The Rutte IV cabinet has fallen. The asylum talks that have been dragging on for months have torn apart the partnership between VVD, D66, CDA and CU.
This will allow the Netherlands to prepare for new elections, probably in the autumn. The government parties have been diametrically opposed to the asylum measures for some time.
This week that sensitive file exploded, in which the differences between VVD and CDA on the one hand and D66 and CU were large. Especially between VVD and CU there was a lot of clashing over measures to limit family reunification. The differences have proved insurmountable.