Netherlands Election Shock: D66 Ties PVV at 26 Seats in Historic Centrist Surge
Published Date: 30th Oct, 2025
The Hague – The Dutch snap election ended in a dead heat as liberal-centrist D66 and far-right PVV both secured 26 seats, delivering a stunning blow to Geert Wilders’ populist dominance and signaling a sharp pivot toward pragmatic governance.
With 99.2% of votes counted, D66 leader Rob Jetten’s campaign—centered on housing reform, climate action, and EU alignment—vaulted the party from 9 seats in 2023 to a tie for first. PVV, which won 37 seats two years ago, lost 11 amid voter fatigue over coalition gridlock and Wilders’ uncompromising migration stance.
Final Seat Distribution (150 total)
- D66 – 26 (+17)
- PVV – 26 (−11)
- GL-PvdA – 24 (−1)
- VVD – 22 (−2)
- CDA – 20 (+15)
- NSC – 10 (−10)
- BBB – 8 (+1)
- Others – 14 (−9)
Key Drivers of the Shift
Housing Crisis A chronic shortage of 400,000 homes dominated the campaign. D66’s pledge to build 100,000 units annually—half affordable—resonated with first-time buyers and urban renters. PVV’s focus on asylum caps failed to address domestic supply bottlenecks.
Coalition Collapse The Schoof cabinet fell in June when PVV withdrew over asylum quotas, followed by NSC’s exit in August on foreign policy. The double rupture framed the election as a referendum on governance stability.
Youth & Expat Turnout Turnout reached 82.4%. Late-counted ballots from Amsterdam, Utrecht, and 90,000 expat votes favored D66 by a 60-40 margin, erasing PVV’s early rural lead.
Coalition Outlook
No party holds a majority. D66 and VVD have ruled out governing with PVV, leaving Jetten to pursue a centrist bloc:
- Option 1: D66 + VVD + GL-PvdA + CDA = 92 seats (comfortable majority)
- Option 2: D66 + GL-PvdA + CDA + NSC = 80 seats (tight but viable)
Talks begin Tuesday under a parliamentary scout. A government could form by January, though Dutch negotiations often stretch longer.
Immediate Reactions
- Rob Jetten (D66): “The Netherlands chose solutions over slogans. We will deliver homes, jobs, and a future within Europe.”
- Geert Wilders (PVV): “We lost seats but not our voice. The fight for Dutch identity continues.”
- Frans Timmermans (GL-PvdA): “A progressive-center alliance is now possible—and necessary.”
- EU Commission: Welcomed the “pro-European outcome” in a brief statement.
Market & Policy Impact
The euro rose 0.3% against the dollar in early trading. Analysts expect continuity in fiscal policy, with accelerated housing investment and no rollback of nitrogen-reduction rules that had fueled BBB’s 2023 rise.
The Dutch result caps a turbulent year for European populism, following setbacks in France and Poland. For now, the polder model—consensus over confrontation—has reclaimed center stage.
Date: 30th Oct, 2025
