In his role as the de facto head of government, the prime minister also represents the Netherlands in the European Council.

The current prime minister, Dick Schoof, has been in the position since 2 July 2024, with his cabinet being sworn in on the same day.

Still, because the position holds limited powers compared to its equivalent in other neighboring parliamentary democracies, the prime minister's role is described as primus inter pares ("first among equals").

The prime minister is also responsible for the royal house and has a weekly meeting with the king on government policy.

The prime minister also has some functions in international affairs, attending the European Council every six months and maintaining bilateral contacts.

On the basis of this advice, the House appoints an informateur to check on prospective coalitions and lead negotiations between potential partners.

The formateur is almost always the leader of the largest party in the prospective coalition, and thus de facto prime minister-designate.

Prior to 2012, the monarch had a considerable role in this process in particular during the initial phases and the appointment of informateurs and formateurs.

Reforms in 2012 pulled these tasks to the House of Representatives, thus largely eliminated royal influence on the process.

It usually takes several months of negotiations before a formateur is ready to accept a formal royal invitation to form a government.

Conventionally, all of the junior partners in the coalition get one deputy prime minister; they are ranked according to the size of their respective parties.