ROTTERDAM, 7 April 2026 – Rotterdam’s coalition-building process has taken its next formal step, with scout Cathelijne Bouwkamp advising that the city move into the information phase with GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, VVD and DENK. Her advice was presented to mayor Carola Schouten ahead of the council debate on the election result.
Image:: Scout Cathelijne Bouwkamp with mayor Carola Schouten. Photo by Hans Tak.
The recommendation gives the clearest signal yet about which parties are now being seen as the basis for a possible new city government. In Dutch local politics, the scout phase is meant to test the political landscape after an election and see which combinations have the best chance of forming a workable coalition.
In Rotterdam, that process is now moving forward with four parties that together would form the starting point for the next round of talks. The formal explanation of how Bouwkamp reached her advice will be given before the debate on the election result on 8 April.
Do you run a business? RotterdamStyle is looking for a main sponsor. Get exclusive visibility across our website for a fixed fee. Interested? Contact us 🤝
Four parties move into next phase
The proposed combination brings together GroenLinks-PvdA, D66, VVD and DENK. That is a politically broad mix, stretching across progressive, liberal and community-based positions, which already suggests the next phase will be about finding practical overlap rather than easy ideological unity.
Still, the advice matters because it narrows the field. After an election, the scout’s role is not to form the coalition itself, but to identify the most plausible path towards a stable city executive. This recommendation now gives Rotterdam’s political process a more defined direction.
Bouwkamp points to open talks
In a statement released with the advice, Bouwkamp said: “I am pleased that I was able to complete my assignment within the requested timeframe, and I would like to emphasise that this was mainly possible thanks to the open attitude and flexibility of the parliamentary party leaders, for which I would like to thank them warmly. I hope that with my advice I have been able to contribute to a stable city government.”
That wording is diplomatic, but it also hints at the kind of process she wants to leave behind her: one built on enough willingness among party leaders to keep the city moving rather than getting stuck immediately in political deadlock.
Do you run a business? RotterdamStyle is looking for a main sponsor. Get exclusive visibility across our website for a fixed fee. Interested? Contact us 🤝
What happens next in Rotterdam
The next step is the information phase, which is where more detailed coalition discussions begin. That is the stage where parties start testing whether they can move from broad political compatibility to actual governing agreements.
For Rotterdam, this is where the real shape of the next administration starts to emerge. Advice from the scout can point the way, but the harder work begins now, as the four proposed parties try to turn a possible combination into a credible governing bloc.
Where to read the advice
For anyone who wants to read the full advice, the city council has published it here:
https://gemeenteraad.rotterdam.nl/Reports/Item/6ab04ae9-68a8-41a8-bc9e-98fae809f367
.jpeg)
