D66 wins 2026 Children's Elections in Vlissingen with record youth turnout
Over 300 pupils in Vlissingen, aged 11 and 12, cast their votes in a mock election, with D66 emerging as the winner. This initiative aims to teach children the value of democracy and civic participation from an early age.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Ballot Papers Issued | 327 |
| Votes Cast | 311 (including 5 blank votes) |
| Turnout | 95% |
| Winning Party | D66 |
| Votes for D66 | 72 |
| Seats Allocated to D66 | 7 |
| Total Votes | 306 |
| Total Seats | 29 |
| Location | Vlissingen, Zeeland |
| Age Group | 11 and 12-year-olds |
The municipality of Vlissingen organizes the Children's Elections to educate young residents about democratic processes. This initiative is part of broader efforts to foster civic engagement and awareness among future voters.
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Results of the 2026 Children's Elections
Participating in the Children's Elections is excellent preparation for the future. After all, you learn the most about elections by experiencing firsthand how they work. To engage students in the municipal council elections, pupils have spent the past few weeks attending substantive lessons and playing the Democracity game.
Mayor Bas van den Tillaar: “During these Children's Elections, we introduce our youngest residents, aged 11 and 12, to our democracy, and I see this as an important investment in the future of our society. They experience how an election works and why their vote matters. The Children's Elections are a playful and valuable way to help them discover that their opinion counts and that voting and making collective decisions form the foundation of our democracy.”
Turnout and results
A total of 327 ballot papers were issued, of which 311 pupils cast their votes, including 5 blank votes. The turnout for these elections was 95%. Below are the overall results, including the (fictitious) seat distribution.
Children's Elections 2026
- Party designation: Partij Souburg-Ritthem, Votes: 11, Seats: 1
- Party designation: GROENLINKS / Partij van de Arbeid (PvdA), Votes: 43, Seats: 4
- Party designation: Lokale Partij Vlissingen, Votes: 29, Seats: 3
- Party designation: POV perspectief op Vlissingen!, Votes: 14, Seats: 1
- Party designation: VVD, Votes: 33, Seats: 3
- Party designation: Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij (SGP), Votes: 6, Seats: 1
- Party designation: 50PLUS, Votes: 14, Seats: 1
- Party designation: SP (Socialistische Partij), Votes: 11, Seats: 1
- Party designation: D66, Votes: 72, Seats: 7
- Party designation: Forum voor Democratie, Votes: 9, Seats: 1
- Party designation: CDA, Votes: 14, Seats: 1
- Party designation: ChristenUnie, Votes: 12, Seats: 1
- Party designation: Souburgs Belang, Votes: 5, Seats: 1
- Party designation: Pro Vlissingen, Votes: 33, Seats: 3
- Total: 306 votes, 29 seats