The centrist liberals under Rob Jetten have taken a shock lead in the Dutch election, according to the main exit poll, two years after his party languished in sixth place in the last vote.
Jetten staged a remarkable campaign in recent weeks, and the Ipsos I&O exit poll suggests his D66 liberals have won 27 seats, two more than anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders who won the last election.
The final result is too close to call, even though Dutch exit polls are generally considered reliable.
Three other parties are close behind, including the conservative liberals, the left-wing Green-Labour party and the Christian Democrats.
Wilders led the polls throughout the election campaign, but after he pulled the plug on his own coalition in June, all the mainstream leaders made clear they did not wish to work with him again.
Jetten’s party, meanwhile, staged a highly successful campaign, capitalising on his polished performances during TV debates. The fact the 38-year-old liberal leader had appeared in a game show during the campaign added to his profile.
There was palpable excitement as party supporters gathered for the results at a hall in Leiden, a city between Amsterdam and The Hague.
