{{Short description|Dutch attorney and politician (born 1962)}} {{Family name hatnote|Van de Sanden|Sanden|lang=Dutch}} {{Use American English|date=September 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Cees van de Sanden | image = Cees van de Sanden, May 2025.jpg | alt = | caption = Van de Sanden in 2025 | office1 = Member of the [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] | term_start1 = 24 September 2024 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = [[Caspar van den Berg]] | term_start2 = 27 June 2023 | term_end2 = 11 October 2023 | predecessor2 = [[Paulien Geerdink]] | successor2 = Paulien Geerdink | birth_name = Cornelis Adrianus Hendricus van de Sanden | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|12|11|df=yes}} | party = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (until 2025) | alma_mater = [[Tilburg University]] ([[LL.M.]]) | occupation = {{hlist| advisor|politician}} }}
'''Cornelis Adrianus Hendricus''' "'''Cees'''" '''van de Sanden'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.parlement.com/biografie/mr-cah-cees-van-de-sanden |website=[[Parlement.com]] |language=nl |access-date=3 September 2025 |title=Mr. C.A.H. (Cees) van de Sanden}}</ref> ({{IPA|nl|ˈkeːs fɑn də ˈsɑndə(n)}}; born 11 December 1962) is a Dutch former attorney and politician. He has been an [[independent politician]] since he left the conservative-liberal [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] (VVD) in October 2025.
== Early life == Van de Sanden was born on 11 December 1962 and grew up in Tilburg, North Brabant in the district north of its center.<ref name="ek1">{{Cite web |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/mr_c_a_h_van_de_sanden_ll_m_vvd |website = [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] |access-date = 2 February 2025 |title = Mr. C.A.H van de Sanden (VVD) |language = nl }}</ref><ref name="bd"/><ref name="ek2"/> In his [[maiden speech]] as senator, he told that his father worked in a textile factory, and he described him as socialist and pro-union. Van de Sanden said he had attended the Cobbenhagen College at [[voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs|VWO]] level.<ref name="ek2">{{Cite web |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/verslag/20230912/verslag |website = Senate |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |title = Verslag van de plenaire vergadering van dinsdag 12 september 2023 |trans-title = Minutes of the plenary session on Tuesday 12 September 2023 }}</ref>
== Career == He worked as an administrative law advisor for a provincial government.<ref name="bb">{{Cite news |url = https://www.binnenlandsbestuur.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/zet-het-recht-zo-effectief-mogelijk |website = Binnenlands Bestuur |access-date = 16 September 2023 |language = nl |date = 16 April 2023 |last = Boonstra |first = Wouter |title = 'Zet het recht zo effectief mogelijk in' |trans-title = 'Use the law as effectively as possible' }}</ref> He studied Dutch law at [[Tilburg University]] between 2001 and 2006, and he was admitted to the bar in January 2007.<ref name="ek1"/><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://zoekeenadvocaat.advocatenorde.nl/advocaten/eindhoven/de-heer-mr-ch-van-de-sanden/12040442955 |publisher = Netherlands Bar |work = Zoek een advocaat |title = de heer mr. C.A.H. van de Sanden |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 }}</ref> Van de Sanden completed his three-year Legal Profession Training Course (Beroepsopleiding Advocaat) as an intern at the law firms NautaDutilh and Loyens & Loeff, and he later worked for the firm AKD.<ref name="fd">{{Cite news |url = https://fd.nl/Print/krant/Rubriek/Profiel/1175778/personalia |url-access = subscription |website = [[Het Financieele Dagblad]] |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |title = Personalia |trans-title = Personal developments |date = 16 November 2016 }}</ref><ref name="cb"/><ref>{{Cite news |title = Zondagwinkels wagen de gok |newspaper = Brabants Dagblad |trans-title = Stores are risking it on Sunday |language = nl |date = 23 February 2013 |last = Jongerius |first = Stephan }}</ref> He established his own solo practice in 2012 and was joined by criminal defense attorney Heleen Peters in November 2016 to form Van de Sanden & Peters Advocaten, located in [[Utrecht]].