THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands has ushered in a new era of leadership as Rob Jetten was sworn into office Monday, making history as both the nation’s youngest prime minister and its first openly gay leader.
At 38 years old, Jetten breaks the previous age record held by Christian Democrat Ruud Lubbers, who assumed the role of premier in 1982 at 43. Lubbers later became one of the Netherlands’ most enduring political leaders.
Jetten’s path to the country’s highest office began with his initial election to parliament in 2017, representing the centrist, pro-European D66 party that he now heads. His political journey spans nearly ten years in Dutch national government.
During his early political career, Jetten struggled with a robotic public image, earning the moniker ‘Robot’ Jetten due to his tendency to deliver rehearsed, uninspiring answers during media interviews.
His public persona has since transformed dramatically, with Jetten developing a more casual approach that resonates with voters. His popularity received a boost when he advanced to the finals of a popular television quiz show called ‘The Smartest Person.’
Jetten maintains an active social media presence, frequently sharing images with his partner Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine field hockey player who earned bronze with his national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Netherlands pioneered marriage equality globally, becoming the first country to recognize same-sex unions in 2001.
Following his victory in October’s snap election, Jetten shared a photograph of himself embracing Keenan, accompanied by a bilingual message in Dutch and Spanish: ‘Dear Nico, thanks for your unconditional support, I couldn’t do it without you.’
Despite his electoral success, Jetten faces significant legislative challenges ahead. His three-party coalition commands just 66 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives, forcing him to seek opposition support for any major initiatives. The coalition also lacks control of the upper chamber.
Since joining parliament in 2017, Jetten built his reputation as his party’s environmental spokesperson, earning the label ‘climate pusher.’ During his tenure as a cabinet minister under former prime minister Mark Rutte, who now serves as NATO’s chief, Jetten spearheaded an ambitious environmental agenda featuring 120 different measures worth 28 billion euros designed to reduce Dutch carbon output by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 benchmarks.
The new prime minister’s roots trace back to Uden, a town in the country’s southeast. After completing his business administration studies, he worked for ProRail, the state railway infrastructure company. In his youth, Jetten showed athletic promise and even served as a training partner for Sifan Hassan, who later became an Olympic distance running champion.
