Amersfoort residents head to polls: what you need to know for election day
On 18 March 2026, Amersfoort will elect a new municipal council, shaping local policies for the next four years. With 114 polling stations and accessible voting options, residents can cast their vote and have their say on issues affecting their daily lives.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Election Date | Wednesday, 18 March 2026 |
| Number of Councillors | 39 |
| Polling Stations | 114 (open 7:30–21:00) |
| Accessible Polling Stations | 5 (including low-stimulus option) |
| New Polling Location | ROC Midden Nederland (student-run) |
| First Provisional Results | 18 March, after 21:00 (Eemhuis) |
| Central (Re)count | 19 March, Sporthal Zielhorst |
| Final Result Announcement | 20 March, 14:00 (live on YouTube) |
| Formal Establishment of Results | 26 March, 11:00 |
| Voting Requirements | Polling pass + valid ID |
| Live Updates | Amersfoort Elections Liveblog |
The municipality of Amersfoort is responsible for organizing local elections, ensuring residents can exercise their democratic right to vote. It oversees polling station logistics, accessibility measures, and the transparent counting and announcement of results.
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Amersfoort to vote: what happens on election day
On Wednesday, 18 March 2026, Amersfoort will elect a new municipal council. Residents will choose 39 councillors who will make decisions on their behalf for the next four years. The city has 114 polling stations, almost all of which will be open from 7:30 to 21:00. You can vote at any polling station in the municipality with your polling pass and a valid ID.
On the website of Gemeente Amersfoort you can find an overview of all polling stations. Voting can take place at many familiar locations, such as schools, community centres, churches and sports halls. One of the new locations is ROC Midden Nederland, on Disketteweg, where students will run the polling station themselves.
Before the elections, Susanne (17) and Yorben (21) have already been working as ‘vote influencers’ at ROC. “We’re trying to convince young people to go and vote,” explains Yorben. “We live in a democracy. For it to work properly, everyone needs to vote. Young people also face issues that need to be resolved. If you don’t vote, you won’t be heard.”
Accessible voting
For residents who, due to a disability, cannot vote independently or easily, there are five additional accessible polling stations. Various aids make it easier to cast a vote independently.
The polling station in the Old Town Hall (Stadhuisplein 5) is low-stimulus. This polling station is intended for people who are sensitive to crowds or stimuli, for example due to autism, anxiety or burnout. Residents who prefer to vote in peace and quiet are also welcome here. More information about accessible voting can be found on the elections webpage.
The mayor on a bike
If the weather is good, Mayor Lucas Bolsius will make a quick tour of as many polling stations as possible on election day. Just like during the previous municipal elections, he will cycle to different locations to thank polling station staff and volunteers for their efforts.
Election night with talk show and livestream
After the polls close at 21:00, the election night event begins in the Eemhuis. Parties and residents will gather there to await the first provisional results.
During the evening, Nieuwsplein33 will host a talk show. At three points during the show, the mayor and the registrar will announce the provisional results. The broadcast can be followed via a livestream, so residents can also watch from home.
Central (re)count on Thursday
On Thursday, 19 March, the municipality will recount all ballot papers during the central (re)count. This will take place in Sporthal Zielhorst. In addition to counting votes per party, the number of votes each candidate received will also be tallied. The counts are open to the public.
From count to final result
On Friday afternoon, 20 March at 14:00, Gemeente Amersfoort will announce the outcome of the central count. This will show how many seats each party has won and which candidates may have secured a seat through preference votes. The announcement will be made publicly in the council chamber of the town hall, but can also be followed live on YouTube.
On Thursday, 26 March, the central electoral committee will formally establish the final result, seat distribution and the appointment of the elected candidates. This will take place at 11:00 in the council chamber of the town hall and can also be followed live on YouTube.
Liveblog
Follow the Amersfoort municipal council elections via the liveblog about the elections. We will show how voting progresses, with photos and short stories from the day.