View source for 2003 Dutch general election

{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Netherlands
| previous_election = [[2002 Dutch general election|2002]]
| next_election = [[2006 Dutch general election|2006]]
| seats_for_election = All 150 seats in the [[House of Representatives of the Netherlands|House of Representatives]]
| majority_seats = 76
| election_date = 22 January 2003
| turnout = 80.04% ({{increase}} 0.98[[Percentage point|pp]])

| leader1 = [[Jan Peter Balkenende]]
| party1 = Christian Democratic Appeal
| last_election1 = 43
| seats1 = 44
| percentage1 = 28.62

| leader2 = [[Wouter Bos]]
| party2 = Labour Party (Netherlands)
| last_election2 = 23
| seats2 = 42
| percentage2 = 27.26

| leader3 = [[Gerrit Zalm]]
| party3 = People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
| last_election3 = 24
| seats3 = 28
| percentage3 = 17.91

| leader4 = [[Jan Marijnissen]]
| party4 = Socialist Party (Netherlands)
| last_election4 = 9
| seats4 = 9
| percentage4 = 6.32

| leader5 = [[Mat Herben]]
| party5 = Pim Fortuyn List
| last_election5 = 26
| seats5 = 8
| percentage5 = 5.70

| leader6 = [[Femke Halsema]]
| party6 = GreenLeft
| last_election6 = 10
| seats6 = 8
| percentage6 = 5.14

| leader7 = [[Thom de Graaf]]
| party7 = Democrats 66
| last_election7 = 7
| seats7 = 6
| percentage7 = 4.07

| leader8 = [[André Rouvoet]]
| party8 = ChristianUnion
| last_election8 = 4
| seats8 = 3
| percentage8 = 2.12

| leader9 = [[Bas van der Vlies]]
| party9 = Reformed Political Party
| last_election9 = 2
| seats9 = 2
| percentage9 = 1.56

| map = Tweede Kamerverkiezingen 2003.png
| map_caption = Most voted-for party by municipality

| title = [[Cabinet of the Netherlands|Cabinet]]
| before_election = [[First Balkenende cabinet]]
| before_party = [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]–[[Pim Fortuyn List|LPF]]–[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| after_election = [[Second Balkenende cabinet]]
| after_party = [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]–[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]–[[Democrats 66|D66]]
}}

General elections were held in the [[Netherlands]] on 22 January 2003.<ref name=NS>[[Dieter Nohlen]] & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p1396 {{ISBN|978-3-8329-5609-7}}</ref>

==Background==
The election was held following the resignation of the [[first Balkenende cabinet]] on 16 October 2002 after conflicts attributed to the [[Lijst Pim Fortuyn|LPF]], the new party of the already deceased [[Pim Fortuyn]].

In the early days of the campaign the [[Christen-Democratisch Appèl|CDA]] of incumbent [[prime minister]] [[Jan Peter Balkenende]] and the [[Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie|VVD]], the smallest [[coalition]] [[political party|party]], saw a major lead.

After TV debates the [[Partij van de Arbeid|PvdA]] (which had experienced a landslide defeat in the 2002 general election) of [[Opposition (politics)|opposition]] leader [[Wouter Bos]] caught up, overtaking the VVD and regaining some of the territory lost in the previous election. The PvdA also held a [[2002 PvdA leadership election|leadership election]] which got the party considerable attention.

==Results==
{{see also|2003 Dutch cabinet formation}}

The LPF lost as spectacularly as it won in 2002, with its seat count dropping from 26 to 8. Commentators attributed the result to voters feeling that the LPF had become rudderless without its original leader and that the government had already implemented some of its policies, but argued disaffected LPF supporters would still back an "anti-establishment" party if a viable option was available. 

The exciting race of which party would become the largest was eventually won by the CDA, which went from 43 to 44 seats, ensuring a continuation of Balkenende's career as prime minister.

Most of the smaller parties on both the left and right side did not experience significant changes. Several other parties (among them [[Leefbaar Nederland]], a 2002 newcomer) didn't manage to get over the threshold and thus gained no seats. They are not listed here.

After severe disagreements had frustrated the formation of a CDA-PvdA cabinet, a CDA-VVD-D66 cabinet was formed on 27 May 2003, with Balkenende as prime minister.

