City council elections in Amsterdam – 18 March 2026

Who can vote

To be eligible to vote in the city council elections, you must be:

• over 18 years of age
• registered with the municipality where you live
• an EU citizen, or
• a non-EU citizen who has lived in the Netherlands continuously for at least five years

Non-EU internationals in Amsterdam are permitted to vote for their district committee (stadsdeelcommissie) if they have been registered in the city for at least two years.

How can I vote?

If you are registered in your municipality, it is not necessary to additionally register to vote. If you meet the above criteria, the City will automatically send you a poll card (stempas – ‘voting pass’) by post. It should arrive between 24 February and 1 March. You must bring this pass with you to the polling station, and you will also need to show an ID document (passport, driver’s license or ID card issued by an EU country). You can bring an expired document, but the expiry date must be less than five years ago.

If you’ve lost or damaged your poll card, you can apply for a new one in person, with your ID, at your District Committee office. It’s also possible to nominate someone else to vote on your behalf using the form that will be supplied with your voting pass.

What am I voting for?

In Amsterdam, the local elections are for the city council (gemeenteraad) and district committees (stadsdeelcommissie). They are held every four years. Amsterdam residents vote to elect the 45 members of the city council. They also vote for a district committee to manage their city district.

Why your vote matters

Participating in the elections is your chance to influence policies that affect your daily life in the Amsterdam Area. Remember that every vote counts, and that in a system of proportionate representation, even small parties can play a significant role in coalition negotiations. In addition, internationals represent a significant share of the electorate in local elections.

Help and information about candidates and parties

There are a number of online tools and guides, such as Stemwijzer (available from 18 February) and Kieskompas, that provide an overview of the parties you can vote for and their goals and manifestos. These tools can help voters to decide how to cast their vote. They’re only available in Dutch, but you can use various browsers or platforms that offer English translations or summaries.

Election day: where to go and what to bring

You can vote at any polling station in your municipality – check your municipality’s website for polling stations or visit this list and map of all polling stations in the country.

You will need to bring:

• Your poll card (stempas, ‘voting pass’), which you will have received by post before the elections
• A valid form of identification. The following are considered valid proof of identity: all passports, identity cards and driving licences from the Netherlands or other EU countries and from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; a passport or identity card from Switzerland or a document proving your residence permit issued by the Netherlands. You can bring expired documents, but the expiry date must be less than five years ago.

More information

Find out more about the city council elections in our guide to the local elections for internationals, and read more about the government of the City of Amsterdam. Our partner Dutchnews also have several interesting articles about the upcoming elections.