Historic composition of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands


The Historic composition of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands gives an overview of the composition of the House of Representatives of the Dutch parliament. It shows the composition after elections, splits from parties are not included.

1815 to 1887

The House of Representatives of the Netherlands was created in 1815 when the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was created. Initially it consisted of 110 members, chosen by the States-Provincial. Each year, one third of the members were up for reelection, and each member was elected for three years. In 1830, the southern provinces declared their independence in the Belgian Revolution, to become Belgium. Initially the Netherlands did not accept this, but the 55 members of the House of Representatives chosen by these provinces were no longer present at meetings, so the de facto membership was reduced to 55 members.
After the Treaty of London in 1839, the Dutch government accepted the separation of Belgium, and became the Kingdom of the Netherlands. In 1840 the constitution was changed; all southern provinces except the eastern half of the province of Limburg had left the Kingdom of the Netherlands, so the size of the House of Representatives was fixed at 58 members.
Following the revolutions of 1848, the constitution was changed. Elections for half of the house were held every two years, and each member held his seat for four years. The total membership was set at one member for each 45000 Dutch citizens; so the house increased to 68 members; in 1859 it grew further to 72 members.

1888 to 1946

The constitution of 1887 changed the system; election were held every 4 years for all members at the same time, using a district system, and the total membership was set at 100 members.
In 1919, the constitution was changed: the districts system was abandoned, and proportional representation was used.
Party Name188818911894189719011905190919131917191819221925192919331937
Conservative1
RKSP252525222525252524303230302831
RKVP/KDP11
ARP272115172315251112131613121417
Vrij AR57
CHP7
CHU101097111111108
CDP1
CDU12
SGP12332
HGSP111
BVL1389410104
Liberal Union4653573518252019216
EB3
LSP109874
RB134
VDB911978557766
SDAP26671815222024242223
SDP/CPH/CPN2212*43
RSP/RSAP1
SP1
PB12111
NSB4
SDB1
Independent Socialist111
CHK11
FB11
Independent AR1
BCS1
VDW1
NP1
CSP1
MP1
LP1
MPS&L1
VNH1
Total100100100100100100100100100100100100100100100

*: In 1929 the CPH entered with two lists, which both won one seat.

1946 to 1998

Note: in 1956 the House of Representatives was enlarged from 100 to 150 members.

1998 to now