{{Election results
|image=[[File:2003_Dutch_General_Election.svg]]
|party1=[[Christian Democratic Appeal]]|votes1=2763480|seats1=44|sc1=+1
|party2=[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]]|votes2=2631363|seats2=42|sc2=+19
|party3=[[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]]|votes3=1728707|seats3=28|sc3=+4
|party4=[[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|Socialist Party]]|votes4=609723|seats4=9|sc4=0
|party5=[[Pim Fortuyn List]]|votes5=549975|seats5=8|sc5=–18
|party6=[[GroenLinks]]|votes6=495802|seats6=8|sc6=–2
|party7=[[Democrats 66]]|votes7=393333|seats7=6|sc7=–1
|party8=[[Christian Union (Netherlands)|Christian Union]]|votes8=204694|seats8=3|sc8=–1
|party9=[[Reformed Political Party]]|votes9=150305|seats9=2|sc9=0
|party10=[[Party for the Animals]]|votes10=47754|seats10=0|sc10=New
|party11=[[Livable Netherlands]]|votes11=38894|seats11=0|sc11=–2
|party12=[[Party of the Future]]|votes12=13845|seats12=0|sc12=0
|party13=[[Ratelband List]]|votes13=9045|seats13=0|sc13=New
|party14={{ill|Durable Netherlands|nl|Duurzaam Nederland}}|votes14=7271|seats14=0|sc14=0
|party15=[[New Communist Party of the Netherlands]]|votes15=4854|seats15=0|sc15=New
|party16=[[DeConservatieven.nl]]|votes16=2521|seats16=0|sc16=New
|party17=[[Progressive Integration Party]]|votes17=1623|seats17=0|sc17=New
|party18=Alliance for Renewal and Democracy|votes18=990|seats18=0|sc18=New
|party19=Veldhoen List|votes19=296|seats19=0|sc19=New
|invalid=12127
|total_sc=0
|electorate=12076711
|source=Kiesraad<ref name=K>{{cite web|url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/TK20030122|title=Tweede Kamer 22 januari 2003|website=Kiesraad}}</ref>
}}

===By province===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px"
|+ Results by province<ref name=K/>
|- style="height:40px;"
! rowspan="2"| [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Pim Fortuyn List|LPF]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[GroenLinks|GL]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Democrats 66|D66]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Christian Union (Netherlands)|CU]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Reformed Political Party|SGP]]
! style="width:40px;" rowspan="2"| Others
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Netherlands)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Pim Fortuyn List}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|GroenLinks}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Democrats 66}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Reformed Political Party}};"|
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Drenthe}}
| 24.8
| style="background:#F6C5C1;"|'''37.8'''
| 16.8
| 5.1
| 3.8
| 4.1
| 3.4
| 2.9
| 0.3
| 1.0
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Flevoland}}
| 24.7
| style="background:#F6C5C1;"|'''25.5'''
| 21.3
| 5.4
| 7.0
| 4.8
| 4.1
| 3.6
| 2.1
| 1.5
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Friesland}}
| 32.0
| style="background:#F6C5C1;"|'''33.5'''
| 12.6
| 6.0
| 3.7
| 4.5
| 2.8
| 3.2
| 0.5
| 1.2
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Gelderland}}
| style="background:#BADBD3;"| '''31.6'''
| 26.6
| 16.5
| 5.8
| 4.2
| 5.1
| 3.6
| 2.5
| 2.9
| 1.2
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Groningen}}
| 20.6
| style="background:#F6C5C1;"|'''39.6'''
| 13.0
| 7.3
| 3.4
| 6.0
| 3.9
| 4.7
| 0.3
| 1.2
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Limburg (Netherlands)|name=Limburg}}
| style="background:#BADBD3;"| '''37.5'''
| 26.6
| 14.1
| 7.2
| 5.3
| 4.5
| 2.9
| 0.3
| 0.0
| 1.6
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|North Brabant}}
| style="background:#BADBD3;"| '''33.9'''
| 23.6
| 18.2
| 8.4
| 5.6
| 4.2
| 3.6
| 0.6
| 0.4
| 1.5
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|North Holland}}
| 21.1
| style="background:#F6C5C1;"|'''29.0'''
| 21.5
| 7.0
| 6.0
| 6.9
| 5.7
| 1.0
| 0.2
| 1.6
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Overijssel}}
| style="background:#BADBD3;"| '''36.6'''
| 27.3
| 13.5
| 4.9
| 3.4
| 4.2
| 3.0
| 4.4
| 2.1
| 1.6
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|South Holland}}
| 24.9
| style="background:#F6C5C1;"|'''25.9'''
| 19.8
| 5.3
| 8.7
| 4.7
| 4.3
| 2.2
| 2.5
| 1.7
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Utrecht}}
| style="background:#BADBD3;"| '''27.3'''
| 23.5
| 20.4
| 5.9
| 4.8
| 6.7
| 5.2
| 3.1
| 2.0
| 1.1
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Zeeland}}
| style="background:#BADBD3;"| '''32.0'''
| 23.8
| 15.7
| 5.0
| 5.3
| 3.8
| 2.7
| 2.9
| 7.7
| 1.1
|}

