Rules of Integrity

On this page, you will find information on the rules of integrity and the Code of Conduct for Members of the Dutch House of Representatives, as well as on the Board of Inquiry on Integrity.

Integrity

The integrity of Members of Parliament is critically scrutinised by society. As a result, Members of Parliament may – rightly or wrongly – become a cause for discussion. Fulfilling the office of Member of Parliament with integrity is in the first instance the responsibility of the individual Members of Parliament. Ultimately, they will be held accountable for this by the electorate

Code of Conduct

The rules concerning integrity that MPs are expected to comply with are enshrined in a number of laws. The House of Representatives has brought these integrity rules together in a Code of Conduct with rules of conduct for Members of Parliament:

  1. The MP shall exercise his/her office independently and in the public interest.
  2. The MP shall not accept any gift or favour intended to influence his/her official conduct.
  3. The MP shall meet the registration obligations the office imposes.
  4. The MP shall not use information acquired in the exercise of his/her office for personal interests and shall guarantee the confidential nature thereof, if applicable.
  5. The MP shall behave in accordance with the rules of the House.

Board of Inquiry on Integrity

The Regulations on the Monitoring and Enforcement of the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Representatives of the States-General came into effect on 1 April 2021. This provides for the establishment of the Board of Inquiry on Integrity. It is the task of the Board to deal with complaints regarding compliance with the Code of Conduct by MPs.

Reporting a violation of the Code of Conduct

Do you feel that an MP has violated the Code of Conduct? You can use this form to submit a complaint to the Board of Inquiry on Integrity. For the Board to handle your complaint, it must meet the following requirements:

  • You must state your name and address.
  • The complaint must concern an MP.
  • The behaviour of the MP about which the complaint is being made must have taken place, or be continuing, on or after 1 April 2021.
  • You must provide a description of the facts underlying the reason for your complaint: the behaviour that you feel is in violation of the Code of Conduct. Also state the date upon which the behaviour occurred or started. You may submit evidence in the form of appendices to the form.

The Board cannot deal with complaints about ministers, about criminal offences, or concerning events that took place before 1 April 2021. Neither can the Board deal with complaints about the behaviour of MPs during debates (such as the use of offensive language or disturbing the peace). The Rules of Procedure specify a different manner of monitoring these matters.

You can also submit a complaint by post:

House of Representatives of the States-General

Attn: Board of Inquiry on Integrity

PO Box 20018

2500 EA The Hague, The Netherlands

Once your complaint has been received, the Board of Inquiry on Integrity will examine whether it meets the requirements and whether it will be dealt with. You will be notified of this by the Board.