Scouts, informateurs and formateurs facilitate specific phases in a Dutch cabinet formation.
Since 1951, the main responsibility of an informateur is facilitating the negotiations between political parties in the information phase.
[2] The roles are often filled by members of the largest party in the House of Representatives.
[5] Formateurs were in general responsible for the entire formation, simply being instructed to form a cabinet.
[a] However, some formateurs were instructed to do preliminary work (exploring coalition options and/or facilitating negotiations).