Who is Rob Jetten, the Netherlands' Youngest Prime Minister Who Openly Identifies as Gay?
In less than two years, Rob Jetten has successfully led his liberal-socialist D66 party from fifth to first place in Dutch politics.
Everything has fallen into place for the 38-year-old politician to achieve this.
Jetten became the youngest prime minister in Dutch history when he was sworn in on Monday (23/02). He is also the first Dutch prime minister to openly identify as gay.
Jetten is forming a minority government with a centre-right ideological leaning, together with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
The government he is forming is a minority cabinet. This means that any major reforms to the coalition agreement must be negotiated vote by vote in both houses of the European country’s parliament.
Reuters
Media appearances and optimism
No other political leader has received as much media attention as Jetten during the Dutch election campaign in October 2025.
His smile and optimistic messages resonated with voters, unlike many of his opponents. Almost every night during the last campaign, Jetten appeared on television.
Jetten even participated in a television contest recorded several months earlier. The television show was titled “The Smartest Person”.
However, perhaps Jetten’s greatest achievement is his success in conveying a positive message, summarised in the slogan Het kan wel (“Yes, we can”). This is an optimistic expression inspired by Barack Obama’s slogan, Yes, we can.
The first gay prime minister
Jetten is also the first Dutch leader to openly identify as gay. He has openly acknowledged his sexual orientation.
Having been interested in politics since childhood, Jetten grew up in a small town in the southern province of Brabant. He revealed his sexual orientation at a young age.
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Although he does not make his personal life part of his political identity, five years ago Jetten uploaded a video showing him reading a long list of homophobic messages on his phone. He did so to highlight the importance of the International Day Against Homophobia.
Jetten is engaged to Argentine field hockey player, Nicols Keenan. They plan to marry this year.
EPAJetten led his party’s campaign and managed to outperform his rivals in television debates.
Jetten is one of the first members of the centrist D66 party. The party claims to be a progressive and liberal party.
The D66 leaders saw potential in Jetten. After working for several years for the Dutch railway network ProRail, Jetten was elected a member of parliament in 2017.
He also has some leadership experience before becoming Minister of Climate under Prime Minister Mark Rutte (2010-2024), who now serves as NATO Secretary-General.
However, Jetten’s political career has not always been smooth.
‘Jetten the Robot’
A colleague in Parliament complained about Jetten’s “stubborn” attitude on climate issues. His great ambition as minister was thwarted when the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused energy prices to soar.
Jetten led D66’s unsuccessful campaign in 2023. At that time, D66 won only nine seats.
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Jetten is still not comfortable in front of the camera. Some of his media appearances have been considered boring. One critic nicknamed him “Jetten the Robot”.
“Jetten the Robot will be prime minister!” exclaimed a journalist in disbelief when his victory was confirmed in the October election.
“Sometimes, in politics, things can really be unpredictable,” said Jetten with a broad smile.
EPAJetten and his partner, Argentine field hockey player Nicols Keenan.
His supporters see him as a kind of mini Mark Rutte.
The comparison is fitting for Jetten, as many Dutch people remember the stability during Rutte’s tenure.
Both politicians always seemed cheerful and pragmatic. They were known for “sleeping very little”.
However, Jetten’s party colleague, Roy Kramer, noted a difference:
“Rutte talks a lot, Jetten is a little more quiet,” he told the Dutch newspaper, Het Parool.
Jetten faced Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam leader, in a tight election in October 2025.
The biggest challenge and an inappropriate joke
EPAJetten with Geert Wilders, leader of the right-wing Freedom Party.
The biggest challenge and a problematic joke
Jetten has great ambitions and challenges. The most pressing is to address the housing crisis in the Netherlands, with a deficit of around 400,000 homes.
Jetten wants to build ten cities. He complained that the Dutch government has not achieved anything truly impressive in the last 10 or 15 years.
Jetten has made big promises and will now be under pressure to deliver them.
To succeed, Jetten needs the unwavering political resilience of Rutte. This is what allowed Rutte to survive under four governments.
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Jetten overcame an awkward moment during the campaign when he made a joke about Crown Princess Amalia in front of 2,000 students in Rotterdam.
“I think the best way to promote military service is to practice with the Crown Princess.”}