The Netherlands has sworn in 38-year-old centrist politician Rob Jetten as the country’s youngest-ever prime minister and its first openly gay leader.
Jetten secured a surprise victory in October’s general election, narrowly defeating the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) led by Geert Wilders. His win marked a significant political shift after a tightly contested race.
He officially takes office 117 days after the election, succeeding Dick Schoof, whose government collapsed in the summer of 2025, prompting snap elections.
Jetten will lead a coalition government comprising his own Democrats 66 (D66), the Christian Democratic Appeal(CDA), and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Together, the three parties hold 66 of the 150 seats in parliament, meaning the new administration will require support from opposition lawmakers to pass key legislation.
Among the government’s top priorities is a significant increase in defence spending, with plans to invest billions of euros to meet NATO’s target of allocating 5 percent of gross domestic product to military expenditure.
Jetten’s administration also intends to move forward with ambitious environmental reforms, including efforts to reduce emissions from the Netherlands’ large livestock industry — a policy expected to draw both domestic and international attention.
His swearing-in marks a historic milestone for Dutch politics, both in terms of age and representation, as the country ushers in a new political era.
