Liberal leader poised to become next Dutch prime minister

“There is a real risk of coalition gridlock between two pathways — D66’s preferred broad alliance and the VVD’s push to include the small hard-right JA21,” said Sander Tordoir, a researcher with the Centre for European Reform think-tank.

For Tordoir, the election result “provides a narrow pathway to a government that can help strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy”. Europe needs a “functional, outward-looking Netherlands to unblock domestic growth chokeholds, anchor Europe’s industrial and security strategy, and defend Dutch interests that ultimately rely on deeper European integration,” Tordoir said.