The world might wonder at Donald Trump’s hands but the topic on everyone’s minds at the luxury Hotel des Indes was the size of Mark Rutte’s feet.

“The size is 48!” said auctioneer Frits Huffnagel, to exclamations of “ho!” and raised eyebrows. “He lives large.”

On Friday night in The Hague, a few hours after the new coalition presented its plans, the local VVD party was auctioning meetings with the great and good, knick-knacks and Mark Rutte’s signed Converse All Star trainers.

The aim, said campaigner Debbie van de Wijngaard, was to raise money to campaign for municipal elections on March 18 – when many internationals and EU citizens can also vote.

On offer was a special old cognac and cognac tasting, which went for the top price €3,750. Lunch with VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz produced fierce competition and raised €2,500.

There was plenty of interest in a “bakkie Pleur” (slang for a coffee) with economic affairs minister Vincent Karremans – known for campaigning for council elections, topless, on a horse. “If you want,” quipped Huffnagel, “he will arrive by horse, with a bare chest.” That one made €2,600.

Meetings with junior ministers, top access at budget day, debate training, a brisk sea swim and – most bizarre of all – a plate and thimble emblazoned with the face of former minister Henk Kamp were all on offer.

Van de Wijngaard was delighted to announce that after several rounds of lots, drinks and bitterballen, the auction had raised €26,700. “We are the best of all of the big cities!” she said. “We have beaten Amsterdam, we have beaten Rotterdam and we have beaten Utrecht.”

Not all of the politics matched the national party’s tone. Some in the room quietly thought the VVD should have made a majority coalition with left-wing GroenLinks/PvdA rather than a minority government. Others whispered: “Don’t mention the hypotheekrenteaftrek,” – a homeowner tax break that most major parties wanted to scrap, but which the VVD campaigned to keep.

Rutte’s substantial shoes – a 13 in UK sizes – went for €2,200 to local resident Tim Zandbergen, who uses a wheelchair. He put his old shoes in his pocket and Rutte’s trainers on his feet.

Was he happy with the star lot? “Absolutely,” he said. “It is 20 years ago that I bought my last pair of shoes, so I thought it was time for a new pair.” He will wear them to work on Monday.