The Netherlands held parliamentary elections on Wednesday amid growing momentum for Geert Wilders’ far-right Freedom Party (PVV), which leads most polls but faces major challenges in forming a governing coalition. 

Polling stations opened early in the morning for the 13.5 million eligible voters. In a nod to the country’s strong democratic tradition, several train stations were also converted into polling sites to encourage turnout. 

According to public broadcaster NOS, the first official results are expected around 9:00 p.m. local time. Leading candidates such as Henri Bontenbal of the CDA and Rob Jetten of D66 have already cast their votes in Rotterdam and The Hague. 

Recent polls suggest a slight decline in support for the PVV, while the Labour-GreenLeft alliance has stabilized its position as the main progressive force. The liberal VVD, once dominant under Mark Rutte, could drop to 16 seats, while D66 consolidates its third-place finish.

Smaller parties like Right Answer 2021 (JA21) are projected to capture only about 4% of the vote. 

Despite being the likely winner, Wilders faces strong resistance from nearly all major parties due to his anti-immigration and eurosceptic rhetoric. This means that even if given the first chance to form a government, he may struggle to secure enough partners. 

In a nation where coalition governments are the norm, these elections once again highlight the fragmentation of Dutch politics — and the growing gap between electoral success and actual power.