The Constitution for the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch: Grondwet voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden) is one of two fundamental documents governing the Kingdom of the Netherlands as well as the fundamental law of the European territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is generally seen as directly derived from the one issued in 1815, constituting a constitutional monarchy; it is the third oldest constitution still in use worldwide.
A revision in 1848 instituted a system of parliamentary democracy. In 1983, a major revision of the Constitution of the Netherlands was undertaken, almost fully rewriting the text and adding new civil rights. The text is sober, devoid of legal or political doctrine and includes a bill of rights. It prohibits the judiciary to test laws and treaties against the constitution, as this is considered a prerogative of the legislature. There is no constitutional court in the Netherlands, except for the Constitutional Court of Sint Maarten which only governs the Sint Maarten legislature. The Kingdom of the Netherlands also includes Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten: there is an overarching instrument of the entire kingdom that has constitution characterisics: the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
1815Aug, 24
The modern Constitution of the Netherlands is signed.
Choose Another Date
Events on 1815
- 8Jan
Battle of New Orleans
War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans: Andrew Jackson leads American forces in victory over the British. - 1Mar
Hundred Days
Napoleon returns to France from his banishment on Elba, start of the Hundred Days. - 20Mar
Hundred Days
After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule. - 18Jun
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Waterloo results in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher forcing him to abdicate the throne of France for the second and last time. - 15Jul
HMS Bellerophon (1786)
Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon Bonaparte surrenders aboard HMS Bellerophon.