<ref name="fd"/><ref>{{Cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211130113234/https://vandesandenpetersadvocaten.nl/over-ons |url = https://vandesandenpetersadvocaten.nl/over-ons |title = Over ons |trans-title = About us |via = [[Wayback Machine]] |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |archive-date = 30 November 2021 |website = Van de Sanden & Peters Advocaten }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211130122625/https://vandesandenpetersadvocaten.nl/mensen |url = https://vandesandenpetersadvocaten.nl/mensen |title = Mensen |trans-title = People |via = Wayback Machine |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |archive-date = 30 November 2021 |website = Van de Sanden & Peters Advocaten }}</ref> Van de Sanden is specialized in administrative law and has worked on cases related to [[spatial planning]], environment, privacy, and law and order, and he has annotated cases for the legal journal {{lang|nl|Bouwrecht}} (Construction law).<ref name="vk2">{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/pizzagate-in-de-polder-hoe-bodegraven-de-strijd-aanging-met-complotdenkers~b73cdda2/ |website = [[de Volkskrant]] |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |title = Pizzagate in de polder: hoe Bodegraven de strijd aanging met complotdenkers |trans-title = Pizzagate in the polder: How Bodegraven entered the fight with conspiracy theorists |date = 16 July 2021 |last = Kuiper |first = Rik |url-access = subscription }}</ref><ref name="vvd"/><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.recht.nl/vakliteratuur/alletijdschriften/auteur/8179/cah-van-de-sanden/ |website = Recht.nl |access-date = 17 September 2023 |language = nl |url-access = subscription |title = C.A.H. van de Sanden }}</ref> In 2009, after the Spatial Planning Act had been enacted, Van de Sanden and a colleague warned it could put thousands of construction projects on hold. They argued exemptions to [[zoning]] plans granted by municipalities would not be valid under the new legislation in case a building permit had not yet been obtained, and they recommended the minister to add a [[grandfather clause]].<ref name="cb">{{Cite news |url = https://www.cobouw.nl/206414/duizenden-projecten-op-de-tocht |website = Cobouw |language = nl |access-date = 17 September 2023 |url-access = subscription |last = Silvester |first = Mario |title = Duizenden projecten op de tocht |trans-title = Thousands of projects in the balance |date = 30 June 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.cobouw.nl/153109/gemeenten-ten-onrechte-bezorgd-over-wro |website = Cobouw |language = nl |access-date = 17 September 2023 |url-access = subscription |last = Silvester |first = Mario |title = Gemeenten ten onrechte bezorgd over Wro |trans-title = Municipalities unnecessarily worried about Spatial Planning Act |date = 1 July 2009 }}</ref> In a 2015 opinion piece in the ''[[NRC Handelsblad]]'', Van de Sanden and Peters criticized an amendment to the Aliens Employment Act that led to the immediate publication of companies fined in violation. They complained companies that were later found to be innocent were not compensated for reputational damage.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2015/08/03/naming-shaming-past-de-bestuursorganen-niet-1520915-a1258419 |last1 = Van de Sanden |first1 = Cees |last2 = Peters |first2 = Heleen |website = [[NRC Handelsblad]] |access-date = 17 September 2023 |url-access = subscription |language = nl |date = 3 August 2015 |title = ''Naming & shaming'' past de bestuursorganen niet |trans-title = Naming & shaming not appropriate for governing bodies }}</ref>
[[File:Algemene Begraafplaats Vredehof. Aula (2).jpg|thumb|alt=Front facade of an old cemetery building surrounded by trees with a monument in front|Vredehof cemetery in [[Bodegraven]], which was visited by conspiracy theorists in early 2021]] Van de Sanden represented the municipality of [[Bodegraven-Reeuwijk]] in several cases that drew national media attention starting in 2021. Allegations of [[Satanic ritual abuse]] of children in [[Bodegraven]] in the 1980s were spread by three individuals – one claiming to be a survivor – through an online broadcast. As a result, inhabitants received threats and believers flocked to the graves of supposed victims in early 2021 to lay flowers.<ref name="vk2"/><ref name="vk1"/> Mayor Christiaan van der Kamp sought legal advice after relatives had been angered, and Van de Sanden advised to prohibit non-relatives from visiting the affected cemetery through an [[emergency order]].<ref name="vk2"/><ref name="vk3">{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/complotdenkers-veroordeeld-tot-2-ton-schadevergoeding-voor-verspreiden-verhalen-over-pedonetwerk~b0135f83/ |website = de Volkskrant |language = nl |access-date = 17 September 2023 |url-access = subscription |date = 18 May 2022 |last = Kuiper |first = Rik |title = Complotdenkers veroordeeld tot 2 ton schadevergoeding voor verspreiden verhalen over pedonetwerk |trans-title = Conspiracy theorists sentenced to pay €200,000 in compensation for spreading stories about pedophile network }}</ref> After continued unrest, the municipality started an [[injunction]] suit against the three men to stop them from promoting the conspiracy theory, separate from criminal proceedings by the [[Public Prosecution Service (Netherlands)|Public Prosecution Service]].