2026 Dutch Municipal Elections: A Comprehensive Guide

On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the Netherlands will hold municipal elections in 333 municipalities across the country. These elections will determine the composition of the municipal councils for the next four years. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to grasp about the upcoming elections, including details on municipalities undergoing reorganization and innovative changes to the voting process.

Key Details of the 2026 Elections

• Date: March 18, 2026
• Number of Municipalities: 333
• Purpose: To elect members of municipal councils for a four-year term.

Municipalities with No Regular Elections

Several municipalities will not be holding regular municipal council elections on March 18, 2026, due to recent or ongoing reorganization efforts. These include:

• Municipalities involved in reorganization operations as of January 1, 2027.

Redistricting Elections in Hilversum and Wijdemeren

The municipalities of Hilversum and Wijdemeren are scheduled to hold redistricting elections on November 18, 2026, if the parliamentary procedure regarding their merger bill is completed in time. This means voters in these areas will have two opportunities to vote in 2026.

Island Councils in the Caribbean Netherlands

The public bodies of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, while performing functions similar to municipalities in the Netherlands, will not participate in the March 18th municipal elections. Instead, their island council elections will be held concurrently with the Provincial Council elections in 2027. This marks the first time these elections will be held together.

Experimenting with Ballot Paper Size

In an effort to simplify and expedite the voting and counting process, at least eleven municipalities will be piloting a smaller ballot paper size (A3 format) during the 2026 municipal elections. These municipalities are:

• Alphen aan den Rijn
• Boekel
• Gouda
• ‘s-Hertogenbosch
• Leiden
• Meierijstad
• Midden-Delfland
• Nijmegen
• Noordoostpolder
• Soest
• Tynaarlo

Borne previously participated in this experiment but has opted out of the 2026 elections due to concerns about invalid votes and reduced candidate recognizability. Both the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Electoral Council remain supportive of the experiment.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 Dutch municipal elections represent a significant moment for local governance across the Netherlands. The introduction of smaller ballot papers in select municipalities and the coordinated elections in the Caribbean Netherlands demonstrate a commitment to innovation and accessibility in the electoral process. Voters are encouraged to stay informed about the candidates and issues relevant to their communities as the election date approaches.