2021–2022 Dutch cabinet formation

Following the Dutch general election on 17 March 2021, a cabinet formation led to the establishment of the fourth Rutte cabinet in 2022. The coalition included the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Democrats 66 (D66), Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and Christian Union (CU), the same parties from the preceding third Rutte cabinet. This formation process, lasting 299 days, was the longest formation in Dutch history.

At the start of the formation, notes from the scouts, which included the text "position Omtzigt, function elsewhere", became public. It was revealed that VVD leader and demissionary prime minister Mark Rutte had discussed CDA MP Pieter Omtzigt, despite initially denying it. This revelation led to distrust in Rutte among potential coalition partners. Subsequently, informateur Herman Tjeenk Willink was tasked with exploring ways to restore confidence and facilitate the formation of a new cabinet.

In the subsequent months, informateur Mariëtte Hamer sought a majority coalition comprising 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 explored a minority coalition or an extra-parliamentary cabinet, but these efforts also failed. Due to the deadlock, D66 lifted its blockade against a majority coalition with the CU. Led by informateurs Remkes and Wouter Koolmees, VVD, CDA, D66, and CU negotiated and presented a coalition agreement on 15 December 2021. Under formateur Rutte, ministers were selected and sworn in on 10 January 2022.