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2025 Dutch general election - Wikipedia Jump to content

2025 Dutch general election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2025 Dutch general election
Netherlands
← 2023 29 October 2025
All 150 seats in the House of Representatives
76 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader Current seats
PVV Geert Wilders 37
GL/PvdA Frans Timmermans 25
VVD Dilan Yeşilgöz 24
NSC Eddy van Hijum 19
D66 Rob Jetten 9
BBB Caroline van der Plas 8
CDA Henri Bontenbal 5
SP Jimmy Dijk 5
Denk Stephan van Baarle 3
PvdD Esther Ouwehand 3
FvD Lidewij de Vos 3
SGP Chris Stoffer 3
CU Mirjam Bikker 3
Volt Laurens Dassen 2
JA21 Joost Eerdmans 1
Municipal result
Incumbent cabinet
Schoof cabinet
VVD–BBB

Early general elections will be held in the Netherlands on 29 October 2025 to elect the members of the House of Representatives.[1] The elections had been expected to be held in 2028, but a snap election was called after the Schoof cabinet collapsed due to the Party for Freedom (PVV) withdrawing from the coalition.

Background

[edit]
Further information: 2023–2024 Dutch cabinet formation

The 2023 Dutch general election resulted in losses for all parties in the fourth Rutte cabinet. The Party for Freedom (PVV) became the largest party in the House of Representatives for the first time and then formed a coalition with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC) and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB). The Schoof cabinet with the independent Dick Schoof as prime minister was sworn in on 2 July 2024. On 3 June 2025, PVV left the coalition due to disagreements over asylum policy,[2] leading to Schoof submitting the resignation of the cabinet.[3]

A snap election was called for 29 October 2025;[4] originally, the next general election was scheduled for 15 March 2028.[5] On 23 August 2025, NSC also left the coalition, citing disagreements over sanctions against Israel for the Gaza war.[6] On 12 June 2025, the Labour Party and GroenLinks agreed to participate with one shared candidate list again and to merge their parties in 2026.[7]

Compared to the 2023 election, three incumbent parliamentary parties have had a change in their lead candidate. Jimmy Dijk replaced Lilian Marijnissen as Socialist Party (SP) leader within a month after the election,[8] Thierry Baudet stepped down for Lidewij de Vos to be the lead candidate of Forum for Democracy (FvD),[9] and Eddy van Hijum was chosen as lead candidate of NSC after Pieter Omtzigt and Nicolien van Vroonhoven stepped down.[10]

Electoral system

[edit]
Main article: Elections in the Netherlands

Pursuant to articles C.1, C.2 and C.3 of the electoral law, elections for the House of Representatives take place every four years in March, unless a snap election is called. The 150 members of the House of Representatives are elected by semi-open list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. The number of seats per list is determined using the D'Hondt method. A list must receive a number of votes equal to or exceeding the Hare quota (1 full seat) in order to qualify for seat distribution, meaning there is an electoral threshold of 0.67%.[11]

Voters have the option to cast a preferential vote. The seats won by a list are first allocated to the candidates who, in preferential votes, have received at least 25% of the Hare quota (effectively ¼ of a seat or 0.17% of the total votes), regardless of their placement on the electoral list. If multiple candidates from a list pass this threshold, their ordering is determined based on the number of votes received. Any remaining seats are allocated to candidates according to their position on the electoral list.[12][13]

