Centrist liberal leader Rob Jetten has claimed victory in Wednesday’s tight Dutch election, narrowly edging out anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders.

Jetten’s D66 party holds a slim lead of roughly 15,000 votes, giving them 26–27 seats in the 150-seat parliament, while Wilders’ Freedom Party trails closely.

If confirmed, Jetten, 38, would become the youngest Dutch prime minister, though forming a coalition will require support from at least three other parties, making negotiations potentially lengthy, the BBC has reported.

His campaign’s positive messaging helped D66 win major cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, demonstrating that centrist parties can compete successfully against populist movements.