	Sample size																		Others	Lead	Ref
I&O Research	10 Mar 2022	1,495	35.4%	11.2%	6.8%	7.5%	7.8%	7.4%	3.6%	3.8%	2.9%	3.3%	3.6%	0.9%	1.1%	1.3%	0.5%	1.5%	0.6%	0.4%	24.2%	^[5]
I&O Research	18 Feb 2022	1,444	33.0%	12.7%	6.0%	7.6%	7.3%	6.4%	3.6%	3.9%	2.9%	4.5%	3.6%	1.1%	0.7%	1.4%	0.9%	1.9%	2.6%	0.0%	20.3%	^[6]
I&O Research	31 Jan 2022	1,444	31.8%	12.3%	5.2%	7.2%	7.3%	6.0%	3.0%	3.3%	3.0%	6.3%	4.0%	1.3%	1.1%	2.5%	0.9%	2.6%	2.2%	0.0%	19.5%	^[7]
2018 election	21 Mar 2018	–	28.7%	13.5%	13.4%	9.2%	8.9%	7.5%	4.4%	3.8%	1.9%	1.4%	1.2%	1.0%	0.8%	0.3%	0.1%	did not contest		4.6%	15.2%

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Local parties	2,134,965	30.95	2,988	+377
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	807,085	11.70	1,000	–131
	Christian Democratic Appeal	773,399	11.21	1,105	–240
	Democrats 66	607,353	8.81	620	+18
	GroenLinks	585,673	8.49	546	+19
	Labour Party	541,140	7.85	560	+11
	Christian Union	268,794	3.90	305	+2
	Socialist Party	192,132	2.79	173	–112
	Reformed Political Party	158,781	2.30	229	+56
	Party for the Animals	135,587	1.97	63	+33
	GroenLinks–PvdA	99,472	1.44	164	+50
	Forum for Democracy	76,750	1.11	50	+47
	CU-SGP	74,188	1.08	101	–6
	Denk	67,982	0.99	24	0
	Party for Freedom	62,559	0.91	61	–14
	Volt	51,823	0.75	20	New
	Farmer–Citizen Movement	43,892	0.64	59	New
	50PLUS	43,517	0.63	24	–9
	BIJ1	40,332	0.58	8	+7
	Frisian National Party	36,200	0.52	49	+27
	BVNL	21,447	0.31	17	New
	JA21	13,691	0.20	2	New
	D66–GL–PvdA	12,515	0.18	26	–17
	Party for the Elderly and Safety	10,104	0.15	11	New
	D66–GL	6,936	0.10	12	–2
	Party for the North	5,829	0.08	5	New
	D66–PvdA	4,043	0.06	4	–1
	Jesus Lives	3,893	0.06	0	0
	Pirate Party	3,251	0.05	1	+1
	General Elderly Alliance	3,217	0.05	4	-5
	LEF - For the New Generation	2,466	0.04	0	New
	Heart for Freedom	2,334	0.03	1	New
	BBB–TROTS	2,152	0.03	1	New
	Trots op Nederland	1,422	0.02	2	-1
	D66–GL–PvdA–SP	1,240	0.02	2	–8
	The Party Party	912	0.01	0	New
Total		6,897,076	100.00	8,237	–

Valid votes		6,897,076	99.47
Invalid/blank votes		37,085	0.53
Total votes		6,934,161	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		13,599,700	50.99
Source: Kiesraad^[8]

Amsterdam

Opinion polling

Polling firm	Date	GL	D66	VVD	PvdA	SP	PvdD	DENK	FvD	CDA	PvdO ^[a]	CU	BIJ1	JA21	Volt	Lead	Ref
Polling firm	Date															Lead	Ref
OIS	13 Mar 2022	7	7	4	7	2	4	2	1	1	0	1	2	4	3	Tied	^[9]
I&O Research	5 Mar 2022	8	8	4	6	3	4	2	1	0	1	0	3	2	3	Tied	^[10]
Peil.nl	22 Feb 2022	5/6	8	6	5/6	2	4	3	1	1	1	1	3	1	3	2	^[11]
OIS	5 Feb 2022	7	6	4	5	2	4	2	1	1	1	1	2	4	6	1	^[12]
I&O Research	31 Jan 2022	8	8	5	5	2	4	2	2	0	0	0	3	2	4	Tied	^[13]
Peil.nl	18 Jan 2022	5	8	5	5	2	4	3	1	1	1	1	3	1	5	3	^[14]
2018 election	21 Mar 2018	10	8	6	5	3	3	3	3	1	1	1	1	did not contest		2