Parties and lead candidates

[edit]
See also: List of candidates in the 2025 Dutch general election
List Party Lead candidate Ideology 2023 result Districts
1 Party for Freedom PVV Geert Wilders Nationalism, right-wing populism 23.49% (37 seats) 20
2 GroenLinks–PvdA GL/PvdA Frans Timmermans Social democracy, green politics 15.75% (25 seats) 20
3 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy VVD Dilan Yeşilgöz Conservative liberalism 15.24% (24 seats) 20
4 New Social Contract NSC Eddy van Hijum Christian democracy 12.88% (20 seats) 20
5 Democrats 66 D66 Rob Jetten Social liberalism 6.29% (9 seats) 20
6 Farmer–Citizen Movement BBB Caroline van der Plas Agrarianism, right-wing populism 4.65% (7 seats) 20
7 Christian Democratic Appeal CDA Henri Bontenbal Christian democracy 3.31% (5 seats) 20
8 Socialist Party SP Jimmy Dijk Democratic socialism, left-wing populism 3.15% (5 seats) 20
9 Denk Denk Stephan van Baarle Minority interests 2.37% (3 seats) 20
10 Party for the Animals PvdD Esther Ouwehand Animal rights advocacy, environmentalism 2.25% (3 seats) 20
11 Forum for Democracy FVD Lidewij de Vos National conservatism, right-wing populism 2.23% (3 seats) 20
12 Reformed Political Party SGP Chris Stoffer Christian right 2.08% (3 seats) 20
13 Christian Union CU Mirjam Bikker Christian democracy 2.04% (3 seats) 20
14 Volt Netherlands Volt Laurens Dassen Social liberalism, European federalism 1.71% (2 seats) 20
15 JA21 JA21 Joost Eerdmans Conservative liberalism, right-wing populism 0.68% (1 seat) 20
16 Peace for Animals VvD Pascale Plusquin Animal rights advocacy, pacifism — 20
17 Interest of the Netherlands BVNL Wybren van Haga Classical liberalism, right-wing populism 0.51% (0 seats) 20
18 Bij1 BIJ1 Tofik Dibi Socialism, anti-racism 0.42% (0 seats) 20
19 Libertarian Party LP Tom van Lamoen Libertarianism 0.04% (0 seats) 19
20 50Plus 50+ Jan Struijs Pensioner's interests 0.49% (0 seats) 19
21 Pirate Party PPNL Matthijs Pontier Pirate politics 0.09% (0 seats) 18
22 Frisian National Party FNP Aant Jelle Soepboer Regionalism, Frisian interests — 16
23 Free Alliance VV Bart Burggraaf Classical liberalism — 13
24 De Linie DL Gerard van Hooft Right-wing populism — 10
25 Netherlands with a Plan NLPLAN Kok Kuen Chan Participatory democracy 0.05% (0 seats) 9
26 Ellect ELLECT Joana Amoah Abolitionism — 5
27 Party for the Rule of Law PVDR Danielle Tulp Rule of law advocacy — 2

Campaign

[edit]

The housing market, immigration and healthcare have been polled to be the main topics in the months prior to the election.[14][15][16] GroenLinks–PvdA (GL/PvdA), Democrats 66 (D66), the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the Socialist Party (SP), the Christian Union (CU) and Volt have all included the reduction of the mortgage interest deduction in their party manifestos. That has been opposed by the Party for Freedom (PVV), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) and Forum for Democracy (FvD).[17]

According to the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, GL/PvdA and BBB wanted to keep the halving of the deductible for healthcare, whereas VVD, CDA, Volt and JA21 wanted to increase it to € 440. GL/PvdA, D66, CU and Volt wanted more wealth tax and profit tax, in contrast to VVD, BBB and JA21, who did not want that and wanted to cut back on development aid. VVD, NSC and the Reformed Political Party (SGP) did not want additional measures to reach climate goals, and BBB and JA21 wanted to emit more CO2.[18]

Wilders attending a protest against an asylum seeker center in Helmond in July 2025

PVV leader Geert Wilders has attended local protests against asylum seeker centers in Helmond and Zwolle, urging municipalities to defy the Dispersal Act, and making these protests a central part of his election campaign.[19] This approach has drawn criticism from local politicians and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, who accuse Wilders of improper interference in local politics and of inciting unnecessary fear and division.[20] In August 2025, a discrimination hotline and Muslim organisations filed complaints against Wilders over a tweet comparing a young, blonde woman with PVV and an older woman wearing a headscarf with the Labour Party (PvdA). The tweet drew a record amount of complaints to the hotline and was compared to Nazi propaganda.[21]

On 10 October 2025, Wilders was named as a target of a terror cell, for which three men were arrested a day earlier. The National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism did not expect any remaining threat, but due to a bad feeling, Wilders suspended his campaign.[22][23]

