With the Dutch 2017 election just a few days away, understanding how the Dutch actually elect their Members of Parliament to the Tweede Kamer is of vital importance. The quota system which allocates seats will be key in determining if Geert Wilders and his PVV party take the largest number of seats, or if Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the VVD can oust the favourite.
The D'Hondt method of highest averages is also used to allocate remaining seats after the initial quota allocation, which also influences the end result. Ultimately, neither Rutte nor Wilders will be able to form a majority in the Tweede Kamer in their own right, as the Dutch electoral system deliberately favours coalition governments. Thus, the political support of the SP, PvdA, CDA and D66 will be of the utmost importance.