=== 5 largest municipalities ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;line-height:14px"
|+ Results in the five largest municipalities<ref name="results">{{Cite web |title=Tweede Kamer – 22 januari 2003 |url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/TK20030122 |access-date=3 May 2025 |website=[[Kiesraad]] |language=Dutch}}</ref>
|- style="height:40px;"
! rowspan="2"| Municipality
! style="width:40px;"| [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Pim Fortuyn List|LPF]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[GroenLinks|GL]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Democrats 66|D66]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Christian Union (Netherlands)|CU]]
! style="width:40px;"| [[Reformed Political Party|SGP]]
! style="width:40px;" rowspan="2"| Others
|-
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Democratic Appeal}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (Netherlands)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Socialist Party (Netherlands)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Pim Fortuyn List}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|GroenLinks}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Democrats 66}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Christian Union (Netherlands)}};"|
! style="background:{{party color|Reformed Political Party}};"|
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Amsterdam}}
| 9.7<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(36 352)</span>
| style="background:#F6C5C1"|'''38.2'''<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(143 188)</span>
| 15.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(58 528)</span>
| 9.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(37 127)</span>
| 5.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(21 658)</span>
| 11.0<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(41 289)</span>
| 7.1<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(26 439)</span>
| 0.7<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(2 670)</span>
| 0.1<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(237)</span>
| 1.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(7 287)</span>
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Rotterdam}}
| 14.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(43 639)</span>
| style="background:#F6C5C1"|'''36.2'''<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(108 252)</span>
| 14.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(44 159)</span>
| 6.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(20 504)</span>
| 13.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(41 304)</span>
| 5.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(16 837)</span>
| 4.0<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(11 861)</span>
| 1.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(4 727)</span>
| 0.7<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(2 135)</span>
| 2.1<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(6 211)</span>
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|The Hague}}
| 18.3<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(46 197)</span>
| style="background:#F6C5C1"|'''29.1'''<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(73 502)</span>
| 22.5<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(56 995)</span>
| 5.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(14 754)</span>
| 8.5<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(21 449)</span>
| 6.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(17 064)</span>
| 5.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(14 208)</span>
| 1.1<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(2 796)</span>
| 0.5<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(1 158)</span>
| 1.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(4 806)</span>
|-
| align="left"| {{flagicon|Utrecht (municipality)}} [[Utrecht]]
| 16.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(25 660)</span>
| style="background:#F6C5C1"|'''31.3'''<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(48 302)</span>
| 16.7<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(25 809)</span>
| 8.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(13 576)</span>
| 4.6<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(7 117)</span>
| 11.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(18 387)</span>
| 7.1<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(11 020)</span>
| 1.3<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(2 068)</span>
| 0.3<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(444)</span>
| 1.2<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(1 845)</span>
|-
| align="left"| {{flag|Eindhoven}}
| 25.4<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(29 476)</span>
| style="background:#F6C5C1"|'''27.1'''<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(31 424)</span>
| 17.5<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(20 320)</span>
| 10.2<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(11 806)</span>
| 5.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(6 818)</span>
| 6.2<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(7 202)</span>
| 4.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(5 641)</span>
| 0.9<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(1 034)</span>
| 0.1<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(96)</span>
| 1.8<br /><span style="font-size:80%">(2 097)</span>
|}

==See also==
*[[List of candidates in the 2003 Dutch general election]]

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal
 | last = Van Holsteyn
 | first = Joop J. M.
 |author2=Galen A. Irwin
 |date= January 2004
 | title = The Dutch parliamentary elections of 2003
 | journal = [[West European Politics]]
 | volume = 27
 | issue = 1
 | pages = 157–164
 | doi = 10.1080/01402380412331280853
 }}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Dutch elections}}

[[Category:General elections in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:2003 elections in the Netherlands|General]]
[[Category:2003 elections in Europe|Netherlands]]
[[Category:January 2003 in Europe|Netherlands]]