Live Blog: City Council Elections

Third interim turnout

The third turnout figure at 8:30 p.m. is 59.55%. 

Second interim turnout

A second preliminary turnout figure!
As of 3:00 p.m., 33.02% of all eligible voters in Wassenaar had cast their ballots.

Interim turnout at 11:30 a.m.

As of 11:30 a.m., 16.74% of all eligible voters in Wassenaar had cast their ballots.

The polling stations are open!

Polling stations will remain open until 9:00 p.m. tonight. You can find a list of all polling stations here. 

Social Studies Class

(Publication date: March 17)

In the run-up to the municipal elections, Mayor Leendert de Lange spoke with students from Adelbert College. During this interactive social studies class, about thirty upper-level students from Wassenaar, Voorschoten, and the surrounding area gained insight into local politics. The mayor spoke about the work of the municipality and his own involvement in politics. Two young, politically active (former) students also shared their experiences. The event concluded with a debate among the students on various propositions. Acting as moderator, the mayor led the discussion, which covered topics such as traffic safety, nightlife options, and education. He also emphasized the importance of voting and urged everyone to exercise their right to vote during the elections.

Watch the election debate

(Publication date: March 16)

The major election debate in Wassenaar took place on Sunday afternoon at Raadhuis de Paauw. The party leaders of the nine parties running in the election engaged in a debate.

Moderated by Rogier Elshout, representatives from the VVD, Hart voor Wassenaar, Democratische Liberalen Wassenaar, GL-PvdA, CDA, D66, Lokaal Wassenaar!, Forum voor Democratie, and Volt engaged in a debate. In addition to the one-on-one debates, the politicians had the opportunity to respond to “quick statements.”

Watch the debate on the Centraal+ website

Call for 18-year-olds to vote

(publication date March 11)

The municipal elections will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Have you turned 18? Then this is the moment when you can vote for the first time. And you can immediately help decide who will be making decisions on your behalf for the next four years. About the future of your street, your neighborhood, and our municipality.

Every vote counts. Because the decisions made by 21 fellow villagers in the municipal council also affect your life. They affect housing, sports, safety, and the place where you grow up.

Voting does not mean that you have to know everything or have a strong opinion about everything. It means that you express what is important to you. In your own way. And that is precisely why every vote counts. Watch Mayor Leendert de Lange's appeal below.

Accessible elections

(publication date March 5)

In the municipality of Wassenaar, we value a society in which everyone can participate. That is why the municipality ensures that voting in municipal elections is organized in as accessible and inclusive a manner as possible. See the overview on the Accessibility of our polling stations page. 

The big election debate in Wassenaar on Sunday, March 15, live on TV 

(publication date March 2)

The leaders of political parties in Wassenaar will debate each other next Sunday, March 15, during "The Great Wassenaar Election Debate." The debate is organized by regional broadcaster Centraal+. The aim of the debate is to introduce the residents of Wassenaar to the participating parties and their positions in an accessible way. 

At the start of the debate, each party leader will have one minute to introduce their party. This will be followed by a series of statements to which all participants can respond with 'agree' or 'disagree'. The parties will then engage in one-on-one debates, and other parties can use a joker to intervene in the debate. The VVD, Hart voor Wassenaar, Lokaal Wassenaar!, CDA, D66, GroenLinks/PvdA, Democratische Liberalen Wassenaar, Forum voor Democratie, and Volt will participate in the debate. 

The debate will take place on Sunday afternoon, March 15, in the council chamber of Raadhuis De Paauw. The broadcast will start at 4 p.m. and can be viewed live on Ziggo 45, KPN 1492, and ODIDO 820. The debate can also be viewed online at www.centraalplus.nl. 

Take the Voting Advice Tool

(publication date February 18)

Here is the link to complete the Stemwijzer, which will assist you in discovering which political party best aligns with your views. 

https://www.stemwijzer.nl/wassenaar

Signs with election posters

(publication date February 17)

You may have already seen them; the signs with the election posters are now in various locations in Wassenaar. 

Voting pass, letter from the mayor, and brochure 

(publication date February 11)

The voting pass for the municipal elections on March 18, 2026, arrived in residents' mailboxes today. Along with the voting pass, you will receive a letter from the mayor and an election brochure with practical information about voting.

Every vote counts. By voting, you help determine the future of Wassenaar.

Determination of party numbers and candidate lists for the 2026 municipal elections

(publication date February 6)

During a public hearing on Friday, February 6, the Central Electoral Committee of Wassenaar, chaired by Mayor De Lange, decided on the validity of the candidate lists submitted for the upcoming elections. It determined which candidates are definitively on the lists and which party designations are valid. The numbers for the candidate lists were also assigned; because Volt and Forum for Democracy are participating in the elections in Wassenaar for the first time, the list numbers for these two new parties were determined by lottery.

Determination of batch numbers

1. VVD
2. Heart for Wassenaar
3. Local Wassenaar!
4. Green Left / Labor Party (PvdA)
5. CDA
6. D66
7. Democratic Liberals Wassenaar (DLW)
8. Forum for Democracy
9. Volt

View the official report with the party numbers and candidate lists.

Municipal elections brochure

(publication date February 5)

Are you curious about what the municipal council does exactly, how you can vote, and where the polling stations are in Wassenaar? Then take a look at the special election brochure!

Municipal elections brochure

Election debates in Wassenaar

(publication date February 3)

In the run-up to the municipal elections, various organizations in Wassenaar are organizing debates.

Crooked Spider: Political Café (105 Langstraat)

• Wednesday, February 4: 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 11: 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 25: 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Debate: The Friends of Wassenaar

• Wednesday, March 4. More information to follow.

Closing debate Centraal+ (De Paauw Town Hall, Raadhuislaan 22)

• Sunday, March 15. More information to follow.