Voting under way in Netherlands parliamentary election – Europe live | Netherlands
Voting continues in the Netherlands
Yakup Krupa
Voting continues in the parliamentary elections on a knife edge in the Netherlands Polls suggest Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV) could win again, but the party has little chance of being in the next government.
Final voting averages show While Wilders’ party could win 24 to 28 seats in the 150-seat parliament, this rate was well below the 37 seats it won in the 2023 elections. Even if he finished first, all major parties refused to enter government with fervent anti-immigrant stances.
We will be following election day in the Netherlands closely. with Guardian’s Şenay Boztaş We’re on the ground in Amsterdam and I’ll be bringing you the exit poll and initial reactions to the vote later tonight.
His Wednesday, October 29, 2025, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
important events
Yakup Krupa
Anne Frank’s House This isn’t the only unusual place voters can vote today.
Dutch Vogue There is a list of 11 special locationsincluding a children’s zoo Amsterdammaritime museum Rotterdamminiature park Hague.
And yes, Of course you can vote in a windmill …
…or rather, inside their shop.
‘The fight against fascism begins with a tail,’ voters at Anne Frank House say
Şenay Boztaş
in amsterdam
“The fight against fascism begins with the tail,” said the voters Anne Frank’s House Voting booth in Amsterdam.
There was a queue around the corner – not only to visit the museum where the Jewish diarist shot from the Nazi invaders, but also to vote in the current Dutch elections (free entrance to the museum afterwards!).
“I’m voting against fascism here,” one voter said dryly.
Some said they didn’t dare hope for too much change.
“I think voting is very important.A woman who gave her name as Désirée said: “There are a lot of things that have gone wrong in recent years… but now it looks like the biggest party [then] “It is still the largest party, a party that has given little in the past and undermined the rule of law.”
Mark de BruinThe 54-year-old lifelong Amsterdammer was lining up to vote and visit the museum for the first time.
“The last few years have been a complete mess; I deeply regret it.” he said.
“If I were to see the current party leaders, I would see that there is a lot more expertise in government than we have had recently. I think [the PVV] It will be smaller than previous elections because many people see that they cannot govern. However will certainly remain a factor in opposition – although I would have preferred them to remain on the bench for two years. “They will torpedo everything that comes their way.”
Annemar RenzemaA 24-year-old student in Amsterdam from Friesland said it was very important to vote but did not want to think too much about the result.
“Thinking about it makes me a little uneasy.” he said. “We’ll see. I’m not happy [with the recent direction of politics] And that’s why I think it’s so important to make my voice heard.
“I am 24 years old and I want to have the chance to buy a house; I am a student and decreasing student loan interest rates is important to me. And more than that, it’s about women’s rights and social rights. “I hope things go a little better with us as humans and with each other.”
Şenay Boztaş
in amsterdam
The ballot paper is as big as a bath towel – I’m surprised more people don’t misunderstand this.
Yakup Krupa
Speaking of “blank” votes and protests, you’ll be glad to know. The electoral authority ensured that: A lot Detailed manual on what counts as “blanco” and what will make or break a vote.
In 2023, 19,655 voters (0.19%) voted “white”; The number of invalid votes is just under 22,822 (0.22%).
So if you want to make sure that votes are counted as blank, Really So it has to be empty. If you write anything Even if it says ‘I want this to be a blank vote’, it falls into the invalid category.
You However, you can draw a smiley face without invalidating the ballot paper, but you need to make sure there is nothing in there that personally identifies you (so don’t sign it!).
This and all other – some very entertaining – scenarios are covered Here.
Şenay Boztaş
in amsterdam
was there An interesting interview with a Dutch taxi driver previously aired on NPO Radio 1, He is a person who describes his work as “modern slavery”, works long hours to make a living, and has completely lost faith in democracy.
HE will vote for ‘blanco’ – Blank ballot paper as a sign of protest.
“They never asked us if we wanted a global economy. A moving train and it doesn’t stop… Sinterklaas [St Nicholas] “No, but there is no democracy either,” he said.
