Results in the Dutch general election indicate that the Christian Democrat Party will remain the biggest group in new parliament.
With 97% of the votes counted, the ruling party has taken 41 seats. However, it remains short of a majority.
It means Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will get the first chance to form a coalition.
Mr Balkenende claimed victory last night, telling his supporters that he was thrilled with the election results.
However, he said that coalition talks would be 'mind-wracking'.
His party's main rival, the Labour Party, took 22.1% of the vote, giving them 32 seats.
The Christian Democrats' current coalition partner, the liberal VVD party, lost six seats to 22.
The Socialist Party garnered 16.6% of the vote, jumping from nine to 26 seats in parliament to become the third biggest party.
The Freedom Party came out of nowhere to win 5.9% of the votes (nine seats), while the Christian Union doubled its seats to six.
