The constitution: clear and accessible to everyone

The Constitution

‘In the Netherlands, we treat everyone equally.” This is how Article 1 of the Constitution begins. In September 2021, the municipal council adopted a motion calling for the text of Article 1 of the Constitution to be displayed prominently in the Town Hall. “This article is the foundation of our democratic governance,” the motion stated. By displaying this principle of equality in a prominent place, it becomes clear that the local authority is committed to standing up for everyone.

That is why the glass façade of the Old Town Hall, in the heart of the city, right on the Marktplein, has now been chosen. This is where all the people of Apeldoorn pass by and meet one another. More articles from the Constitution are also on display: together, they form the basis of Dutch democracy. In due course, we will be highlighting Article 1 and other articles from the Constitution in more locations, including the Town Hall.

The Constitution is the foundation of the Dutch constitutional state. The Constitution consists of two parts. The first part sets out fundamental rights, such as the right to freedom of expression.

The second part contains various chapters on the institutions of state and how they function, such as the government (the King and ministers), the States General (the Senate and the House of Representatives) and how they work together to make laws.

The Constitution in plain Dutch

For this text, we have chosen the version of the Constitution written in plain Dutch. Very few people are familiar with the full text of the Constitution. For many people, the legal and convoluted language of the Constitution is difficult to understand. That is why Bureau Taal has rewritten the Constitution in plain Dutch and made it available as an app. You can download this app from the App Store.