Rob Jetten Becomes Youngest, First Openly Gay Prime Minister of Netherlands

Rob Jetten has made history as the youngest and first openly gay prime minister of the Netherlands, following the swearing-in of his new minority government.

The 38-year-old clinched victory in October’s elections, leading his Democrats 66 party (D66) to a narrow win over anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders. Jetten has now formed a centre-right minority coalition with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA).

As a minority government, every major reform—from boosting defence spending by €19bn (£16.6bn) to implementing cuts in healthcare and social benefits—will require negotiations and approval on a case-by-case basis in the Netherlands’ two parliamentary chambers.

The coalition has also pledged stricter asylum policies, including requiring refugees to apply for asylum outside Europe rather than after arriving, a topic that has triggered the collapse of the country’s last two governments.

Jetten succeeds Dick Schoof, who led one of the shortest-lived administrations in Dutch history. Under the new cabinet, D66 will supply seven ministers, VVD six, and CDA five, with three state secretaries from each party.

King Willem-Alexander formally swore in Jetten at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague on Monday. Ahead of the ceremony, Jetten shared a selfie on X, writing:

“Proud to be doing this together. In a new phase, with great responsibility and, above all, a shared promise to work for everyone in the Netherlands.

By not dwelling on what’s wrong, but by building on what can be improved. That requires courage and collaboration.”