Cabinet of the Netherlands

Behind the closed doors of the Trêveszaal, ministers can freely debate proposed decisions and express their opinion on any aspect of cabinet policy.

In practice, the King does not participate in the daily decision-making of government, although he is kept up to date by weekly meetings with the Prime Minister.

The ministers, individually and collectively (as cabinet), are responsible to the States-General for government policy and must enjoy its confidence.

Ministers or state secretaries who are no longer supported by a parliamentary majority are also expected by convention to step down.

According to the dualistic position, members of parliament of governing parties should function independently of the Cabinet.

The monistic position, by contrast, is that the Cabinet plays an important role in proposing legislation and policy.

In the subsequent information phase, negotiations will take place under the leadership of an informateur about the government's future policy programme, to be recorded in a coalition agreement..

If the informateur is successful, the portfolios are determined, divided among the parties and ministers and state secretaries are sought under the leadership of a formateur.

If the formateur is successful, the Monarch appoints all ministers and state secretaries individually by Royal Decision (Koninklijk Besluit).

After this the entire Council of Ministers and the King or Queen regnant are photographed on the stairs of the palace Huis ten Bosch during the bordes scene.

The first real cabinet was formed in 1848 after a constitution was adopted which limited the power of the King and introduced the principle of ministerial responsibility to parliament.

Willem Drees and Jan Peter Balkenende both chaired the most cabinets (four) and Ruud Lubbers served as prime minister the longest (between 1982 and 1994).