The Netherlands, explained
The Dutch parties, institutions, laws and terms in our stories, in plain English, with every story that mentions them.
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ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt)
The ACM is an independent regulator that oversees competition and consumer protection in Dutch markets, including energy, telecommunications, and…
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Bestseller 60
The Bestseller 60 is a weekly Dutch bestseller list that ranks the top-selling books in the Netherlands. It is compiled by a major retailer and…
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BIJ12
BIJ12 is a collaborative body where provinces, municipalities, and water boards coordinate on spatial planning, nature conservation, and…
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Box 3
Box 3 is the part of the Dutch income tax system that taxes wealth held in savings accounts, investments, and other assets. Rather than taxing…
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Cabinet (the government)
The Cabinet is the executive branch of the Dutch government, consisting of the Prime Minister and the Ministers who head various departments. It is…
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Catshuis
The Catshuis is the official residence of the Dutch Prime Minister, located in The Hague. It serves as both a home and the workplace where the PM…
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CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)
The CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistieken) is the Dutch government's official statistics agency, responsible for collecting and publishing data…
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CDA (Christen-Democratisch Appèl)
The CDA is a centre-right Christian democratic political party that has been a major force in Dutch politics for decades, often participating in…
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COA (Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers)
The COA is the Dutch government organization responsible for providing shelter, food, and basic care to asylum seekers while their applications are…
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CPNB (Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek)
The CPNB is the main trade organization representing booksellers, publishers, and distributors in the Netherlands. It maintains industry standards…
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FNV (Federatie Nederlandse Vakbeweging)
The FNV is the largest labor union confederation in the Netherlands, representing workers across many sectors including transport, healthcare,…
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Leenstelsel
The Dutch student financing system changed in 2015, replacing grants (which you did not need to repay) with loans that students must repay after…
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Sociaal akkoord
A sociaal akkoord is a broad agreement negotiated between the Dutch government, labor unions, and employer organizations on major workplace and…
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Spreidingswet
The spreidingswet is Dutch legislation that requires municipalities to share responsibility for housing asylum seekers proportionally based on their…
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Team Essent
Team Essent is a professional speed skating team based in the Netherlands that competes in both short-track and long-track skating events. The team…
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Tweede Kamer
The Tweede Kamer is the directly elected chamber of the Dutch parliament, with 150 members who represent the people and propose and vote on laws. It…
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VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie)
The VVD is a liberal, business-friendly party that emphasizes free markets and individual freedom, typically occupying the centre-right of Dutch…