Dutch Government Collapse Sparks Anxiety on Amsterdam Streets

The Netherlands was thrown into political uncertainty in early June 2025 after the collapse of its governing coalition, triggered by the abrupt withdrawal of Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV). As reported by The Guardian, the split came amid fierce disagreements over migration policy — particularly Wilders’ demand for the immediate deportation of thousands of Syrian refugees with temporary protected status.

The move left the coalition without a parliamentary majority, just months after it had been painstakingly formed following historic elections. Prime Minister Dick Schoof, leading the technocratic cabinet, accused Wilders of prioritizing political gain over national stability. Speaking at a press briefing covered by AP News, Schoof said, “The Dutch people need a government that solves problems, not one that manufactures them.”

In Amsterdam, particularly in the multicultural Bijlmer district, the collapse has stirred anxiety. “I came here for safety,” said Ataa Bodin, a Syrian schoolteacher who fled the war in 2016. “Now I’m worried for my family’s future.” Interviews conducted by NOS reflect a wider sense of apprehension among residents from immigrant communities, many of whom fear renewed hostility and policy shifts in the wake of Wilders’ maneuver.

Analysts cited by NRC Handelsblad warn that the government’s fall could stall urgently needed reforms, particularly in housing and healthcare, as well as exacerbate social divides. The crisis comes at a time of growing pressure on public services, rising rents, and mounting political polarization across the country.

Despite the domestic turmoil, the Dutch government has pledged to fulfill its international obligations. According to AP News, Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp confirmed that the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for July in The Hague will proceed as planned, and reiterated the Netherlands’ ongoing support for Ukraine.

Snap elections are now expected in the fall, though no official date has been announced. Experts believe the coming campaign may turn even more combative, with escalating anti-immigration rhetoric and a potential weakening of centrist forces. “We are witnessing a deep recalibration of the Dutch democratic model,” said Johan Mertens, a political scientist at the University of Amsterdam, in an interview with The Guardian.

For a country long regarded as a beacon of liberal democracy and social cohesion, the collapse of its government has become a sobering moment — a test of how the Netherlands will navigate a polarized future without compromising the values that have long defined its identity.