The coalition-building process after Dutch elections
Part of: Dutch Politics
Formatie is the process of forming a government after an election. In the Netherlands, no single party ever wins a majority in parliament (150 seats), so parties have to negotiate a coalition that adds up to at least 76 seats. This sounds simple. It is not.
The process typically takes months. The record is over 200 days. It involves several distinct phases, each with its own theatrical role-players.
Step 1: The verkenner (explorer)
Right after the election results come in, the Speaker of the House (Tweede Kamer) appoints a verkenner — an explorer — whose job is to figure out which coalition combinations are mathematically and politically possible. They have conversations with all party leaders and produce a short report. This is often a senior politician or former official. Sometimes a verkenner is appointed twice if the first round goes nowhere.
Step 2: The informateur (informer)
Once possible coalition combinations are identified, an informateur is appointed. Their job is to get parties talking substantively — are they actually willing to govern together? What are their red lines? This person doesn't negotiate the final deal; they create conditions for it. Sometimes there are multiple rounds with different informateurs.
Step 3: The formateur (formateur)
Once it's clear who the coalition partners will be, a formateur is appointed — usually the intended prime minister — to finalize the coalition agreement (regeerakkoord) and assemble the cabinet. The coalition agreement is a detailed document, sometimes over 50 pages, laying out what the parties agree to do in government.
Step 4: The kabinet (cabinet)
The new cabinet is sworn in by the King. Parliament gets to ask questions, but they don't vote on the cabinet itself — they just vote on policy as it comes. The government starts governing.
Because every party enters with promises to its voters and there are usually 3–4 coalition partners who all have different priorities. Negotiations on asylum, housing, climate, and the budget can each take weeks. Parties also need to manage their own internal factions — a deal that the party leader accepts but that the members can't live with won't hold.
Also, Dutch political culture values detailed agreements. Parties want things written down. This takes time.
After PVV won the 2023 elections with 37 seats, the usual formation paths were complicated by many parties' refusal to work with Geert Wilders. The process took roughly five months and went through multiple verkenners and informateurs before landing on a construction where Wilders stays in parliament, a non-partisan prime minister (Dick Schoof) leads the cabinet, and VVD, NSC, and BBB fill the coalition alongside PVV.
It remains one of the more unusual cabinet formations in modern Dutch history.
These guides are written to help you understand the Netherlands — not to replace professional advice. We do our best to be accurate but we make mistakes and information goes out of date. For anything that affects your legal status, taxes, finances, or health, verify with an official source or a qualified advisor.