Centre for Democracy and the Rule of Law

Together with the Senate, the House of Representatives and the municipality of The Hague, the government plans to set up a Centre for Democracy and the Rule of Law (Huis voor democratie en rechtsstaat). The Centre will be a contemporary, interactive hands-on forum designed to increase citizenship skills and enhance political and social participation. It will also help increase people’s knowledge of the core values and the foundations of the rule of law in our democracy and the way in which our institutions work.

The Centre will cater to a number of different target groups. There will be tailored programmes and activities for professionals, members of political organisations, the general public, tourists, students, school pupils and those following civic integration courses.

The plan for the Centre envisages a building located in the direct vicinity of the Binnenhof in The Hague where simulations, meetings, exhibitions, debates, courses and other activities will take place. Although the Centre will be located in The Hague, it will be accessible to people anywhere in the Netherlands via the internet and other media. The emphasis will be on themes such as the Constitution, the history of our democracy, the Kingdom, Europe, the rule of law and human rights. Where possible the Centre will cooperate with a number of different partners (political, legal, historical, cultural and other institutions) on content and on practical issues.

By organising debates the Centre will aim to improve communication between policymakers, parliamentarians, academics and the public on subjects relating to elections, how political institutions function, fundamental rights etc. The training facility based in the Centre will offer a carefully chosen selection of courses aimed at specific target groups, designed to complement existing courses arranged by third parties.

A number of pilot programmes will be launched this year, as a means of developing and testing out future activities. One pilot programme that has been up and running since 2007 is ‘De Haagse Tribune’, operating from a temporary location opposite the Binnenhof, in which 25,000 school pupils will be participating this year.

The Centre will be run by a independent organisation, and will receive an annual government grant of at least €4.75 million (as of 2012). It will also generate its own income.  The aim is to attract 250,000 visitors a year, including 175,000 school pupils and students. The Centre will take over the tasks and activities that are currently the responsibility of the Dutch Centre for Political Participation (IPP) and the Binnenhof Visitors’ Centre (SBB).