<ref name="vk3"/><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2388539-gemeenten-zoeken-middelen-tegen-online-verspreiding-complottheorieen |website = [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] |access-date = 19 September 2023 |date = 8 July 2021 |title = Gemeenten zoeken middelen tegen online verspreiding complottheorieën |trans-title = Municipalities are looking for ways to stop the online spreading of conspiracy theories |language = nl |last1 = Bouma |first1 = Rudy |last2 = Van der Meer |first2 = Sophie |last3 = Berbers |first3 = Tim }}</ref> The District Court of The Hague agreed with the municipality and ordered the defendants in July to take down their posts from social media. Van de Sanden called it a groundbreaking judgement that would allow municipalities to tackle online disturbances through civil action. However, he also called on the [[Dutch Data Protection Authority]] to take more action in the future.<ref name="vk1">{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/satanische-pedoterreur-door-corrupte-elite-kan-rechter-complotdenkers-stoppen~b6b846ac/ |url-access = subscription |access-date = 17 September 2023 |date = 17 June 2021 |language = nl |website = de Volkskrant |last = Kuiper |first = Rik |title = 'Satanische pedoterreur' door 'corrupte elite': kan rechter complotdenkers stoppen? |trans-title = 'Satanic ritual abuse' by 'corrupt elite': Can the judge stop conspiracy theorists? }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/burgemeester-bodegraven-als-het-nodig-is-laten-we-complotverspreiders-gijzelen~a0c62a93/ |website = [[Algemeen Dagblad]] |access-date = 17 September 2023 |language = nl |url-access = subscription |date = 8 July 2021 |title = Burgemeester Bodegraven: Als het nodig is, laten we complotverspreiders gijzelen |trans-title = Bodegraven mayor: If it is necessary, we will have the conspiracy theory spreaders held |last1 = Tielemans |first1 = Stijn |last2 = Rosman |first2 = Cyril }}</ref> Wouter Raatgever – one of the conspiracy theorists – was sentenced to six months in prison for threats against Van de Sanden and incitement against a prominent physician-scientist. Raatgever had accused Van de Sanden of protecting a Satanist pedophile network and said that he should receive the death penalty from a military tribunal.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.leidschdagblad.nl/cnt/dmf20210622_96167819 |website = [[Leidsch Dagblad]] |language = nl |access-date = 18 September 2023 |url-access = subscription |date = 22 June 2021 |title = Complotdenker Wouter Raatgever krijgt zes maanden celstraf voor bedreiging advocaat en opruiing tegen Jaap van Dissel |trans-title = Conspiracy theorist Wouter Raatgever receives six-month prison sentence for threats against lawyer and incitement against Jaap van Dissel }}</ref>
Through a [[civil case]], Bodegraven-Reeuwijk tried to recover security, clean-up, and legal costs incurred as a result of the conspiracy theory. The three conspiracy theorists were ordered to pay €215,000 in May 2022, but the decision was reversed for one of the defendants on appeal the next year.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.trouw.nl/binnenland/complotdenkers-moeten-2-ton-betalen-na-verhalen-pedonetwerk~b6b6ebda/ |website = [[Trouw]] |access-date = 18 September 2023 |language = nl |date = 18 May 2022 |title = Complotdenkers moeten 2 ton betalen na verhalen pedonetwerk |trans-title = Conspiracy theorists ordered to pay €200,000 due to stories about pedophile network }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.ad.nl/bodegraven-reeuwijk/schadeclaim-van-twee-ton-tegen-pedonetwerk-complotdenker-knevel-afgewezen-gemeente-bestudeert-uitspraak~a2445467/ |website = Algemeen Dagblad |access-date = 18 September 2023 |language = nl |date = 23 May 2023 |last = Van Opstal |first = Harrie |url-access = subscription |title = Schadeclaim van twee ton tegen 'pedonetwerk'-complotdenker Knevel afgewezen, gemeente bestudeert uitspraak |trans-title = €200,000 in damages from pedophile network conspiracy theorist Knevel denied, municipality is looking into decision }}</ref> Van de Sanden also continued efforts to have the social media posts removed, as the three men failed to comply with the judgement. Platform [[Twitter]] suspended one account after receiving a draft [[subpoena]] but did not abide by the municipality's request to remove all tweets promoting the conspiracy theory.