What should you look at?
Political compass made practical and human
Automate
Where possible you can use voting aids such as StemWijzer and Kieskompas. They go live on 1 October and 29 September and will give you a rough match in ten minutes, nothing more and nothing less.
Compare
Check the official candidate lists on the Electoral Council website. Eighteen parties compete nationwide, nine only regionally. This way you know immediately whether your preference is actually on the ballot paper in your municipality.
Integrate
Combine online tools with offline sources: read at least two manifestos in full and follow one debate. That helps you avoid bubble blindness.
Fact check
Use open data sources on voting behaviour such as partijgedrag.nl to see whether promises made in 2023 matched votes cast in 2024. Our observation: words and deeds are often wary of one another.
A ballot is like the menu in an unfamiliar restaurant: everything looks appetising, but your stomach can cope with only one main course..
A ballot is like the menu in an unfamiliar restaurant: everything looks appetising, but your stomach can cope with only one main course.

Key points
The 29 October 2025 elections are coming faster than usual after the fall of the cabinet. Municipalities have confirmed that the date is feasible and the Minister of the Interior calls it the best date to cast your vote in the best possible manner.
Why this matters
With 27 valid lists – from PVV to the Party for the Rule of Law – you have more choice than ever. At the same time some newcomers appear only locally, which makes targeted information crucial.
What now?
Online voting aids will not go live until early October. Until then everything revolves around preparatory self-reflection: your values, your top three themes and your trust in proven voting behaviour.
Check that your polling card is correct
Note three topics that matter to you
Read at least one fact-checking site
Test yourself as soon as StemWijzer opens
Sleep on it, really
Step by step towards an informed vote.
A concrete roadmap to reach a considered decision without stress.

Step 1: Define your values.
First consider which core values guide your life. Think of sustainability, purchasing power or personal freedom. Write them down because that forces real choices. In practice we often see voters discover what truly matters to them only while filling in a voting aid.

Step 2: Scan the candidate lists.
Go to Kiesraad.nl and download the list for your constituency. Pay attention to locally operating parties; it would be a shame if your favourite simply is not on your ballot paper.

Step 3: Use two voting aids.
Complete both StemWijzer and Kieskompas. Each platform weights statements differently, so a double check avoids tunnel vision. Notice major differences? Read the explanation per statement before drawing conclusions.

Step 4: Check voting records.
Dive into datasets such as StemmenTracker or partijgedrag.nl. This shows whether a party voted in Parliament as you would have hoped. Divergent voting behaviour can reveal more than a glossy campaign poster.

Step 5: Make the final decision.
Plan a moment – preferably before 28 October at 22:00 – to make your decision final. Share it with a friend if you wish; speaking it out loud helps. And remember: casting a blank vote is also a choice but delivers zero influence on seat distribution.
Why more choice is not always easier

The paradox of abundance
Too many options can paralyse. Psychologist Barry Schwartz already described this and elections are no different. When 27 parties appear on your ballot, the fear of missing the perfect match sneaks in. We notice that voters then keep doubting endlessly.
Cognitive noise
Excessive information creates mental noise. A voting aid reduces this but only in part.
Filtering strategies
Choose one theme you are not willing to compromise on. Anything that conflicts with that can be ruled out – simple and effective.
Five concrete actions before you head to the polls

Practical, feasible and ready for tomorrow
You do not need to be a political scientist to cast a well-founded vote. These actions take little time and yield a lot of clarity.
Action 1: Check the date
The general election is officially scheduled for Wednesday 29 October 2025. Mark it in red in your diary.
Action 2: Read local news
Municipalities often publish additional polling stations or opening hours. Do not miss them; they exist for your convenience.
Action 3: Compare two manifestos
Take one established party and one outsider. That contrast sharpens your view and prevents predictable choices.
Action 4: Follow one debate live
Watch on television or via stream. Observe non-verbal signals as well as words.
Action 5: Sleep on it
Well known fact: decisions mature during sleep. Put your phone away and let your brain do the work.
A critical look at voting aids

Useful starting point, not the final station
StemWijzer, Kieskompas, JongerenKieswijzer – all useful. Yet never base your choice purely on algorithms.
Limited statements
Certain themes barely feature, for example digital rights.
False precision
A score of 83 % sounds exact, but it is simply a match between your answers and party points. Nuance is missing.
Human judgement remains essential
A tool does not know your local interests. You do.


Would you like to brainstorm about your vote together?
We are ready to talk further, without sales talk. Send us a message and together we will find the sources or tools that give you the final push towards clarity.
How can I be sure that my party stands in every constituency? 🙂
Check the candidate list on Kiesraad.nl. It shows per constituency which parties compete. Eighteen parties are active nationwide, nine only regionally.
Is StemWijzer for 2025 already online? 🤔
No. The makers have announced that it will go live on 1 October 2025. Until then you can practise with the 2023 edition to explore your positions.
What if the voting aids give different outcomes? 😅
That happens regularly. Look at the overlapping parties or read the explanation for the statements on which you differ.
Does casting a blank vote really make no difference? 🙃
Your turnout is counted, but a blank vote does not influence the seat allocation. In effect you grant others relatively more influence.
Can I still switch party on polling day itself? 😬
Yes, as long as you have not yet handed in your ballot paper. Take your time in the polling booth; nobody forces you to hurry.
What do parties actually do about sustainability? 🌱
Visit Kiesklimaat.nl for an environmental label based on voting behaviour. You will see immediately whether green words were followed by green deeds.
Are there apps to follow voting behaviour live? 📱
Yes. StemmenTracker offers a real-time overview of parliamentary votes, handy if you value policy over promises.
What about privacy in voting aids? 🔒
Serious platforms such as StemWijzer and Kieskompas follow strict GDPR standards. You can still use an incognito window for an extra layer of safety.