Voting is underway in the Netherlands for the 150 MPs who make up the lower house of parliament. Here’s how the day is unfolding.
Dick Schoof offers his cabinet’s resignation
Prime minister Dick Schoof formally offered his cabinet’s resignation to the king on Wednesday morning. The government had already been in caretaker status since the PVV withdrew from the coalition on 3 June.
In practice, nothing changes for now. Schoof and the remaining VVD and BBB ministers will continue to govern until a new cabinet is sworn in, a process that could take several months.
Utrecht’s residents vote early
By 10.30 on Wednesday morning, voter turnout in several major cities ranged from 12% to just over 18%, according to preliminary figures. Utrecht again recorded the highest early turnout, with more than 18% of voters having cast their ballots by mid morning.
In Groningen, just over 15% of voters had turned out by 10.30am, while Eindhoven reported around 14.5%. The figure was slightly lower in The Hague at over 13%, and in Rotterdam, just over 12% of eligible voters had voted by that time. Amsterdam will release its initial turnout report at 1pm.
Have your say in the Dutch News poll
Unable to vote because you are not Dutch but would like to have your say anyway? The traditional Dutch News poll is now open.
Party leaders cast their votes
Casting your vote is another photo opportunity for party leaders who have been out on the campaign trail for the past three weeks at least. CDA leader Henri Bontenbal voted in the Johanneskerk in Rotterdam, where he lives while far right leader Geert Wilders voted in The Hague’s city hall.
A church, a windmill
In total voters have the choice of 10,023 polling stations, ranging from schools and churches to shops, railway stations, museums and even a windmill.
Two of the Wadden Sea islands – Schiermonnikoog and Vlieland – and the village of Rozendaal in Gelderland have just one polling station and compete every election to be the first to declare their results.
Some polling stations – including a student cafe in Zwolle and a museum in Arnhem – opened at midnight. All will be closed by 9pm
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