With a base rooted in urban professionals, entrepreneurs, and pragmatic centrists, it often forms coalition governments alongside parties like the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD’s spiritual predecessor), Democrats 66 (D66), and Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). These alliances underscore the party’s strategic role: forming stable minority governments without ceding core principles. Recent elections reveal a coalition trend favoring center-right stability, with the VVD typically securing 20–25% of the vote—consistent but predicated on evolving voter priorities around cost-of-living pressures and climate action.

The VVD’s influence extends beyond domestic policy. On the European stage, the party advocates for a strong but reformed EU—supporting free trade, fiscal discipline, and proportional representation. It resists populist Euroscepticism while pushing for national sovereignty within EU frameworks, reflecting its dual commitment to Dutch interests and pragmatic multilateralism.

Yet the party remains anchored in its liberal-democratic foundation: “We are not a reactionary force,” notes a VVD manifesto, “but a party that adapts without abandoning its guiding principles—pragmatism with purpose.” Whether navigating economic shocks, migration challenges, or climate imperatives, the VVD maintains a distinctive role: anchoring Dutch politics in a vision of responsible liberalism. Its blend of free-market credibility and socially engaged conservatism offers a model of moderate governance in an era of growing polarization. In a political climate often defined by extremism, the VVD stands as a testament to the enduring power of consensus-driven, principled leadership—making it not just a party, but a stabilizing pillar of Dutch democracy.