Staphorst sets record with highest voter turnout in Dutch municipal elections
Residents of Staphorst have made their voices heard in the municipal council elections, achieving an unprecedented 80.6% voter turnout—the highest in the Netherlands. The results shape the future of local governance, with SGP leading the seat distribution as the new council prepares to take office on April 1.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Staphorst |
| Voter Turnout | 80.6% (highest in the Netherlands) |
| Eligible Voters | 13,229 |
| Seat Distribution | SGP: 6, ChristenUnie: 4, CDA: 2, Forum for Democracy: 2, Gemeentebelangen: 2, PvdA-GroenLinks: 1 |
| Livestream Views | 8,300 |
| Voting Guide Completions | 5,400 |
| Final Results Confirmation | March 26, 2026, 10:00 AM |
| New Council Installation | April 1, 2026 |
The municipality of Staphorst is responsible for organizing local elections, ensuring fair and transparent voting processes, and overseeing the transition of power to newly elected council members. These elections determine the composition of the municipal council, which plays a key role in shaping local policies and governance for the next four years.
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Preliminary results of the municipal council elections in Staphorst
On Thursday, March 19, the preliminary results of the municipal council elections were announced. According to the results, the seat distribution is as follows: SGP 6, ChristenUnie 4, CDA 2, Forum for Democracy 2, Gemeentebelangen 2, and PvdA-GroenLinks 1.
Highest turnout percentage
Of the 13,229 eligible voters in the municipality of Staphorst, 80.6 percent cast their vote. According to the Election Service of the ANP, this is the highest turnout in the entire Netherlands. Mayor Jan ten Kate: “I am very pleased that so many residents have cast their votes. We also saw this high level of engagement in the large number of people who followed our election debate and the results evening via the livestream. Our results evening has already been viewed 8,300 times on YouTube. In addition, 5,400 people completed the Voting Guide. It is clear that politics is very much alive in the municipality of Staphorst. My wish is that we continue to uphold the constructive governing style of our municipality in the coming years.”
Final results
The preliminary results, including the number of votes per candidate, are available at www.staphorst.nl/uitslagen-verkiezingen. On Thursday, March 26, the chief electoral committee of the municipality of Staphorst will officially confirm the final results at 10:00 AM. These will then be published on the municipality’s website. The formal farewell of the outgoing council members will take place on March 31. The new municipal council will be officially installed on Wednesday, April 1.