Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has claimed victory for his center-right VVD party in September 12 general elections.
The VVD was set to take 41 seats in the 150-member parliament, two more than its largest rival, the center-left Labor party.
The result sets the stage for the two pro Europe parties to forge a coalition with Rutte returning for a second term as prime minister.
Rutte wants to bring down the Netherlands' deficit, while the Labor Party's Diederik Samsom is promoting spending on job-creation programs.
The election was seen as a referendum on the Netherlands' commitment to Europe amid the continent's crippling debt crisis.
The result was a rejection of the most radical critic of the European Union, Geert Wilders, whose Freedom Party was forecast to lose eight seats.
The VVD was set to take 41 seats in the 150-member parliament, two more than its largest rival, the center-left Labor party.
The result sets the stage for the two pro Europe parties to forge a coalition with Rutte returning for a second term as prime minister.
Rutte wants to bring down the Netherlands' deficit, while the Labor Party's Diederik Samsom is promoting spending on job-creation programs.
The election was seen as a referendum on the Netherlands' commitment to Europe amid the continent's crippling debt crisis.
The result was a rejection of the most radical critic of the European Union, Geert Wilders, whose Freedom Party was forecast to lose eight seats.