2021–2022 Dutch cabinet formation

A process of cabinet formation took place following the 2021 Dutch general election, leading to the formation of the Fourth Rutte cabinet in 2022. The coalition consisted of People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Democrats 66 (D66), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Christian Union (CU), the same parties that formed the preceding Third Rutte cabinet. At 299 days, it was the longest formation in Dutch history.

At the start of the formation, notes from the scouts, that included the text "position Omtzigt, function elsewhere", became public. VVD leader and demissionary prime minister Mark Rutte turned out – after first denying it – to have spoken about CDA MP Pieter Omtzigt. This led to distrust of Rutte among those parties that might otherwise be inclined to cooperate with him. Informateur Herman Tjeenk Willink was then instructed to look at how confidence could be restored and how a cabinet could be formed.

In the following months, informateur Mariëtte Hamer looked for a majority coalition consisting of a combination of VVD, D66, CDA, PvdA, GroenLinks (GL) and CU. However, without substantive negotiations, blockades were put up between these parties. Informateur Johan Remkes then looked for a minority coalition or extra-parliamentary cabinet, but these options were also blocked. Because of the impasse, D66 decided to lift the blockade against a majority coalition with the ChristenUnie. Led by informateurs Remkes and Wouter Koolmees, VVD, CDA, D66 and CU then negotiated. On 15 December 2021, these parties presented a coalition agreement. Under the leadership of formateur Rutte, a search was then made for ministers, who were sworn in on 10 January 2022.