Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte looks likely to form a coalition between his Conservatives and the Labour party after a major election victory seen as confirmation of voters’ support for the European Union.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has claimed victory for his conservative VVD party in national elections widely seen as a referendum on the Netherlands’ commitment to Europe.

Dutch voters are going to the polls to elect a new parliament in a test of whether they have the stomach to continue with stringent austerity measures.

Owners of marijuana-selling cafes in The Netherlands are urging their customers to vote for politicians who oppose new plans to rein in drug use.

More than 100 people protesting over the outlawing of squatting at unused buildings in the Netherlands clashed with police in Amsterdam’s historic centre, throwing stones, starting fires and erecting barricades.

Negotiations to form a right-wing Dutch coalition collapsed today after anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders walked out of the talks.

Dutch politicians were today trying to sort out who will form the next government, after voters backed parties on both the right and the left with very different ideas on budget cuts and Muslim immigration.

The Netherlands swung to the right today with its VVD party claiming victory in national elections.

THE ten million-strong Dutch electorate are expected to put the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) into government as their concern shifts from immigration to the economy.

The Dutch government quit today amid infighting over a failed attempt to strip a prominent Somali-born critic of Islam of her Dutch citizenship – setting the stage for elections likely to be dominated by immigration issues.

Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende tendered his Cabinet’s resignation to Queen Beatrix today, a move that will ultimately lead to new elections.

THE Dutch government resigned yesterday amid infighting over a failed attempt to strip a prominent Somali-born critic of Islam of her Dutch citizenship — setting the stage for elections likely to be dominated by immigration issues.

She inspires both admiration and rage, and has become one of the most familiar faces on the backbench of Holland’s parliament.

The Dutch government collapsed today, undermined by friction among the coalition partners and a power struggle within one of the three parties.