The Netherlands witnessed history on 23 February 2026, asRob Jettenwas sworn in as the country's youngest-ever prime minister and the first openly gay leader to hold the post. Jetten, 38, rose to power following a snap election held in October 2025, where his party, Democrats 66 (D66), secured its best-ever result with 26 seats, narrowly defeating the far-right Freedom Party (PVV).
Jetten leads the centrist D66, which governs in a minority coalition with the liberal-conservative VVD and the centre-right CDA. Together, the coalition holds 66 out of 150 seats in parliament.
In anX post, Jetten said taking up the role as the prime minister is a 'tremendous honour.' He also posted a photo along with his cabinet members, writing in Dutch: 'Sworn in. We're going to begin. Let's get to work.'
Beëdigd. We gaan beginnen. Aan de slag.pic.twitter.com/RgwDZ5lELw
Born on 25 March 1987 in the village of Veghel, Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten grew up in Uden in North Brabant. He studied public administration at Radboud University, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees. Jetten describes himself as a 'politics nerd.'
Before entering politics, he served in ProRail, the state-owned railroad infrastructure company, where he did management and regional supply work before going into national politics. Outside of work, he is a dedicated athlete who runs marathons and participates in triathlons. Notably, he once served as a pace-setter for Olympic champion runner Sifan Hassan.
Early in his political career, Jetten was nicknamed 'Robot Jetten' for his rehearsed speaking style. Over time, he has rebranded himself as a social media-savvy leader, known for optimism and his slogan 'Het kan wel' or 'it is possible.'
He is considered a moderate, pro-European politician with a strong interest in climate policy and democratic reform. Throughout almost a decade, Jetten has earned the reputation as a pragmatic deal-maker and reformist voice in Dutch politics.
There is no public record of Jetten's net worth, though estimates place it between £850,000 and £2.5 million. His income stems mainly from political roles and his previous career. He has a reputation for living a relatively simple life despite his high-profile position. Although he works in The Hague, he resides in Utrecht.
Jettenis openly gay and is engaged to Argentine professional field hockey player and two-time Olympian, Nicolás Keenan, 28. The couple first met in 2022, coinciding with Jetten's relocation during farmers' protests for safety reasons.
Source: International Business Times UK
