D66 look set to become the largest party in the new Dutch parliament in a shock result that sees Geert Wilders' far-right PVV lose a dozen seats. The VVD do better than expected and finish ahead of GroenLinks-PvdA – whose leader Frans Timmermans announced his resignation after we recorded the podcast – and the CDA. With Rob Jetten likely to get first dibs on forming a coalition and at least two viable options, the coalition building process may be more straightforward than expected. And we look at some of the surprises further down the line, including a boost for Forum voor Democratie and the return to parliament of the volatile pensioners' party 50Plus.
--------
34:03
--------
34:03
"I think this is the time to make ridiculous predictions …”
Clip from October 10 Dutch News podcast on the rise of D66 in the election campaign
--------
3:35
--------
3:35
The Poorly Polling Palingpopulist Edition - Week 43 - 2025
A low-key election campaign staggers into its final days with a flurry of minor squabbles about refugee centres, religious schools and whether the animal rights party is too pro-human. House prices could be peaking as private landlords sell off their rental properties. A crisis looms in the German car industry after China hits back at the Dutch government's takeover of Nexperia. Eurostar sends double-decker trains into London, but too late to save Ajax fans from witnessing a horror show against Chelsea. And PostNL collars the market in robot delivery services.
--------
1:22:39
--------
1:22:39
The Ratterdam Night Watch Edition - Week 42 - 2025
In the absence of Geert Wilders, the election debates kick off with an evening of shadow boxing between four parties who could all end up in government together. The Dutch government removes the CEO of a Chinese-based chip manufacturer, but was Washington pulling the strings? Rotterdam's Cape Verde community celebrates as the tiny African country makes it to the World Cup for the first time. And the city's rat catchers have an unlikely ally in their fight to control the rodent population.
--------
56:04
--------
56:04
The Gulf of Dick Advocaat Edition - Week 41 - 2025
The election campaign heats up with rumours of a meltdown in the VVD, Henri Bontenbal being roasted on the dance floor and Volt blowing a fuse over the radio debates. Dutch universities speak out against budget cuts after slipping further down the international league table. Police announce a breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of a 19-year-old Hungarian sex worker. Forest rangers crack down on illegal mushroom picking in Brabant. And can Dick Advocaat round off his footballing odyssey with a calypso flourish in Curacao?
Netherlands