A ban against political advertisement on platforms of Meta started on 6 October 2025. In the month leading up to the ban, FvD and D66 spent the most money on advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.[24]

Possible coalitions

[edit]

Multiple parties, including GL/PvdA, VVD and CDA, have stated they would not want to form a government with PVV. However, Wilders stated he wanted to govern, possibly in a minority government.[25] GL/PvdA and VVD both stated they would rather not govern with each other, but have not ruled out working together in a government.[26] VVD preferred a center-right coalition that included D66, BBB, CDA and JA21. However, D66 opposed any right-wing coalition and instead favored a national unity government, involving both left- and right-wing parties.[27] JA21 did not rule out any party to govern with, but party leader Joost Eerdmans stated he did not see JA21 in a cabinet with GL/PvdA or D66.[28]

Debates

[edit]
Dutch general election debates, 2025[29]
Date Organisers Channel Venue  P  Present    S  Surrogate    I  Invited    NI  Not invited    A  Absent Ref.
Van Baarle
30 September KRO-NCRV – ZWART NPO 1 The Hague NI NI S NI NI A NI S NI NI NI S NI A S [30][31]
1 October EO NPO Radio 1 Ede Christian University of Applied Sciences NI P S NI NI NI NI S NI NI P S NI NI S [32][33]
10 October NOS NPO Radio 1 P P P A P P P P P P P P P A P [34][35]
12 October WNL NPO 1 NI NI S NI NI S NI S NI NI NI S NI S S [36][37]
RTL Nieuws RTL 4 Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam NI NI P NI NI NI NI P NI NI NI P NI A P [38][39]
19 October NI NI I NI I I NI I NI NI NI I NI A I [40]
21 October Nederlands Dagblad De Basiliek, Veenendaal NI I I NI NI NI NI NI NI NI I NI NI NI NI [41]
23 October Talpa TV SBS6 NI NI I NI NI NI NI NI NI NI NI I NI I I [42]
26 October Jeugdjournaal NPO 3 Unknown
27 October EenVandaag NPO 1 Ahoy, Rotterdam NI NI I NI NI I NI I NI NI NI I NI I I [43]
28 October NOS "Smaller" parties
"Largest" parties

Opinion polls

[edit]
Main article: Opinion polling for the 2025 Dutch general election

After rising in the polls in the first months after the 2023 Dutch general election, the Party for Freedom (PVV) has declined from March 2024 onwards, but has continued to lead. GroenLinks–PvdA (GL/PvdA) has consistently polled in second place, between 22 and 30 seats. The Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) have consistently risen in the polls, at first at the expense of New Social Contract (NSC) and later of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).[44][45] In the final months before the election, JA21 also rose significantly in the polls.

