Dick Schoof Becomes New Dutch Prime Minister

King Willem-Alexander Swears In New Cabinet

On Tuesday, Dick Schoof, a former spy chief, was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands. The ceremony was conducted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander at the royal Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.

Schoof leads a broad right-wing coalition cabinet that promises to implement the country’s ‘strictest-ever’ immigration policy. He takes over from Mark Rutte, who will become the next secretary-general of NATO later this year.

The transition follows more than seven months of negotiations after the electoral victory of far-right leader Geert Wilders last November. Wilders, known for his extreme views, stepped aside to keep coalition talks on track. His party, PVV, secured five out of 15 ministerial posts in the new government.

Schoof has pledged to decisively implement the coalition’s plans for strict asylum policies and better control over migration. Wilders’ party won a significant number of seats in the last election, making it a key player in the new government.

Mark Rutte, the outgoing Prime Minister, will take over as NATO’s secretary-general on October 1, amid ongoing security concerns in Europe due to Russia’s war in Ukraine.