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/bodegraven-vs-twitter-dorp-is-klaar-met-complottheorie-over-pedofielennetwerk~b1cae3aaa/ |website = de Volkskrant |access-date = 19 September 2023 |date = 16 September 2022 |language = nl |last1 = Kuiper |first1 = Rik |last2 = Verhagen |first2 = Laurens |title = Bodegraven vs. Twitter: dorp is klaar met complottheorie |url-access = subscription |trans-title = Bodegraven v. Twitter: Village is fed up with conspiracy theory }}</ref> In turn, the municipality filed an injunction suit against Twitter. The District Court of The Hague ruled in October 2022 that the company had done enough and that it would be too complex to have it filter all illegal content.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/oct/04/dutch-town-falsely-linked-to-satanic-paedophiles-loses-twitter-court-case |website = [[The Guardian]] |access-date = 19 September 2023 |date = 4 October 2022 |title = Dutch town falsely linked to satanic paedophiles loses Twitter court case |agency = [[Agence France-Presse]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2447020-bodegraven-verliest-kort-geding-tegen-twitter-om-tweets-pedofiele-misdrijven |website = NOS |access-date = 19 September 2023 |title = Bodegraven verliest kort geding tegen Twitter om tweets pedofiele misdrijven |trans-title = Bodegraven loses injunction suit against Twitter about tweets related to pedophiliac crimes |last = Bouma |first = Rudy |date = 4 October 2022 |language = nl }}</ref> Reflecting on his work for the municipality, Van de Sanden wrote in an opinion piece that mayors have more possibilities than often believed to act on online calls to disrupt public order by drawing on [[Civil law (common law)|civil]] rather than administrative law. However, Van de Sanden and Peters also expressed that an expanded set of tools would be required for mayors, saying that parts of the relevant legislation stemmed from the 19th century and did therefore not consider the digital world.<ref name="bb"/><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.binnenlandsbestuur.nl/digitaal/landelijke-regie-op-digitale-veiligheid |website = Binnenlands Bestuur |access-date = 20 September 2023 |language = nl |date = 16 April 2021 |last = Boonstra |first = Wouter |title = Cyberburgemeesters slaan alarm |trans-title = Cyber mayors sound the alarm }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2023/02/10/burgemeesters-kunnen-best-iets-doen-a4156808 |website = NRC |date = 10 February 2023 |last = Van de Sanden |first = Cees |url-access = subscription |access-date = 20 September 2023 |language = nl |title = Burgemeesters kunnen best iets doen |trans-title = Mayor are able to do something }}</ref>
Van de Sanden's partnership with Heleen Peters ended when they dissolved their firm in September 2022. He founded the short-lived SandenHartman with financial attorney Jesler Hartman Kok, before becoming founding partner in April 2024 of a firm called Legolas Law. Both had their offices in [[Eindhoven]].<ref name="ek1"/><ref>{{Cite web |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220930023433/https://vandesandenpetersadvocaten.nl/over-ons |url = https://vandesandenpetersadvocaten.nl/over-ons |title = Over ons |trans-title = About us |via = Wayback Machine |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |archive-date = 30 September 2022 |website = Van de Sanden & Peters Advocaten }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://sandenhartman.com/het-kantoor |website = SandenHartman |access-date = 16 September 2023 |language = nl |title = Het kantoor |trans-title = The office }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://sandenhartman.com/info/contactgegevens |website = SandenHartman |access-date = 16 September 2023 |language = nl |title = Contactgegevens |trans-title = Contact details }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.legolaslaw.com/contactgegevens/ |title = Contactgegevens |trans-title = Contact details |website = Legolas Law |access-date = 2 February 2025 |language = nl }}</ref>
As of February 2, 2026, Van de Sanden is no longer registered on the Roll of Advocates and has ceased practicing as a lawyer.<ref name="Orde">{{Cite web |title=Find a Lawyer: C.A.H. van de Sanden |url=https://zoekeenadvocaat.advocatenorde.nl/zoeken?type=advocaten&q=C.A.H.%20VAN%20DE%20SANDEN |access-date=2026-02-16 |publisher=Netherlands Bar Association (NOvA) |language=Dutch}}</ref><ref name="EersteKamer">{{Cite web |title=Mr. C.A.H. van de Sanden LL.M. (Entry under 'Closed') |url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/mr_c_a_h_van_de_sanden_ll_m |access-date=2026-02-16 |publisher=Senate of the Netherlands |language=Dutch}}</ref> Since that date, he has been active as an advisor.<ref name="EersteKamer" />
