Special polling stations: Vote in a museum, castle, music hall, or movie theater today

Netherlands residents can cast their votes in the city council elections at countless train stations, town halls, and libraries today. But those looking to do their democratic duty in a more out-of-the-ordinary location can also vote in several museums, theaters, castles, music halls, and movie cinemas, among others.

Amsterdam voters have many special options ot choose from, including the Anne Frank House, the Olympic Stadium, and the Westerkerk. The Domkerk, the Ulu Mosque, and the Utrecht Archives are all polling stations in Utrecht. In The Hague, voters can cast their vote at the ZZIIN City Palace, where Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard got married in 1937.

This election, voters can also cast their ballot at Duivenoorde Castle in Voorschoten in honor of the castle’s 800th anniversary. People over 60 and residents with reduced mobility can take the bus to this polling station free of charge.

In Tilburg, voters can go to the Schouwburg on Louis Bouwmeesterplein. In Eindhoven, they can go to the Parktheater. In Arnhem, the Koepelgevangenis, known as the Dome Prison in English, and the Türkiyem Mosque are polling stations.

Ridderkerk has its first-ever drive-in polling station in the parking lot at De Wissel sports hall on Kastanjelaan. Vote from your car, mobility scooter, motorcycle, bicycle, or other mode of transport.

Museum enthusiasts can visit the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, the Verzetmuseum in Amsterdam, or the Dordrechts Museum and the Nationaal Onderwijsmuseum in Dordrecht, among others.

Several concert halls and music venues are also open as polling stations today, including the Patronaat in Haarlem, the Zeeuwse Concertzaal in Middelburg, the Meklweg in Amsterdam, PAARD in The Hague, and TrivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. Various Pathé cinemas are also serving as polling stations.

Once again, Wim Westhoff’s home on Marledijk in Marle, Overijssel, serves as the smallest polling station in the country. About 70 people live in the hamlet. The house was formerly owned by Westhoff’s parents and has been used as a polling station since 1948.

In the parliamentary election in October last year, Westhoff was getting a bit annoyed at all the elections. “It is fine. But I don’t need this two or three times a year,” he told ANP at the time.

Several polling stations also opened at special times. As per tradition, the Tuin van Kapitein Rommel in Castricum and café Het Vliegende Paard opened at midnight. There was also overnight voting in the Rotterdam district of Charlois, on the Grote Mart in The Hague, and at Luxor Live in Arnhem.