SNBN Newsletter October 30: Election Results - Vote from Abroad Decisive?
- d.vandoorn
- Oct 30
- 3 min read
Welcome to this special newsletter about the election results! And that's precisely the point: the outcome isn't yet fully known. The neck-and-neck race that the polls previously indicated is still ongoing as this newsletter is being written: it will all come down to whether the PVV or D66 becomes the largest party. Note: votes from abroad are still being counted – and they could very well be decisive.
Among others, our own secretary, Twan Laan, currently in The Hague, is volunteering as a vote counter. The Ministry has previously provided a sympathetic glimpse into the organization of voting from abroad .
Since most parties have excluded the PVV from cooperation, it seems reasonable to assume that D66, albeit perhaps only after the fact, will ultimately form a new government. However, this is not yet certain.
Based on the preliminary election results (at the time of writing this newsletter), the only most logical coalition option seems to be a combination of D66 + GroenLinks/PvdA + CDA + VVD (86 seats). A parliamentary majority is achieved with 76 seats or more. The combination of D66 + VVD + CDA + JA21 would currently yield 75 seats: in principle, too risky.
For the This can make a significant difference for Dutch citizens living outside the Netherlands . For example, we know that GroenLinks/PvdA definitely supports the dual nationality initiative bill , while this isn't yet a given for the CDA and VVD. Support for this seems even difficult to imagine for JA21. If D66 truly wants to achieve this point, it must be factored into the upcoming coalition negotiations.
We certainly hope to have a cabinet formed before the end of the year, but experience shows that this often takes a bit longer. In any case, at SNBN we will keep up the pressure to continuously promote the interests of Dutch citizens abroad! Questions? Email us at info@snbn.nl or get in touch via social media – we can be found on LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter/X .
SNBN Secretary Twan Laan in Action as a Vote Counter: These are our Ballots!
While the Netherlands was voting on October 29th, the staff of the Foreign Elections Office were hard at work at the Scheveningen district office. By 4 p.m., 84,500 envelopes containing postal votes had arrived in The Hague . In the coming days, more votes will be sent by diplomatic mail from embassies and consulates.
Our secretary visited election project manager Nathalie Pilk, who, along with her staff, ensured that the ballots from all those envelopes ended up in 77 ballot boxes. The day after the election (today, October 30th), starting at 8:30 a.m., the votes will be counted at the World Forum in The Hague.
Good luck counting, Twan!
What do the Political Parties and Politicians say about our Topics?
In the run-up to the October 29 elections, the Foundation for Dutch People Abroad (SNBN) spoke with (candidate) politicians from various political parties about topics of great importance to Dutch people living abroad. As described in the previous newsletter, we were able to arrange interviews with the Labour Party (PvdA/GroenLinks), Volt, Party for the Animals, Democrats 66, CDA, NSC, and People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) .
All interviews can be found here .
The SNBN does not provide voting advice and is politically neutral , but mainly aims to provide insight and raise awareness about how parties think about the interests of Dutch people outside the Netherlands.
Without you, there would be no SNBN: Help us!
The Foundation for Dutch People Abroad (SNBN) works daily, entirely voluntarily, to promote the interests of Dutch people abroad .
Whether it concerns nationality issues, voting rights, pensions, or other practical and political obstacles, we ensure your voice is heard in The Hague. But we can't do it alone. Our activities depend on the support of stakeholders like you. With your contribution—large or small, one-time or recurring—we can continue to stand up for the rights of Dutch citizens abroad. Every donation makes a difference . Together, we make policy fairer, more understandable, and more accessible for everyone with a Dutch passport, wherever you live in the world.
Thank you for your support!