== Politics == Van de Sanden became active for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in 2021 in his home province of North Brabant, where he helped write its provincial [[election program]]. He ran for the Senate [[2023 Dutch Senate election|in May 2023]] as the party's twelfth candidate. The ballot listed [['s-Hertogenbosch]] as his place of residence, and he said he wanted to contribute to a liberal, safe, and enterprising Netherlands.<ref name="bd">{{Cite news |title = Plek 12 VVD-lijst voor Bosschenaar |trans-title = 12th spot VVD list for 's-Hertogenbosch resident |language = nl |newspaper = [[Brabants Dagblad]] |page = 2 |date = 3 February 2023 }}</ref><ref name="vvd">{{Cite news |url = https://www.vvd.nl/profielen/cees-van-der-sanden/ |title = Cees van de Sanden |website = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] |access-date = 16 September 2023 |language = nl }}</ref> Van de Sanden was not elected to the Senate, as the VVD won ten seats.<ref name="kies"/> On 16 June 2023, Senator [[Paulien Geerdink]] (VVD) suffered a [[spinal fracture]] resulting from a fall and went on sick leave.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1973970099/vvd-senator-breekt-nekwervels-in-antwerpen-heel-erg-schrikken |website = [[De Telegraaf]] |url-access = subscription |access-date = 16 September 2023 |language = nl |date = 29 June 2023 |title = VVD-senator breekt nekwervels in Antwerpen: 'Heel erg schrikken' |trans-title = VVD senator suffers spinal fracture in Antwerp: 'Very scary' }}</ref> Van de Sanden was sworn in as her temporary replacement on 27 June due to his place on the [[party list]] in the last election. The seat had been declined by the VVD's eleventh candidate, Marjolein van der Linden.<ref name="kies"/><ref>{{Cite press release |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/nieuws/20230627/van_de_sanden_vvd_geinstalleerd |website = Senate |access-date = 16 September 2023 |language = nl |date = 27 June 2023 |title = Van de Sanden (VVD) geïnstalleerd als tijdelijk lid Eerste Kamer |trans-title = Van de Sanden (VVD) installed as temporary senator }}</ref> Geerdink returned on 12 October 2023, bringing an end to his term.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/drs_p_w_geerdink_vvd |website = [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] |language = nl |title = Drs. P.W. Geerdink (VVD) |access-date = 3 November 2024 }}</ref> Van de Sanden was sworn in as the permanent replacement of Senator [[Caspar van den Berg]] on 24 September 2024.<ref>{{Cite press release |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/nieuws/20240924/van_de_sanden_vvd_geinstalleerd |website = [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] |access-date = 3 November 2024 |date = 24 September 2024 |title = Van de Sanden (VVD) geïnstalleerd als Eerste Kamerlid |trans-title = Van de Sanden (VVD) sworn in as senator }}</ref> Following the repeated decision of the eleventh-ranked candidate to decline the seat. He left the VVD and continued as an [[independent politician]] on 8 October 2025, declaring that the party had "drifted away from its core values of liberty, responsibility, tolerance, social justice, and equality."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2585668-senator-stapt-op-bij-vvd-uit-onvrede-over-partijkoers-neemt-zetel-mee|title=Senator stapt op bij VVD uit onvrede over partijkoers, neemt zetel mee|website=[[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]]|language=nl|access-date=9 October 2025|date=8 October 2025|trans-title=Senator leaves VVD because of dissatisfaction with party's direction, keeps his seat}}</ref>
In June 2025, Van de Sanden came under scrutiny for acting as legal counsel for the Dutch subsidiary of the Russian oil company Lukoil, while simultaneously voting in the Senate on matters that could affect the company. Integrity experts criticized the lack of transparency and pointed to potential conflicts of interest and security risks, particularly in light of Lukoil’s ties to the Kremlin.<ref>https://fd.nl/politiek/1557634/vvd-senator-oogst-kritiek-om-adviesrol-dochterbedrijf-russische-oliereus</ref>
