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At Eindhoven’s High Tech Campus, CDA leader Henri Bontenbal made a quiet case for stability, decency and trust, framing politics as collaboration, not spectacle. His anti-populist pitch — focused on housing shortages, asylum policy, the nitrogen crisis and investments in the economy of the future — is resonating as the Netherlands heads to the polls Oct. 29. Polls put CDA roughly tied for second at about 24 seats, behind Geert Wilders’ PVV at 31, positioning Bontenbal as a possible kingmaker. It’s a sharp turn from 2023, when CDA plunged to five seats under his early leadership.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.