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Labour Party	57,093	17.57	9	+4
	GroenLinks	48,096	14.80	8	–2
	Democrats 66	44,732	13.77	7	–1
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	34,180	10.52	5	–1
	Amsterdam BIJ1	22,623	6.96	3	+2
	Party for the Animals	22,031	6.78	3	0
	Volt	14,043	4.32	2	New
	Socialist Party	14,036	4.32	2	–1
	JA21	13,691	4.21	2	New
	DENK	13,039	4.01	2	–1
	Christian Democratic Appeal	8,270	2.55	1	0
	Forum for Democracy	6,688	2.06	1	–2
Other parties		26,347	8.11	0	–2
Total		324,869	100.00	45	–

Valid votes		324,869	99.11
Invalid/blank votes		2,924	0.89
Total votes		327,793	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		703,714	46.58
Source: Kiesraad^[15]

Rotterdam

Opinion polling

Polling firm	Date	LR	VVD	D66	GL	PvdA	DENK	SP	CDA	PvdD	50+	CU	BIJ1	FvD	Volt	S010 ^[b]	Lead	Ref
Polling firm	Date																Lead	Ref
Peil.nl	6 Mar 2022	13	5	6	4	3	4	1	1	2	0	1	2	1	2	0	7	^[16]
Peil.nl	22 Feb 2022	13	5	6	3	3	3	1	1	2	0	1	2	1	3	1	7	^[17]
2018 election	21 Mar 2018	11	5	5	5	5	4	2	2	1	1	1^[c]	did not contest				6

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Livable Rotterdam	39,972	20.08	10	-1
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	22,410	11.26	6	+1
	GroenLinks	19,806	9.95	5	0
	Democrats 66	19,761	9.93	5	0
	Labour Party	17,113	8.60	4	–1
	DENK	15,612	7.84	4	0
	Volt	10,365	5.21	2	New
	Party for the Animals	8,552	4.30	2	+1
	BIJ1	8,205	4.12	2	New
	50PLUS	7,216	3.63	1	0
	Christian Union	6,822	3.43	1	New
	Socialist Party	5,766	2.90	1	–1
	Christian Democratic Appeal	5,749	2.89	1	–1
	Forum for Democracy	4,637	2.33	1	New
Other parties		7,053	3.54	0	–4
Total		199,039	100.00	45	–

Valid votes		199,039	98.93
Invalid/blank votes		2,161	1.07
Total votes		201,200	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		516,986	38.92
Source: Kiesraad^[18]

The Hague

Opinion polling

Polling firm	Date	GDM	VVD	D66	GL	CDA	PvdA	HSP ^[d]	PvdD	PVV	CU-SGP	SP	50+	FvD	DENK	Lead	Ref
Polling firm	Date															Lead	Ref
I&O Research	8 Mar 2022	9	5	7	5	2	4	2	4	3	1	1	0	0	2	2	^[19]
I&O Research	8 Feb 2022	9	6	6	5	1	5	2	3	2	1	2	0	0	3	3	^[19]
Peil.nl	18 Jan 2022	11	7	7	4	2	3	1	3	2	1	1	0	1	2	4	^[20]
2018 election	21 Mar 2018	8	7	6	5	3	3	3	2	2	1	1	1	did not contest		1

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Heart for The Hague	30,988	16.97	9	+1
	Democrats 66	27,937	15.30	8	+2
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	24,298	13.30	7	0
	GroenLinks	18,223	9.98	5	0
	Party for the Animals	12,363	6.77	3	+1
	Labour Party	11,764	6.44	3	0
	Christian Democratic Appeal	11,455	6.27	3	0
	DENK	10,222	5.60	2	New
	The Hague City Party	6,471	3.54	1	–2
	Socialist Party	5,337	2.92	1	0
	Party for Freedom	5,324	2.92	1	–1
	Christian Union – Reformed Political Party	4,971	2.72	1	0
	Forum for Democracy	3,896	2.13	1	New
Other parties		9,380	5.14	0	–4
Total		182,629	100.00	45	–

Valid votes		182,629	99.20
Invalid/blank votes		1,465	0.80
Total votes		184,094	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		428,137	43.00
Source: Kiesraad^[21]

