Prime Minister of the Netherlands Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Coat of arms of the Netherlands
Incumbent Rob Jetten since 23 February 2026
Ministry of General Affairs
Member of	Council of Ministers European Council
Residence	Catshuis, The Hague
Seat	Torentje, The Hague
Appointer	Monarch of the Netherlands
Term length	Four years, renewable
Inaugural holder	Gerrit Schimmelpenninck
Formation	25 March 1848; 177 years ago (1848-03-25)
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	€205,991 (As of 2025^[update])

The prime minister of the Netherlands (called Minister-president van Nederland in Dutch) is the main leader of the Dutch government. Think of them as the captain of a team that runs the country. While the King or Queen is the official head, the prime minister actually leads the Council of Ministers. This council helps make important decisions for the country.

The prime minister also helps coordinate plans with all the other ministers. They represent the Netherlands in important meetings with other European leaders. Since 23 February 2026, Rob Jetten has been the prime minister.

Understanding the Prime Minister of the Netherlands
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Understanding the Prime Minister of the Netherlands

How the Role of Prime Minister Began

The job of prime minister slowly grew into an important leadership role. It usually went to the political leader of the largest party. Around 1848, a big change happened. The Constitution of the Netherlands was updated. This made ministers responsible to the parliament, not just the king.

For a long time, the role of leading the Council of Ministers rotated among different ministers. But over time, it became more fixed. In 1937, a special department called the Ministry of General Affairs was created. This department worked closely with the prime minister.

In 1983, the role of prime minister was officially written into the constitution. Since then, the formal title has been "minister-president." However, in English-speaking countries, we usually call this person the "prime minister."

The prime minister's role became even stronger with the creation of the European Council. This is a group where leaders from European countries meet.

What Does the Prime Minister Do?

The prime minister is the most important political figure in the Netherlands. However, they are not as powerful as leaders in some other countries. This is because, historically, all Dutch ministers shared power more equally. The prime minister is often called "primus inter pares" which means "first among equals." They lead the government, but they also work closely with all the other ministers.

The Ministry of General Affairs at the Binnenhof in The Hague. The office of the prime minister, "Het Torentje", is the centre-left octagonal tower.

The prime minister leads the weekly meetings of the Council of Ministers. They also decide what topics will be discussed in these meetings. The prime minister is also the Minister of General Affairs. This means they help coordinate policies across different government departments. They are also in charge of the Netherlands Government Information Service. This service shares news and information from the government.

The prime minister also looks after matters related to the royal family. They meet with the king every week to discuss government plans. The prime minister is often seen as the "face" of the government to the public. After cabinet meetings, they hold press conferences to explain decisions. They also travel to other countries for international meetings.

The Prime Minister's Office and Home

Since the 1980s, the prime minister's office has been in a small, octagonal tower. It is called "The Little Tower" (Torentje) and is located in the Binnenhof in The Hague. The official residence, used for special events, is the Catshuis.

Prime ministers are usually leaders of their political parties. They are often elected as members of parliament. However, when they become prime minister, they must give up their seat in parliament. This is because ministers in the Netherlands are not allowed to be members of parliament at the same time.

How is a Prime Minister Appointed?

The Dutch election system makes it very hard for one party to win a majority. This means that Dutch governments are almost always coalitions. A coalition is when two or more political parties work together.

After an election, a "scout" is appointed to gather advice on the election results. Then, an informateur is chosen. This person checks possible coalitions and helps parties negotiate. If they succeed, a formateur is appointed. This person finalizes the agreements between the parties. The formateur is almost always the person who will become the prime minister.

Meeting the Deputy Prime Ministers

The king also appoints deputy prime ministers. Usually, each smaller party in the coalition gets one deputy prime minister. They are ranked by the size of their party. The most senior deputy leads cabinet meetings when the prime minister is away. In the current Jetten cabinet, Dilan Yeşilgöz is the first deputy prime minister. Bart van den Brink is another deputy. If both the prime minister and all deputies are absent, the oldest cabinet member leads the meeting.

Leading the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The prime minister also leads the Council of Ministers for the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. This means they deal with matters concerning Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. These are countries that are part of the Kingdom, alongside the Netherlands. Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten also have their own prime ministers. The Council of Ministers of the Kingdom includes special representatives from these other countries.