NetherlandsWorldwide

How do I register as a Dutch voter abroad?

If you live outside the Netherlands and you would like to vote in Dutch elections from abroad, you must register as a Dutch voter abroad with the municipality of The Hague. 

  • You live outside the Netherlands and are not registered with a Dutch municipality.
  • You have Dutch nationality.

  • You are18 years or over.

  • You have a valid Dutch identity document. This can be a Dutch passport or a Dutch ID card. Or an identity card from Bonaire, St Eustatius or Saba stating that you have Dutch nationality. Or an identity card from Aruba, Curaçao or St Maarten stating that you have Dutch nationality. You cannot register using a driving licence or a certificate of Dutch nationality.
Attention: If you live in Aruba, Curaçao or St Maarten and you have Dutch nationality, other conditions for registering apply if you want to vote for the European Parliament and the non-residents electoral college for the Senate. Find out more about voter registration for residents of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten (thehague.nl).

You must complete the registration form for Dutch voters abroad on the website of the municipality of The Hague (please note that the form is in Dutch). On the form, select the elections you would like to vote in. 

Registering as a Dutch voter abroad (thehague.nl)

Attention: Are you already registered as a non-resident voter for the elections but wish to change your address or e-mail address? Then you can fill in the amendment form (thehague.nl). You may also state for which elections you would like to vote. The completed and signed form, together with a copy of your passport or identity card, must be send to the Municipality of The Hague.

If you are registered as a Dutch voter abroad, you will automatically receive voting documents for elections for the following elections:

  • House of Representatives
  • European Parliament
  • The electoral college for non-residents (which helps determine the Senate)

Your postal vote certificate will be sent to you by post approximately 12 weeks before the elections. About 4 weeks before the elections your ballot paper will be sent to you by email (or by post if that is what you requested when you registered).

Find out what to do if you haven’t received your voting documents

You can vote in elections for the House of Representatives and the European Parliament by post, by proxy or at a polling station in a Dutch municipality. You can vote in elections for the electoral college for non-residents by post only.

Find out more about how to vote from abroad

Are you temporarily abroad? You can vote by proxy. Or you can apply to vote by post.

To vote by proxy you must apply for authorisation from the municipality where you are registered. To vote by post you must submit a request to the municipality of The Hague.

Find out more about how to vote if you are temporarily abroad