Standing as a candidate for municipal elections

Do you want to run as a candidate in the municipal council elections? Then you must be on the candidate list of a political party. Your party submits the list to the Electoral Council.

Rule at Electoral Council

Cost

Candidacy is free. However, if your party does not yet have a seat on the municipal council, your party must pay a deposit for the party's candidacy. This deposit is €225. Your party must pay the deposit no later than Monday, January 19, 2026.

The government refunds the deposit if your party obtains at least 75% of the electoral count. The electoral quota is the number of valid votes needed for one seat. You will also get the deposit back if your party did not submit a valid list of candidates.

Description

If you want to participate in municipal council elections, you must be on the candidate list of a political party. Your party submits the list of candidates to the Electoral Council on the day of the nomination of candidates (Monday, Feb. 2, 2026).

Read more about candidate lists for municipal council elections at Kiesraad.nl.

Requirements

You may apply under these Requirements :

  • You have Dutch nationality or the nationality of another EU country. Or you have lived lawfully in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years. 
  • You are 18 years of age or older on the day of the election. Or you turn 18 during the municipal council term.
  • You are not excluded from the right to vote.
  • You are on a valid candidate list. View the Requirements for candidate lists at Kiesraad.nl.

Learn more

Information on candidacy

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Approach

This is how you stand for election:

  • You ask your political party to put your name on the list of candidates.
  • Find out at Kiesraad.nl what other documents your party needs from you.
  • Your party will submit the list of candidates and other documents to the Electoral Council on Monday, February 2, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.