In this note
How the Netherlands governs itself — the parties, the people, and the system
Dutch politics is coalition politics. No single party ever wins a majority. The result is endless negotiation, fragile governments, and a political system that is genuinely pluralist — sometimes frustratingly so.
The Tweede Kamer has 150 seats. The current parliament has over twenty parties. Forming a government after an election typically takes months — the process is called the Formatie. The 2021 formatie was the longest in Dutch history at 299 days. The 2023 formatie, after Wilders' surprise victory, took 195 days and ended with an unlikely coalition between PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB.
The dominant figure of the last decade was Mark Rutte, who led four consecutive cabinets before leaving for NATO. He has been replaced in the VVD by Dilan Yeşilgöz, and on the centre-right by Henri Bontenbal of the CDA. On the left, Jesse Klaver and Pieter Omtzigt are the main opposition voices.
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 We do our best to be accurate but we make mistakes and information goes out of date.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.