Utrecht

Opinion polling

Polling firm	Date	GL	D66	VVD	PvdA	CDA	PvdD	DENK	CU	S&S	SP	PVV	SBU ^[e]	BIJ1	Volt	FvD	Lead	Ref
Polling firm	Date																Lead	Ref
I&O Research	5 Mar 2022	9	8	6	3	1	4	3	1	0	1	2	1	2	4	0	1	^[10]
Peil.nl	24 Feb 2022	7	8	6	3	1	3	3	2	2	0/1	2	2	0/1	4	1	1	^[22]
2018 election	21 Mar 2018	12	10	6	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	did not contest			2

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	GroenLinks	29,110	18.49	9	–3
	Democrats 66	25,628	16.28	8	–2
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	14,856	9.44	5	–1
	Labour Party	12,460	7.91	4	+1
	Christian Democratic Appeal	11,117	7.06	3	+1
	Party for the Animals	10,124	6.43	3	+1
	Volt	8,896	5.65	3	New
	Student & Starter	8,546	5.43	2	0
	Christian Union	6,034	3.83	2	0
	DENK	5,525	3.51	1	–1
	BIJ1	5,398	3.43	1	New
	OneUtrecht	4,383	2.78	1	New
	Socialist Party	3,945	2.51	1	–1
	City Interest Utrecht	3,432	2.18	1	0
	Party for Freedom	3,385	2.15	1	0
Other parties		4,586	2.91	0	0
Total		157,425	100.00	45	–

Valid votes		157,425	99.59
Invalid/blank votes		645	0.41
Total votes		158,070	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		280,577	56.34
Source: Kiesraad^[23]

Groningen

Opinion polling

Polling firm	Date	GL	PvdA	D66	SP	VVD	CU	PvdD	CDA	SP100G ^[f]	S&S	PVV	PvhN	Lead	Ref
Polling firm	Date													Lead	Ref
I&O Research	5 Mar 2022	8	5	9	3	5	3	4	1	4	0	2	1	1	^[10]
2018 reorganisation election	21 Nov 2018	11	6	5	5	4	3	3	2	4^[g]	1	1	did not contest	5

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	GroenLinks	18,669	17.76	9	–2
	Labour Party	12,434	11.83	6	0
	Democrats 66	10,986	10.45	5	0
	Party for the Animals	9,730	9.26	4	+1
	City Party 100% for Groningen	9,689	9.22	4	0
	Socialist Party	8,631	8.21	4	–1
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	7,860	7.48	3	–1
	Student en Stad	6,607	6.29	3	+2
	Christian Union	5,344	5.08	2	–1
	Christian Democratic Appeal	5,243	4.99	2	0
	Party for the North	4,282	4.07	2	New
	Party for Freedom	2,234	2.13	1	0
Other parties		3,401	3.24	0	0
Total		105,110	100.00	45	–

Valid votes		105,110	99.59
Invalid/blank votes		437	0.41
Total votes		105,547	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		194,113	54.37
Source: Kiesraad^[24]

Nijmegen

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	GroenLinks	16,149	20.36	9	–2
	City Party Nijmegen	12,873	16.23	7	+4
	Democrats 66	10,664	13.45	6	0
	Labour Party	8,352	10.53	4	+1
	Party for the Animals	7,726	9.74	4	+2
	Socialist Party	7,043	8.88	3	–2
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	6,184	7.80	3	–1
	Christian Democratic Appeal	3,562	4.49	2	0
	Just Nijmegen.NOW	2,713	3.42	1	–1
Other parties		4,036	5.09	0	–1
Total		79,302	100.00	39	–

Valid votes		79,302	99.53
Invalid/blank votes		377	0.47
Total votes		79,679	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		147,174	54.14
Source: Kiesraad^[25]

Notes

^ Party for the Elderly
^ Socialists 010
^ contested as CU-SGP
^ The Hague City Party
^ City Interest Utrecht
^ City Party 100% For Groningen
^ contested as 100G, SSO and Sport Party

