Rob Jetten becomes Netherlands' youngest and first gay PM

Rob Jetten has become the youngest and first gay prime minister of the Netherlands, after his minority government was sworn in.

The 38-year-old claimed victory in October's general election with his Democrats 66 party (D66) in a nail-biting election, narrowly beating anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders.

Jetten formed a centre-right minority government with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA).

It is a minority cabinet meaning every major reform in the coalition deal - from an extra €19bn for defence to painful cuts in healthcare and benefit - will have to be negotiated vote by vote in both of the Netherlands' two parliamentary houses.

The coalition also wants fewer asylum seekers, with refugees having to apply for asylum outside Europe, not after they arrive.

Asylum migration has been a particularly sensitive issue in Dutch politics, contributing to the downfall of the country's last two coalition governments.

D66 will provide seven ministers, VVD will provide six ministers, and CDA will provide five ministers, with three state secretaries each - junior members of cabinet.

On Monday, Jetten was formally confirmed by King Willem-Alexander at Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.

Posting a selfie ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Jetten wrote on X: "Proud to be doing this together. In a new phase, with great responsibility and, above all, a shared promise to work for everyone in the Netherlands.

"By not dwelling on what's wrong, but by building on what can be improved. That requires courage and collaboration."

Slick, smiling and patient, Jetten has spent years shaking off the nickname "Robot Jetten", earned for his stiff, over‑rehearsed TV appearances.

The transformation was stark on election night. In a packed, sweaty music venue in Leiden, he seemed effortlessly at ease, confident and groomed, as young supporters roared around him.

For many BBC News met there that night, the D66 leader was everything Wilders was not: relatively young, upbeat, pro‑EU and socially liberal - a fresh face pitched against an older, hard‑right establishment.

Standing beside the King on a red carpet spilling down the palace steps, Jetten gave the appearance of a well-polished premier.

After being sworn in, he posted the official photo on Instagram with a brisk caption: "Let's get to work."