Keeping Our Feet Dry: Impediments to Foreign Interference in Elections in the Netherlands

In recent years, and particularly after the 2016 American presidential election and the 2016 Brexit referendum, considerable concern has emerged concerning foreign interference in elections. This concern has also been felt in the Netherlands. This article examines this concern. To date, no evidence of foreign interference or “fake news” has been found. Although there is no guarantee that there will be no interference in the future, there are aspects of the electoral system that provide impediments to manipulation. New legislation concerning campaign finance is being implemented to provide stronger safeguards. Dutch voters have trust in the electoral system but nevertheless show concerns for the possibilities of foreign interference.