1999 Dutch cabinet formation

In terms of content, D66 served as a bridge between the social democratic PvdA and the liberal VVD, but in the second cabinet D66 was no longer numerically necessary for a majority.

During the first Kok cabinet, the necessary constitutional amendment had already passed both Chambers and the House of Representatives had also approved this in the second reading with the necessary two-thirds majority.

Prominent D66 figures, including party leader Thom de Graaf, indicated that rejection of the referendum would have consequences for the cabinet.

Kok and PvdA parliamentary group leader Ad Melkert wanted to prevent this so as not to give the impression that governing with VVD was possible without D66.

Based on the advices, Beatrix appointed vice-president of the Council of State and former PvdA politician Herman Tjeenk Willink as informateur to reconstruct the coalition.

Among the PvdA ministers there were those in favor of continuing to govern, if necessary without D66, such as Bram Peper, Klaas de Vries and Karin Adelmund.

D66 members, such as De Graaf and founder Hans van Mierlo, had initially hoped that their principled position would lead to gains in the polls, but this did not materialise.

This led to a growing conviction among parliamentary group members and veterans, including Van Mierlo, that a permanent break was not wise.

With the support of Melkert, De Graaf wanted the conditions for a referendum to be reduced, such as the number of signatures required.

The parties ultimately agreed that the temporary consultative referendum would have an end date of 1 January 2005 and that signatures could be collected electronically.

The final debate on the report of the parliamentary inquiry into the Bijlmer disaster took place on 2 June, which led to additional tensions in the coalition.

On 7 June, D66 Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries Hayo Apotheker resigned due to a lack of support for the reduction of the pig herd.