The Netherlands is a democracy with a king. The king is the head of state, and the monarch you see in the pictures is Koning Willem-Alexander with his wife Máxima; their eldest daughter Amalia is the crown princess (de kroonprinses). The real power lies with the elected parliament and the government. The parliament, the Tweede Kamer, sits in The Hague and is elected by the voters, usually every four years; you may vote from the age of 18. There are many political parties, not one. The minister-president leads the meeting of the government, and the most important law is the Grondwet (the Constitution). Church and government are separate. Learn each of these as one short sentence in Dutch, because the exam gives you a picture and a short question.
Pictures you will see in the exam
The king and the queen
The Tweede Kamer
Voting
What you'll learn
- The king, the queen and the crown princess, and what a constitutional monarchy means
- The Tweede Kamer: where it sits (Den Haag) and who elects it (de kiezers)
- How often there are elections (usually every 4 years) and the voting age (18)
- The role of the minister-president and the importance of the Grondwet
- Why there are many political parties and why church and government are separate
Real KNS questions on this topic
Q: "Hoe vaak zijn er verkiezingen voor de Tweede Kamer?" (How often are there elections for the House of Representatives?) — A: "Meestal om de 4 jaar."
Q: "Hoe oud moet je zijn om te mogen stemmen?" (How old do you have to be to vote?) — A: "18 jaar of ouder."
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know the name of the current prime minister?
The questions ask about the role (the minister-president leads the meeting of the government), not about a name, because the person changes after elections. Asagno's bank asks who elects the Tweede Kamer instead of showing a politician.
What is the difference between the king and the government?
The king is the head of state but does not rule alone: the elected parliament makes the laws and the government, led by the minister-president, runs the country.
Where can I practise these questions?
On Asagno's KNS study page, filter by the topic "State & democracy" to see only these questions, with pictures and answers.