Kamerstuk

Kamerstuk is a Dutch term for an official document produced for or submitted to a parliamentary chamber, most commonly the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) and the Dutch-speaking parliaments in Belgium. A Kamerstuk is part of the official parliamentary record and is published with a unique number and date to enable citation and reference in debates, reports, and public coverage.

Kamerstukken cover a range of materials. They may include the text of a proposed law (ontwerp van wet) or a proposal for a law (wetsontwerp), accompanying explanations or memorie van toelichting, budget and financial notes, committee reports, questions or motions from members of parliament, and correspondence between ministers and the chamber. The contents can accompany or precede a debate and are used to inform MPs and the public about the government’s position and the legislative process.

In the legislative process, Kamerstukken are introduced by ministers or MPs and assigned a Kamerstuk number. They undergo examination in committees, where amendments may be proposed and debated, before being considered in plenary sessions for voting and decision-making. Not all Kamerstukken result in law; many influence policy, oversight, or budgetary decisions.

Access to Kamerstukken is public. They are archived and searchable via the parliament’s website and official records, allowing citizens, researchers, and journalists to trace legislative developments and understand the basis for parliamentary decisions. The term Kamerstuk is used in the Netherlands and in Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium to designate these formal parliamentary documents.