The States General – Goetgevonden

The States General of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands existed as an independently operating administrative body from 1576 to 1796. Goetgevonden provides access to all resolutions taken by these States General. Here we explain the origins and functioning of the States General from the time of the Republic. We also discuss the meeting rooms of the States General.

The Netherlands also had a States General before 1576. At that time, it was not yet a permanent institution, but a temporary assembly that could be convened by the Burgundian and Habsburg monarchs of the Netherlands.

The current Kingdom of the Netherlands also has a States General. This States General was established in 1814, initially as a legislative assembly consisting of one chamber. From 1815 onwards, this became a bicameral parliament. Since then, the First and Second Chambers together form the States General. This States General is a different type of institution than the States General of the Republic. The acts and decisions of the modern States General can be found elsewhere.