Seats

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Verkiezingen definitief op 29 oktober, kosten 105 miljoen euro". Algemeen Dagblad. 6 June 2025.
  2. ^ Ionta, Nicoletta (3 June 2025). "Dutch government coalition collapses over migration clash". Euractiv. Archived from the original on 3 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Kabinet gevallen, alle PVV-bewindslieden stappen op" [Cabinet collapsed, all PVV ministers resign]. NOS (in Dutch). 3 June 2025.
  4. ^ "The Netherlands to hold election on October 29 after government collapse". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  5. ^ Hermenet, Coen (4 June 2025). "Hoe verder na val kabinet-Schoof?" [How to continue after the collapse of the Schoof cabinet?]. Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  6. ^ Skopeliti, Clea (23 August 2025). "Dutch foreign minister quits over failure to secure sanctions against Israel". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  7. ^ Corder, Mike (12 June 2025). "Dutch center-left parties unite to challenge the right in a historic merger". AP News. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Jimmy Dijk volgt Lilian Marijnissen op als SP-leider" [Jimmy Dijk succeeds Lilian Marijnissen as SP leader]. NU.nl (in Dutch). 13 December 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  9. ^ "De 'likeable' Lidewij de Vos moet Forum voor Democratie aan 'twaalf zetels' helpen" [The "likeable" Lidewij de Vos must help Forum for Democracy gain "twelve seats"]. NRC (in Dutch). 31 August 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Definitieve kandidatenlijst NSC: Eddy van Hijum definitief lijsttrekker, Nicolien van Vroonhoven niet meer verkiesbaar" [Final NSC candidate list: Eddy van Hijum definitively leading the list, Nicolien van Vroonhoven no longer eligible]. New Social Contract (in Dutch). 1 September 2025. Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Zetelverdeling over partijen". Kiesraad (in Dutch). 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  12. ^ Nederland, Parlementsverkiezingen, 15 maart 2017: Eindrapport (Report). OSCE/ODIHR. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Zetelverdeling over kandidaten". Kiesraad (in Dutch). 22 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  14. ^ Fastenau, Jelle (7 July 2025). "Dit zijn volgens kiezers de belangrijkste verkiezingsthema's en de partijen waar ze dan aan denken" [These are the most important election themes according to voters and the parties they think of]. EenVandaag (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  15. ^ Nieuwkerk, Sander (19 July 2025). "Verkiezingen op komst: kiezer vindt wooncrisis belangrijkste thema" [Elections coming up: voters consider housing crisis the most important issue]. RTL (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  16. ^ Kanne, Peter; Koppel, Maartje van de; Schelde, Asher van der (3 September 2025). "Politieke peiling Ipsos I&O 3 september 2025" [Political polling Ipsos I&O 3 September 2025] (PDF). Ipsos I&O (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Voors en tegens in campagne over afschaffen hypotheekrenteaftrek" [Pros and cons of the campaign to abolish mortgage interest deduction]. NOS (in Dutch). 9 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Politieke partijen willen hogere defensiekosten betalen door te korten op zorg" [Political parties want to pay higher defense costs by cutting health care]. NOS (in Dutch). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Zwolse gemeenteraad stemt ondanks bezoek Wilders voor komst azc" [Zwolle city council votes in favor of asylum seekers' center despite Wilders' visit]. NOS.nl (in Dutch). 7 July 2025. Archived from the original on 20 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  20. ^ Klaassen, Niels (10 July 2025). "Wilders roept op om in verzet te komen tegen komst azc's: is dat strafbaar?" [Wilders calls for resistance to the arrival of asylum centers: is that punishable?] (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  21. ^ "Discriminatie.nl en moslimorganisaties doen aangifte tegen Wilders om tweet" [Discrimination.nl and Muslim organizations file a complaint against Wilders for tweet]. NOS (in Dutch). 11 August 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  22. ^ "PVV-leider Wilders schort campagne op vanwege dreiging Belgische terreurcel" [PVV leader Wilders suspends campaign due to threat from Belgian terrorist cell]. NOS (in Dutch). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Wilders staakt campagne na dreiging aanslag: géén RTL-debat voor PVV" [Wilders suspends campaign after attack threat: no RTL debate for PVV]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  24. ^ Jansen, Nina; Pruis, Anna (11 October 2025). "Politieke partijen gaven vlak voor verbod nog tienduizenden euro's uit op sociale media" [Political parties spent tens of thousands of euros on social media just before the ban]. NOS (in Dutch). