Rob Jetten is on the brink of making history. At just 38, the centrist leader of Democrats’ 66 (D66) is set to become the Netherlands’ youngest and first openly gay prime minister after steering his party from fifth place to the top of Dutch politics in less than two years. His rise has been described as both surprising and inevitable.
A long way from a ‘nagging climate minister’
Jetten’s transformation has been remarkable. Once known as a “nagging climate minister”, he rebranded himself as a smiling, upbeat “yes, we can” politician — a nod to Barack Obama’s campaign message. With his slogan Het kan wel (“It can be done”), he inspired voters with a promise of unity and progress, reports news agency Reuters.During the campaign, Jetten became a familiar face on Dutch television. When far-right leader Geert Wilders cancelled an appearance due to security concerns, Jetten quickly stepped in and filled the slot. He also appeared on a popular quiz show, The Smartest Person, recorded months before the election, which helped humanise his image.“Together we can beat Wilders, I am ready,” he said on Instagram on election day. His positivity contrasted with Wilders, whom he accused of “sowing division” and “hijacking” Dutch identity.
Democrats 66
D66, short for Democrats 66, is a centrist and socially liberal party known for supporting climate action, education reform, and European cooperation. It often appeals to progressive voters seeking balance between economic growth and social equality. “Rob is without a doubt one of the most talented politicians the Netherlands has ever had,” said Kajsa Ollongren, a D66 colleague and former defence minister. “I’m sure that if we win as the exit polls say we do, he’ll want to unite the country and turn around the negative spiral that Wilders has pushed the country in.”
Making of a modern leader
Born in the southern province of Brabant, Jetten grew up as a confessed “politics nerd”. He studied public administration at Radboud University in Nijmegen, where he became active in student politics before starting his professional career. After working for the Dutch rail network ProRail, he joined parliament in 2017 and quickly rose through the D66 ranks. As climate minister under former prime minister Mark Rutte, he gained a reputation for ambition and persistence.
Personal life
Though his sexuality has not been central to his campaign, Jetten’s openness makes him a symbol of progress in a nation that legalised same-sex marriage 25 years ago. He is engaged to Argentine hockey player Nicolás Keenan, whom he met after a viral TikTok “bromance” clip. The couple plans to marry next year.
Policy approach
Jetten’s policies reflect his centrist and pragmatic approach. On immigration, he proposes that asylum applications be filed outside the EU while expanding integration programmes. “People that really are fleeing from war and violence are received in a decent way, learn the language and can participate in society and that the rotten apples are pulled out of the system and are deported,” he said.He also aims to tackle the Netherlands’ severe housing shortage by constructing ten new towns and allocating €2 billion annually to build 100,000 new homes a year. “Dutch governments have not really achieved anything impressive for the past 10 to 15 years,” he said, pledging to change that.
