The Dutch political landscape was shaken on June 3, 2025, when far-right leader Geert Wilders abruptly withdrew his Party for Freedom (PVV) from the governing coalition, triggering the collapse of Prime Minister Dick Schoof's government less than a year after it was formed.
Wilders made the announcement on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating bluntly: "No signature for our asylum plans. No changes to the Main Outline Agreement. PVV leaves the coalition." The move came after prolonged disagreements within the coalition over immigration policies, particularly Wilders' demands for a stringent asylum plan that his partners refused to fully endorse.
The PVV had entered its first coalition government six months after a surprising landslide victory in the November 2023 parliamentary elections, where it emerged as the largest party with 37 seats in the Lower House. Despite this, the coalition chose Dick Schoof, the former head of the Netherlands' intelligence service, as prime minister. The coalition was a fragile alliance comprising the conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the centrist New Social Contract (NSC), and the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB).
Wilders' 10-point asylum plan, which he had pushed hard for in recent weeks, sought to drastically reduce immigration and tighten border controls. Key proposals included sealing borders with military patrols, rejecting all asylum seekers at entry points, halting the construction of reception centers, suspending family reunification for refugees, and deporting Syrians on temporary visas. He also advocated for the automatic deportation of migrants convicted of violent or sexual crimes. Wilders summarized his demands succinctly: "Close the borders for asylum-seekers and family reunifications. No more asylum centers opened. Close them."
However, many of these proposals were deemed legally unviable or outright illegal by political experts, and some had already been dismissed during coalition talks. Several of Wilders' demands overlapped with policies already agreed upon in the coalition agreement, making his ultimatum appear less about policy and more about political maneuvering.
In the early hours of June 3, Wilders informed Prime Minister Schoof that he was withdrawing all PVV ministers from the cabinet. The emergency cabinet meeting that followed lasted barely a minute before Wilders walked out, effectively ending the coalition. Schoof later addressed the nation in televised remarks, calling Wilders' decision "irresponsible and unnecessary," adding, "As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't have happened." Schoof confirmed he would step down and offer the resignation of the cabinet to King Willem-Alexander before the day's end.
The fallout was swift and intense. VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius condemned Wilders' move as "super irresponsible," accusing him of prioritizing personal ego over the country's needs. "This wasn't about asylum at all," she said, emphasizing that everything agreed upon had been delayed due to PVV's mismanagement. Deputy Prime Minister Mona Keijzer of the BBB accused Wilders of "betraying the Netherlands," while BBB leader Caroline van der Plas warned that the collapse would hand the country to the left "on a silver platter."
Opposition parties seized the moment to call for new elections. Socialist Party leader Jimmy Dijk described the coalition as "four right-wing quarrelsome parties that achieve nothing," declaring the country "liberated from a political hostage situation." Frans Timmermanns, leader of the opposition Labor/Green bloc, echoed the call for elections, stating, "The Netherlands deserves a government that unites the people and works shoulder to shoulder on real solutions. It's time for elections, we are ready for them."
The timing of the government’s collapse is particularly critical, as the Netherlands is scheduled to host a NATO summit at the end of June. The political turmoil threatens to delay decisions on NATO spending increases and other key agenda items. With the PVV ministers gone, the remaining coalition partners could attempt to govern as a minority, but this is widely seen as unlikely. The country is expected to enter a caretaker government phase until new elections can be arranged, most likely not before October 2025, given the traditionally lengthy Dutch government formation process.
Economically, the immediate impact appears limited. Sandra Phlippen, chief economist at ABN AMRO bank, noted that the government "barely made any concrete plans" during its 11 months in office. The Dutch economy has been steadily growing despite inflation reaching 4.1% in April, above the euro area target. The central bank forecasts growth of 1.5% for 2025 and 2026 but cautions that rising geopolitical tensions could hamper progress.
Political analysts suggest that Wilders engineered the collapse as a strategic move to center his party's platform on asylum and immigration ahead of the next elections. His party’s support has dipped from about 23% in the 2023 elections to around 20% in recent polls, now roughly equal with the Labor/Green bloc. By toppling the coalition over immigration, Wilders aims to galvanize his base and regain momentum, though the gamble carries significant risks given his party’s previous year-long responsibility for asylum policy implementation.
Dutch media outlets were largely critical of the government's demise. The newspaper NRC lamented that the cabinet "that was supposed to stand up for the citizens was destroyed by amateurism and incompetence." The political crisis underscores the challenges of coalition governance in a fragmented parliamentary system and highlights the growing influence—and volatility—of far-right politics in Europe amid ongoing debates over migration and national identity.
As the Netherlands braces for a snap election, the nation faces uncertainty not only about its domestic future but also its role on the international stage during a pivotal moment for European security. For now, Prime Minister Schoof and his ministers will continue in a caretaker capacity, steering the country through the immediate turbulence while awaiting the electorate’s verdict on the direction of Dutch politics.
