Queen Beatrix has appointed Rein Jan Hoekstra – a member of the Council of State since 1994 – as informateur to begin the cabinet formation process. Hoekstra was also involved in the formation of the previous cabinet.

The informateur‘s first task will be to assess what potential coalitions there are. The Volkskrant says sources in The Hague suggest a CDA-Labour (PvdA)-Socialist cabinet will be top of the list. Labour leader Wouter Bos has said this is the most logical combination, given the election results.