In March 2026, Van de Sanden was appointed, together with Mary Fiers, as rapporteur for the European "Digital AI Omnibus" and "Digital Omnibus" proposals. The rapporteurs were appointed for a period of nine months to support the information position of the Senate (Eerste Kamer of the Netherlands).<ref name="EK_rapporteurs">{{cite web |date=3 March 2026 |title=Eerste Kamer benoemt rapporteurs EU‑wetgeving digitalisering en AI |url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/eu/nieuws/20260303/eerste_kamer_benoemt_rapporteurs |access-date=25 March 2026 |publisher=Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal}}</ref> Following consultations between the Committees on Digitalization and on Economic Affairs, Climate, and Sustainable Growth and the relevant Secretaries of State on 17 March 2026, the Senate (Eerste Kamer of the Netherlands) decided on 24 March 2026 to lift the parliamentary scrutiny reserve for these proposals, ending the Senate's ability to suspend the legislative process in Brussels for these files.<ref name="EK_besluit">{{cite web |date=24 March 2026 |title=Besluitenlijst commissievergaderingen 24 March 2026 |url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/besluitenlijst/20260324/besluitenlijst_commissievergaderingen |access-date=25 March 2026 |publisher=Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal}}</ref><ref name="scrutiny">{{cite web |date=25 March 2026 |title=Nieuws uit de commissies van 24 March 2026 – Parlementair behandelvoorbehoud Omnibus AI en Omnibus Digitaal opgeheven |url=https://www.eerstekamer.nl/nieuws/20260325/nieuws_uit_de_commissies_van_24 |access-date=25 March 2026 |publisher=Eerste Kamer der Staten‑Generaal}}</ref>
=== Senate committee assignments === First term: * Committee on Education, Culture and Science * Committee on Economic Affairs and Climate Policy * Committee on Finances * Committee on Social Affairs and Employment<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/commissies?lid=vm4acamtuud5 |title = Lidmaatschappen C.A.H van de Sanden |trans-title = Memberships C.A.H. van de Sanden |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |website = Senate }}</ref>
Second term: * Committee on Digitization * Committee on Economic Affairs / Climate Policy and Green Growth * Committee on European Affairs * Committee on the Interior * Committee on Justice and Security * Committee on Health, Welfare and Sport<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.eerstekamer.nl/commissies?lid=vm4acamtuud5 |title = Lidmaatschappen C.A.H van de Sanden |trans-title = Memberships C.A.H. van de Sanden |language = nl |access-date = 3 November 2024 |website = Senate }}</ref>
== Electoral history == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Cees van de Sanden}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Year ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Body ! scope="col" colspan=2 rowspan=2 |Party ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=Position on the party list|Pos.}} ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Votes ! scope="colgroup" colspan=2 |Result ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |{{abbr|2=References|Ref}}. |- ! scope="col" |Party seats ! scope="col" |Individual |- ! scope="row" |[[2023 Dutch Senate election|2023]] | [[Senate (Netherlands)|Senate]] | style="background-color:{{party color|People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (2020)}};"| | [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] |style=text-align:right | 12 |style=text-align:right | 0{{efn|To account for population differences between provinces, a weighted vote total of 0 is used.}} |style=text-align:right | 10 | {{no2|Lost}}{{efn|Van de Sanden was appointed to the body later during the term due to a vacancy.}} | <ref name="kies">{{Cite web |url = https://www.kiesraad.nl/adviezen-en-publicaties/proces-verbalen/2023/6/1/proces-verbaal-uitslag-eerste-kamerverkiezing-2023 |website = Dutch Electoral Council |language = nl |access-date = 16 September 2023 |date = 1 June 2023 |format = PDF |title = Proces-verbaal uitslag Eerste Kamerverkiezing 2023 |trans-title = Records of the results of the 2023 Senate election |pages = 14–18 }}</ref> |}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.eerstekamer.nl/persoon/mr_c_a_h_van_de_sanden_vvd Official Senate page] {{In lang|nl}} * [https://www.vvd.nl/profielen/cees-van-der-sanden/ Official VVD page] {{In lang|nl}}
{{Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2023–2027|state=collapsed}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanden, Cees van de}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1962 births]] [[Category:People from Tilburg]] [[Category:People from 's-Hertogenbosch]] [[Category:Tilburg University alumni]] [[Category:21st-century Dutch politicians]] [[Category:Members of the Senate (Netherlands)]] [[Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy senators]] [[Category:21st-century Dutch lawyers]]