In a milestone for Dutch leadership, Rob Jetten has taken oath as prime minister at the remarkably young age of 38, making him the youngest in the Netherlands’ history. The ceremony at The Hague’s Huis ten Bosch Palace saw King Willem-Alexander officiate, ushering in the fourth cabinet in four years.
Leading a coalition of D66, Christian Democrats, and VVD, Jetten’s minority government holds just 66 seats in the 150-member lower house. This precarious balance means reliance on opposition votes for legislation, a high-stakes strategy in a polarized parliament.
Adhering to longstanding customs, male cabinet members appeared in morning coats before the king, swapping outfits post-swearing-in. They then proceeded to their ministries, capping the event with a regal group photograph on the palace steps.
The path to power followed intense post-election talks after October’s vote, where D66 and PVV tied at 26 seats each. PVV’s loss of seven MPs shifted dynamics, enabling the centrist pact announced in January 2026.
As D66’s Europe-friendly leader, Jetten confronts pressing issues like housing shortages, climate action, and migration. His appointment signals a shift toward youthful, progressive governance. While skeptics doubt the coalition’s durability, Jetten’s early pledges focus on unity and results, positioning him as a potential transformative figure in European politics.