Dutch election set for October 29 amid government collapse
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The Netherlands will hold snap elections on October 29, 2025, following the collapse of the ruling coalition led by Geert Wilders' PVV.
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Far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders appears after pulling his party out of the four-party Dutch coalition in The Hague, The Netherlands, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (AP)
The Netherlands is set to hold snap elections on October 29, as announced by authorities on Friday, following the collapse of the ruling coalition after far-right leader Geert Wilders brought down the government by pulling out of his coalition.
"We have officially set the election date: the... elections will take place on Wednesday 29 October 2025," Dutch Interior Minister Judith Uitermark posted on X, adding that "in the coming period, I will work with the municipalities and other stakeholders to prepare so that this important day in our democracy goes smoothly."
The upcoming vote in the European Union's fifth-largest economy, a major global exporter, will draw close attention across Europe, where far-right parties have been making significant electoral gains.
Polls reveal tight race
According to polls, Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) is in a tight race with the Left/Green alliance led by former European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans. The liberal VVD party trails closely in the polls, indicating that the election will be highly competitive.
Wilders shocked the Dutch political establishment when his party secured a decisive victory in the November 2023 elections, winning 37 out of the 150 seats in parliament.
Recent polls indicate the PVV has seen a decline in support since their electoral victory, with current projections showing the party would likely secure between 28 and 30 seats if elections were held now.
Wilders brings down the Dutch government
On June 3, Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders and his PVV party exited the governing coalition, a decision that toppled the right-wing government and set the stage for snap elections.
Wilders explained that his coalition partners had rejected his plans to restrict asylum migration, while also mentioning that he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof about his PVV party's move to pull all its ministers from the government.
Wilders complained that the Netherlands was moving too slowly to enforce what he called the strictest immigration policy ever agreed upon by the four-party coalition before deciding to withdraw his party from the government.
The government's collapse could delay a crucial decision on increasing defense spending to meet NATO obligations, leaving the Netherlands under a caretaker government as it prepares to welcome NATO leaders to The Hague later this month for an important summit focused on these spending commitments.
