The Netherlands may be about to make history. Rob Jetten, 38, leader of the centrist D66 party, is on track to become the country’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister following his party’s strong performance in Wednesday’s election.
Jetten, once known as a nagging climate minister, has reinvented himself on the campaign trail as an optimistic “yes, we can” politician. With polished messaging and increased advertising, he expanded his platform beyond traditional D66 priorities such as climate change and education, tackling divisive issues like immigration and the housing crisis, winning over voters who had previously leaned toward right-wing parties.
He criticized far-right leader Geert Wilders for “hijacking” Dutch identity, accusing him of only defending women’s and LGBTQ rights to cast Muslims in a negative light. Maintaining a positive campaign tone, Jetten posted on Instagram on election morning: “Together we can beat Wilders, I am ready.”
If his party wins the most votes as early indications suggest, Jetten will get the first opportunity to form a coalition and assume the role of prime minister. Kajsa Ollongren, a senior D66 member and former defence minister, praised him as “one of the most talented politicians the Netherlands has ever had” and expressed confidence in his ability to unite the country.
Jetten’s sexuality has not been a central part of his campaign. The Netherlands, a global leader in LGBTQ rights, was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage 25 years ago, during D66’s tenure. In 2021, a viral TikTok “bromance” featuring Jetten led him to meet his fiancé, Argentinian hockey player Nicolas Keenan, whom he plans to marry next August.
The politician, known for his conciliatory style and southern Dutch accent, has emphasized collaboration across political divides while condemning Wilders’ negativity. On immigration, he has proposed that asylum applications be submitted from outside the EU and supported expanded integration programs to help genuine refugees while deporting “rotten apples” from the system.
D66’s progressive stance has drawn criticism from the far right. During a recent anti-migration protest in The Hague, windows of party headquarters were smashed, and Jetten’s calm response as he spoke amid broken glass boosted his public profile. He also gained attention from his appearance on a popular trivia quiz show, aired during the campaign.
To tackle the country’s acute housing shortage, Jetten proposed building ten new towns with an annual government contribution of 2 billion euros and cutting red tape to enable the construction of 100,000 new homes annually by redesignating larger buildings and agricultural land.
With his upbeat message, policy proposals, and personal story, Rob Jetten has positioned himself as a historic and unifying figure in Dutch politics.
