The 2021 elections returned an even more fragmented House of Representatives than the previous legislature: 17 parties, up from 13 in the previous legislature, entered the 150-member House of Representatives. Only four parties took more than 15 seats. Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) remained the largest force, taking 34 seats (up from 33 in 2017). The Democrats 66 (D66), led by former UN diplomat Ms. Sigrid Kaag, took 24 seats (up from 19), thereby becoming the second largest party. The Party for Freedom (PVV, led by Mr. Geert Wilders, the second largest party in the outgoing legislature), finished third, taking 17 seats (down from 20). Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra’s Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) came fourth, winning 15 seats (down from 19). On 7 April, the newly elected House of Representatives elected Ms. Vera Bergkamp (D66) as its new Speaker, replacing Ms. Khadija Arib (Labour Party, PvdA).

The 2021 elections followed violent street protests against lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outgoing Cabinet, led by the long-serving Prime Minister Rutte, resigned on 15 January 2021 over the child benefit scandal but he remained as caretaker Prime Minister. During election campaigning, the major parties focused on COVID-19 recovery, climate policies and immigration. The elections were held under special measures due to the pandemic (see note).

Note:
Early voting was held on 15 and 16 March 2021 for voters considered vulnerable to COVID-19. Voters aged 70 or older were given the option to vote by post. Each voter was allowed to cast a vote by proxy for up to three persons instead of two.