References

^ "Gemeenteraden". Kiesraad.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
^ "Gemeenteraad 21 maart 2018". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b "PvdA en SP in minder gemeenten op stembiljet CDA vrijwel overal". BNR (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.
^ "Kiesgerechtigheid". Kiesraad (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 March 2022.
^ "I&O-slotpeiling: gezamenlijke lokale partijen groeien door". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ Wiegman, Sandra (2022-02-18). "CDA verliest lokaal door teleurstelling over landelijk optreden". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2022: groot arsenaal dolende kiezers". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731038
^ "DPG Media Privacy Gate". myprivacy.dpgmedia.nl. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ ^a ^b ^c Wiegman, Sandra (2022-03-05). "D66 en GroenLinks strijden om de macht in Amsterdam, Utrecht en Groningen". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ "Volt duikelt in nieuwe peiling | Binnenland | Telegraaf.nl". www.telegraaf.nl (in Dutch). 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ "Peiling: GroenLinks nipt de grootste, grote winst Volt en JA21". openresearch.amsterdam (in Dutch). 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ Engeland, Wietse van (2022-01-31). "Slag om Amsterdam: vier partijen kunnen grootste worden". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/groenlinks-gehalveerd-als-amsterdam-nu-een-gemeenteraad-zou-kiezen-volt-lijkt-de-grote-winnaar~b859f297/
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/709041
^ https://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/leefbaar-rotterdam-opnieuw-ruim-de-grootste-in-peiling~a6bbc35e/
^ https://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/peiling-leefbaar-rotterdam-veruit-de-grootste-d66-tweede-partij~aba55595
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/723691
^ ^a ^b Therese (2022-03-08). "Hart voor Den Haag blijft aan kop in Den Haag". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ "Peiling: Hart voor Den Haag weer grootste partij, D66 tweede". voorburgsdagblad.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/705145
^ https://www.ad.nl/utrecht/d66-utrecht-op-kop-in-eerste-peiling-op-voet-gevolgd-door-groenlinks-een-beginstand-geen-eindstand~a1572e46/
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/706426
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/702118
^ https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/704136

External links

Media related to Dutch municipal elections 2022 at Wikimedia Commons

[9] Party for the Elderly

[17] Socialists 010

[20] tested as CU-SGP

[22] The Hague City Party

[26] City Interest Utrecht

[29] City Party 100% For Groningen

[30] tested as 100G, SSO and Sport Party

[1] "Gemeenteraden". Kiesraad.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.

[2] "Gemeenteraad 21 maart 2018". Verkiezingsuitslagen (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.

[bnr-3] "PvdA en SP in minder gemeenten op stembiljet CDA vrijwel overal". BNR (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 February 2022.

[4] "Kiesgerechtigheid". Kiesraad (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 March 2022.

[5] "I&O-slotpeiling: gezamenlijke lokale partijen groeien door". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[6] Wiegman, Sandra (2022-02-18). "CDA verliest lokaal door teleurstelling over landelijk optreden". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[7] "Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2022: groot arsenaal dolende kiezers". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). 2022-01-31. Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[8] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731038

[10] "DPG Media Privacy Gate". myprivacy.dpgmedia.nl. Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[:1-11] Wiegman, Sandra (2022-03-05). "D66 en GroenLinks strijden om de macht in Amsterdam, Utrecht en Groningen". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[12] "Volt duikelt in nieuwe peiling | Binnenland | Telegraaf.nl". www.telegraaf.nl (in Dutch). 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[13] "Peiling: GroenLinks nipt de grootste, grote winst Volt en JA21". openresearch.amsterdam (in Dutch). 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[14] Engeland, Wietse van (2022-01-31). "Slag om Amsterdam: vier partijen kunnen grootste worden". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[15] ttps://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/groenlinks-gehalveerd-als-amsterdam-nu-een-gemeenteraad-zou-kiezen-volt-lijkt-de-grote-winnaar~b859f297/

[16] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/709041

[18] ttps://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/leefbaar-rotterdam-opnieuw-ruim-de-grootste-in-peiling~a6bbc35e/

[19] ttps://www.ad.nl/rotterdam/peiling-leefbaar-rotterdam-veruit-de-grootste-d66-tweede-partij~aba55595

[21] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/723691

[:0-23] Therese (2022-03-08). "Hart voor Den Haag blijft aan kop in Den Haag". Ipsos I&O Publiek (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[24] "Peiling: Hart voor Den Haag weer grootste partij, D66 tweede". voorburgsdagblad.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2024-11-13.

[25] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/705145

[27] ttps://www.ad.nl/utrecht/d66-utrecht-op-kop-in-eerste-peiling-op-voet-gevolgd-door-groenlinks-een-beginstand-geen-eindstand~a1572e46/

[28] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/706426

[31] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/702118

[32] ttps://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/704136

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[19]

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v t e Elections and referendums in the Netherlands
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