The Hague, January 10, 2026 – In a rare and potentially precarious political development for the Netherlands, the three main parties involved in coalition negotiations have decided to form a minority government, according to reports from Dutch media and official statements released on Friday.
The liberal-democratic D66 (Democrats 66), which emerged as the largest party following the general election on October 22, 2025, will lead the government in partnership with the centrist Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and the liberal-conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Together, the three parties control 66 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), falling 10 seats short of an absolute majority. In the 75-seat Senate (Eerste Kamer), the coalition holds only 29 seats, leaving them 16 seats short of a majority.
The decision to proceed with a minority cabinet marks a significant departure from Dutch political tradition, where coalitions have almost always secured a majority in both chambers. The last true minority government in the Netherlands dates back to 1901, though short-lived or caretaker minority cabinets have occurred in transitional periods.
D66 leader Rob Jetten, widely expected to become the next prime minister, addressed the challenges ahead in a joint press conference on Friday afternoon. “The new cabinet team is going to have to work hard,” Jetten stated. “But we think we can do it.” He emphasized that the minority status would require greater flexibility, compromise, and dialogue with opposition parties to pass legislation on a case-by-case basis.
CDA leader Henri Bontenbal described the arrangement as a reflection of “the new political reality.” He added: “It would be great if we could switch to a new political culture as well,” referring to the deep polarization and animosity that has characterized recent Dutch politics, particularly following the rise of populist parties on both the left and right.
The formation talks, which began immediately after the October election, initially included more parties but collapsed over disagreements on immigration, housing, climate policy, and fiscal priorities. After weeks of deadlock, the three centrist-liberal parties opted for the minority model rather than further delays or a return to the polls.
A spokesperson for the left-wing alliance GroenLinks-PvdA (GreenLeft-Labour Party), which secured 20 seats in the election, called the minority coalition a “risky political experiment.” Speaking to public broadcaster NOS, the spokesperson warned that the arrangement would create “unnecessary uncertainty” for citizens and businesses, particularly in areas such as healthcare, education, housing affordability, and climate commitments.
The new government will now move into detailed negotiations on a coalition agreement, focusing on key policy areas including the cost-of-living crisis, asylum and migration policy, agricultural reform, and the Netherlands’ role in European Union decision-making. The parties plan to invite leaders from other parliamentary factions—including the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) of Geert Wilders, the Socialist Party (SP), the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), and Volt—to exploratory discussions in the coming days. While the minority cabinet will not include these parties in the government, their support will be essential for passing bills in parliament.
Political analysts have expressed both cautious optimism and concern about the arrangement. Political scientist Tom Louwerse of Leiden University told NOS that minority governments can function effectively if parties demonstrate pragmatism and if opposition groups are willing to negotiate. However, he cautioned that the current political landscape—marked by deep ideological divides, the strong presence of the populist right (PVV holds 37 seats), and growing fragmentation—could lead to frequent parliamentary gridlock.
The decision also reflects the exhaustion of traditional majority-building options. The PVV, despite its strong showing, remains politically toxic for most centrist parties due to its anti-immigration and anti-Islam platform. Attempts to include or rely on Wilders’ party collapsed amid irreconcilable differences.
The outgoing caretaker government, led by former Prime Minister Dick Schoof, has managed day-to-day affairs since July 2025. Once the new cabinet is sworn in—likely in late February or March 2026—the Netherlands will enter a new era of parliamentary bargaining.
For now, the focus remains on finalizing the coalition agreement and securing enough ad-hoc support in parliament to govern. The coming weeks will reveal whether Dutch politics can adapt to a minority model or whether fresh elections becomej inevitable.