Lunch attendance is slightly lower than in 2023
Ipsos-I&O’s early participation forecasts are so far slightly lower than in previous years. It shows that 27% of voters had voted by 13.45 local time.
It was 28% in 2023 and 33% in 2017. 2021 a slightly different storySince the polls are open for three days during the Covid outbreak.
we will be then keep an eye on the headline attendance figure – It was 77.7% in 2023.
Şenay Boztaş
in amsterdam
Dutch broadcaster NO I posted a story earlier today I tell people “your best chance for a dry vote is in the morning.”
Why is it relevant? PVV voters, for example, don’t always bother to vote and generally don’t have much faith in democracy.
Bart Koenen, The senior researcher at Verian, who works on political polls, thinks higher turnout could benefit PVV. However, he added:
“There are a lot of PVV voters who look outside when the weather is bad on Wednesday and say, ‘Oh no, I’m not going to vote.’”
In any case, it’s early afternoon now, and the sky gets dark A little…
So what might the new government look like?
Jon Henley
given The highly fragmented state of Dutch politics Which coalitions are actually possible is as important as who finishes first (or in this case, more likely second, as neither major party will come to power with Wilders, who insists he wants to lead a minority government).
After the election, Deputies will first make an appointment informative, looking for possible alliances. Once a viable coalition is found, formatter, Usually the head of the largest potential partner begins negotiations on the formal coalition agreement. It may take months.
Multiple options seem reasonable, most are a mix of centre-left and moderate right parties. According to most likely CoalitionChecker websiteIt includes CDA and GL/PvdA, as well as one or more minor batches including D66 and potentially JA21.
Key players and main topics in the Dutch snap survey
Jon Henley
If you like it A quick reminder of who the key players are in the Dutch elections and what’s at stakeWe’ve prepared this useful explainer for you by our Europe correspondent Jon Henley.
The early legislative elections were triggered by the collapse of the 11-month-old government in June after far-right firebrand Geert Wilders withdrew his Party for Freedom (PVV). The situation of an already fragile and extremely ineffective ruling coalition.
The PVV finished a shock first in the last election in late 2023, forming a fragile four-party right-wing coalition with populists after more than six months of talks. Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), centrist New Social Contract (NSC) and liberal-conservative VVD.
But Wilders’ associates thought he was too toxic for the job of prime minister. He went to a former intelligence chief, Dick Schoof. Anti-immigrant polemicist Wilders, who has lived under police protection for two decades, has resorted to sniping from the sidelines.
HE pulled the plug on June 3 after partners refused to accept a radical 10-point anti-immigration plan This included deploying the army to patrol the borders, turning away all asylum seekers, closing most refugee hostels, and sending all Syrian refugees home.
While support for PVV is decreasing, Polls show that the far-right anti-Islam party is likely to win the most seats in parliament. HoweverAll of the Netherlands’ leading political formations have refused to enter into a formal coalition with Wilders.
At least 16 parties are expected to enter parliament, but none are expected to win more than about 20% of the vote.
As always the next Dutch government, an influential player on the EU and world stage in general, It will emerge only after coalition talks that may last months.
There are 150 deputies in the Dutch parliament, so A government needs 76 seats to form a majority. No party can achieve this aloneThe Netherlands has been governed by coalitions for more than a century.
Voting continues in the Netherlands
Yakup Krupa
Voting continues in the parliamentary elections on a knife edge in the Netherlands Polls suggest Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV) could win again, but the party has little chance of being in the next government.
Final voting averages show While Wilders’ party could win 24 to 28 seats in the 150-seat parliament, this rate was well below the 37 seats it won in the 2023 elections. Even if he finished first, all major parties refused to enter government with fervent anti-immigrant stances.
We will be following election day in the Netherlands closely. next to Guardian Şenay Boztaş We’re on the ground in Amsterdam and I’ll be bringing you the exit poll and initial reactions to the vote later tonight.
His Wednesday, October 29, 2025, his Yakup Krupa here and this Europe Live.