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  25. ^ "PVV-leider Wilders denkt aan minderheidskabinet, 'we willen regeren'" [PVV leader Wilders is considering a minority cabinet, 'we want to govern']. NOS (in Dutch). 5 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  26. ^ "Jesse Klaver (GL-PvdA): 'Sta niet te springen om kabinet met VVD, Wilders niet de nieuwe premier'" [Jesse Klaver (GL-PvdA): 'Don't be eager to form a cabinet with the VVD; Wilders should not be the new prime minister']. NPO Radio 1 (in Dutch). 8 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  27. ^ Soest, Hans van (5 September 2025). "D66-leider Jetten voelt niks voor rechts kabinet" [D66 leader Jetten is not in favor of a right-wing cabinet]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Joost Eerdmans ziet JA21 niet met D66 en GroenLinks-PvdA in kabinet: 'Zij willen een heel andere kant op'" [Joost Eerdmans doesn't see JA21 joining forces with D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA in the cabinet: "They want to go in a completely different direction."]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 7 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Alle politieke verkiezingsdebatten op een rij" [All political election debates laid out]. EW (in Dutch). 28 August 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  30. ^ Meent, Marlies van de (26 September 2025). "Pointer organiseert verkiezingsdebat: de stem van jongeren, live op NPO 1". Pointer (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  31. ^ No lead candidate participated in this debate. The politicians participating were Jesse Klaver (GL-PvdA), Harmen Krul (CDA), Eric van der Burg (VVD), and Jan Paternotte (D66).
  32. ^ Kaat, Joram (19 September 2025). "DIT en Life Rules organiseren samen met CHE studentendebat". dit.EO (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  33. ^ some lead candidates participated in this debate. The participating politicians, who were not party leaders, were Lisa Westerveld (GL-PvdA), Derk Boswijk (CDA), Jurgen Nobel (VVD), and Jan Paternotte (D66).
  34. ^ "NOS Nederland Kiest: Radiodebat" [NOS Netherlands Chooses: Radio Debate]. NPO Radio 1 (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  35. ^ "Volt zegt NOS-debat af, wil niet met FVD in discussie over klimaat" [Volt cancels on NOS debate, does not want to discuss the climate with FvD]. NOS (in Dutch). 8 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  36. ^ "Speciale uitzending WNL Op Zondag HET WNL-DEBAT: DE RUNNERS-UP Het eerste tv-debat met de nummers 2. Alle grote partijen doen mee. Van PVV, CDA en GroenLinks/PvdA tot VVD, D66 en JA21. Zondag 12 oktober, 10 uur, NPO1 #wnlopzondag #nummer2" [Special broadcast of WNL On Sunday THE WNL DEBATE: THE RUNNERS-UP The first TV debate featuring the runners-up. All the major parties are participating. From the PVV, CDA, and GroenLinks/PvdA to the VVD, D66, and JA21. Sunday, October 12, 10 a.m., NPO1 #wnlopzondag #nummer2]. x.com (in Dutch). WNL. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  37. ^ No lead candidate will participate in this debate. The politicians announced to participate are the second-placed candidates on the party's lists: Sebastiaan Stöteler (PVV), Esmah Lahlah (GL/PvdA), Eelco Heinen (VVD), Jan Paternotte (D66), Hanneke Steen (CDA) and Annabel Nanninga (JA21).
  38. ^ "Eerste grote verkiezingsdebat met vier hoofdrolspelers bij RTL op zondagavond 12 oktober" [First major election debate with four key players on RTL on Sunday evening, October 12]. RTL (in Dutch). 5 September 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  39. ^ "Rob Jetten bij het RTL-verkiezingsdebat" [Rob Jetten at the RTL election debat]. D66 (in Dutch). 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  40. ^ "Zes partijleiders bij tweede RTL-verkiezingsdebat op 19 oktober" [Six party leaders at the second RTL election debate on October 19]. RTL (in Dutch). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  41. ^ "ND Verkiezingsdebat 2025" [ND Election Debate 2025]. Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  42. ^ "Deze vier lijsttrekkers doen mee aan het SBS6-debat" [These four party leaders are participating in the SBS6 debate]. Hart van Nederland (in Dutch). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  43. ^ "Dit zijn de 6 lijsttrekkers die meedoen aan het EenVandaag Verkiezingsdebat voor de Tweede Kamerverkiezingen" [These are the 6 leading candidates participating in the EenVandaag Election Debate for the House of Representatives elections]. EenVandaag (in Dutch). 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  44. ^ Lubbe, Rozemarijn (31 December 2024). "NSC op 2 zetels, concurrent CDA stijgt naar 16 in laatste zetelpeiling van 2024" [NSC on 2 seats, rival CDA rises to 16 in the last seat poll of 2024]. EenVandaag (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
  45. ^ Hond, Maurice de (9 August 2025). "CDA nadert de top, VVD valt verder terug" [CDA nears the top, VVD falls further back]. maurice.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 September 2025.
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