Compulsory farm buyouts will now be replaced with a voluntary scheme, which was one of the Dutch Farmer-Citizen Movement’s (BBB) conditions for entering government with Mr Wilders.
The BBB triumphed in regional elections after a vote dominated by the tractors’ protests that inspired similar populist uprisings against EU green rules across Europe. In the general election held after the last government collapsed, the BBB, formed in 2019, won seven seats – a seven-fold increase since the previous elections in 2021.
It was the first European farmers’ party to get elected into parliament since the EU set its net zero objective. It won 4.6 per cent of the vote, while Mr Wilders won 23.5 per cent, equivalent to 37 seats.
The BBB also demanded the end of a law that would require homeowners to switch to a hybrid heat pump when replacing their central heating boiler from 2026.
The act, introduced shortly after the EU announced its objective to install at least 10 million additional heat pumps by 2027 to hit its 2050 net zero goal, would have made them standard in Dutch homes.
Switching to heat pumps would have driven down Dutch household use of natural gas for heating, which is the largest source of its gas consumption, equivalent to about 30 per cent in total.
Caroline van der Plas, the BBB leader, said she was “mega-proud” of her party, which boasted that a “large part” of its manifesto was reflected in the pact. The party said: “Thanks to BBB’s efforts, the mandatory heat pump will be abolished.”
The 26-page coalition agreement also states that the Netherlands must no longer pursue “a more ambitious environment policy” than the rest of Europe. “We’ll adhere to the existing agreements; only if we do not achieve the goals do we create alternative policies,” the document, called Hope, Courage and Pride, said.
Mr Wilders, who is infamous for his anti-Islam rhetoric, was forced to ditch his campaign pledge for a referendum on EU membership and his dreams of being prime minister to get the deal. Ronald Plasterk, a former Labour minister, appears to be the main contender to be prime minister.