The Netherlands’ latest election has upended expectations, signalling both renewal and deep division in Dutch politics. After two years of turmoil and paralysis, centrist liberal party D66, led by 38-year-old Rob Jetten, surged to an unprecedented victory, capturing 26 seats and dethroning the far-right PVV of Geert Wilders. Jetten’s optimistic, reform-minded campaign, focused on housing, education, and stability, resonated with voters weary of scandal and polarisation. Meanwhile, Christian Democrat leader Henri Bontenbal’s call for ‘decent politics’ also struck a chord, reviving his party’s fortunes. The left, however, suffered a major setback: Frans Timmermans’ GreenLeft-Labour alliance fell short, prompting his resignation. Though Wilders’ PVV lost eleven seats, he remains a potent opposition voice, vowing to continue disrupting from the sidelines. Coalition-building will now test Jetten’s leadership in a fragmented landscape, where bridging ideological divides may prove harder than winning the vote itself.