The new Dutch government was officially sworn in on Tuesday at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, more than 220 days after the general elections on November 22 last year.
Following the honorable discharge of the former government, 16 new ministers were sworn in, followed by 13 state secretaries.
The new Dutch government consists of the far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV), the center-right party New Social Contract (NSC), the rightist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). These parties reached a coalition agreement on May 15.
The new Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, met with King Willem-Alexander for an introductory meeting prior to the ceremony.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the official start of the new Dutch government. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. One of the first tasks of the new government is to draft its program based on the coalition agreement.
By the signing of a royal decree, the new right-wing Dutch government has become a reality.
Defying analysts’ expectations, it swept to power on a crescendo of discontent that has boosted anti-immigration parties across the continent.
High cost of living, environmental issues, and a perceived failure to manage the asylum system were some of the key issues ahead of the November 2023 election.
After months of political wrangling, an agreement was reached for the new Dutch government to be led by a surprise pick - the former head of the Dutch intelligence service, Dick Schoof.
Mr Schoof was the fifth person approached to preside over the eclectic coalition, and among the few palatable candidates for all four parties.
He pushed back a planned retirement to take over from Mark Rutte, the Netherlands longest serving prime minister who has packed his cardboard boxes in preparation for a move to Brussels to take over as the new NATO Secretary General.
Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party won most seats in the November elections.
The coalition Mr Schoof will govern includes Geert Wilders' anti-immigration, far-right PVV as the largest party.
The other members of the coalition will be the conservative-liberal VVD, the Farmers' Citizen Movement and the new-to-government centrist New Social Contract which promised to restore public trust in politics.
The VVD and New Social Contract parties have pledged to ensure Mr Wilders’ populist right is kept in check - and Mr Wilders has been forced to water down his party's most extreme policies in order to keep the three other coalition parties on board.
Pledges to ban the Quran, close Dutch borders and hold a referendum on the Netherlands future within the EU have been put on ice, along with Mr Wilders' own prime ministerial ambitions.
Yet, as leader of the largest party within the coalition, he is still expected to be one of the most influential politicians in parliament.
As the new government takes power, three new ministries have been created, to allow each coalition party to install one of its own politicians in the field in which it places the greatest importance.
Following the honorable discharge of the former government, 16 new ministers were sworn in, followed by 13 state secretaries.
The new Dutch government consists of the far-right populist Party for Freedom (PVV), the center-right party New Social Contract (NSC), the rightist People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB). These parties reached a coalition agreement on May 15.
The new Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, met with King Willem-Alexander for an introductory meeting prior to the ceremony.
The swearing-in ceremony marked the official start of the new Dutch government. The first cabinet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. One of the first tasks of the new government is to draft its program based on the coalition agreement.
By the signing of a royal decree, the new right-wing Dutch government has become a reality.
Defying analysts’ expectations, it swept to power on a crescendo of discontent that has boosted anti-immigration parties across the continent.
High cost of living, environmental issues, and a perceived failure to manage the asylum system were some of the key issues ahead of the November 2023 election.
After months of political wrangling, an agreement was reached for the new Dutch government to be led by a surprise pick - the former head of the Dutch intelligence service, Dick Schoof.
Mr Schoof was the fifth person approached to preside over the eclectic coalition, and among the few palatable candidates for all four parties.
He pushed back a planned retirement to take over from Mark Rutte, the Netherlands longest serving prime minister who has packed his cardboard boxes in preparation for a move to Brussels to take over as the new NATO Secretary General.
Geert Wilders' far-right Freedom Party won most seats in the November elections.
The coalition Mr Schoof will govern includes Geert Wilders' anti-immigration, far-right PVV as the largest party.
The other members of the coalition will be the conservative-liberal VVD, the Farmers' Citizen Movement and the new-to-government centrist New Social Contract which promised to restore public trust in politics.
The VVD and New Social Contract parties have pledged to ensure Mr Wilders’ populist right is kept in check - and Mr Wilders has been forced to water down his party's most extreme policies in order to keep the three other coalition parties on board.
Pledges to ban the Quran, close Dutch borders and hold a referendum on the Netherlands future within the EU have been put on ice, along with Mr Wilders' own prime ministerial ambitions.
Yet, as leader of the largest party within the coalition, he is still expected to be one of the most influential politicians in parliament.
As the new government takes power, three new ministries have been created, to allow each coalition party to install one of its own politicians in the field in which it places the greatest importance.
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