Eerste Kamer

The Eerste Kamer (literally First Chamber in Dutch) is the Upper House or Senate of the Netherlands parliament, the Estates-General. It was established in 1815 when the Netherlands and Belgium emerged as a single state at the end of the Napoleonic wars and continued after Belgian independence in 1830.

Related Topics:
Dutch - Upper House - Senate - Netherlands - Estates-General - 1815 - Belgium - Napoleonic wars - 1830

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It currently has 75 members, elected indirectly by 12 provincial councils every four years. Unlike the politically more significant Tweede Kamer, its members tend to be part-time politicians at the national level, often having other roles. It has the right to accept or reject legislative bills, but does not have the right of amendment.

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Its membership (2003) is:

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Christen Democratisch Appèl (CDA) 23

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Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA) 19

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Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD)15

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GroenLinks (GL) 5

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Socialistische Partij (SP) 4

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Democraten 66 (D66) 3

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ChristenUnie (CU) 2

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Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP) 2

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Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF) 1

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Onafhankelijke Senaatsfractie (OSF) 1

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