![](https://democracy-international.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_small/public/2013-02-15_dutch.jpg?itok=F9CYZCd_)
Dutch doors open to direct democracy
On Thursday, 14 February 2013, the lower house of the Dutch parliament adopted legislation to introduce a non-binding facultative referendum. With this instrument of direct democracy, 300,000 citizens can trigger a national referendum on a law or treaty passed by the national parliament.