Ochtend Flits

Who are they?

D66 was founded in 1966 by a group of people who wanted to blow up the old Dutch political establishment — hence the name (Democrats '66). They wanted direct democracy, referendums, elected mayors, and a more transparent political system. Most of that agenda never happened, but the party survived and reinvented itself as the progressive-liberal wing of Dutch politics.

Think: the party for people who have a master's degree, live in a city, like Europe, believe in evidence-based policy, and want the state to stay out of their personal lives. They're socially very liberal and fiscally centrist-to-left.

What they stand for

• Strong pro-EU, often the most explicitly pro-European party in parliament
• Evidence-based policy on climate, health, education
• Socially progressive: abortion rights, drug policy reform, euthanasia access
• Democratic reform (their original raison d'être — still there, rarely decisive)
• On economics: willing to spend on education and climate, cautious on deficits

They tend to attract younger, urban, highly educated voters. They do well in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden — university cities generally.

Leadership

D66 has had frequent leadership changes. The party punches above its weight in coalition negotiations because they're often the swing vote between left and right.

Their usual voters

Urban professionals, academics, students, people who read the Volkskrant or NRC. Anyone who feels the Netherlands should be more like Denmark — well-functioning, progressive, European.

In the current coalition

D66 is in opposition under the Schoof cabinet (the PVV-led coalition). They're a frequent and vocal critic, particularly on asylum policy and climate. Their state secretary Eerenberg is pushing for structural reform of mortgage interest deduction rather than kicking the problem to the next cabinet.

Recent moves

• 2021: D66 had their best result in years under Sigrid Kaag, who briefly looked like prime minister material before coalition dynamics didn't work out.
• 2023: Lost seats in the election that PVV won. Now in opposition.
• 2026: Coalition tensions over Hypotheekrenteaftrek — D66 and CDA want to reduce the deduction; VVD wants to preserve it. Classic fault line.