• D66 party wins closely contested Dutch general election.
• Rob Jetten projected to be the youngest Prime Minister in Dutch history.
• Coalition negotiations expected to last several months.
• Wilders' far-right party loses ground, other nationalist parties gain.
• Overseas votes could sway final seat counts.

The centrist D66 party has been projected as the winner of the Dutch election, with leader Rob Jetten on track to become the youngest Prime Minister in the nation's history, according to the news agency ANP. Projections indicate Jetten leads Geert Wilders' far-right PVV by a narrow margin, which will be confirmed after overseas postal votes are counted later, likely on Monday evening, according to SCMP and Reuters.

With around 18% of the votes, D66 may need to align with at least three other parties to form a coalition, as they require a majority of 76 seats in the 150-member parliament. Jetten expressed the need for cooperation among mainstream parties stating, "Voters have clearly indicated the need for cooperation," emphasizing critical issues related to housing, migration, and the economy, according to Los Angeles Times and India Times.

As coalition talks are set to begin next week, Jetten will appoint a "scout" to negotiate potential coalitions, with discussions focusing on forming a "grand coalition" with parties such as the CDA, VVD, and the left-wing Green/Labour group. However, previous statements from VVD leader Dilan Yesilgoz suggest challenges in forming this alliance, as she indicated reluctance to partner with Green/Labour, as reported by Los Angeles Times and Reuters.

Although Geert Wilders' support diminished significantly, other far-right factions like the Forum for Democracy have gained parliamentary seats, complicating the political landscape. Wilders has refused to work with these parties, maintaining the PVV's exclusion from the coalition discussions, according to SCMP and India Times.