Queen Beatrix on Monday began consulting her advisors and party leaders about how the country should be run following Labour’s decision to pull out of the government because of deep divisions over the Dutch military mission in Afghanistan.

Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende was the first to meet the queen at her offices in the Noordeinde palace in the Hague. Labour leader Wouter Bos and Andre Rouvoet, head of the orthodox Christian party ChristenUnie followed Balkenende for individual talks.
A number of other senior politicians and experts have also visited the queen. Opposition party leaders will follow over the rest of Monday and Tuesday.
Insiders expect Balkenende and Rouvoet will continue to run the country as a minority government until new elections can be held. CDA and CU ministers will take over the work of the 12 Labour ministers but a number of controversial pieces of legislation will be put on ice.
According to news agency ANP, this is the seventh time Beatrix has had to deal with a government collapse. The Netherlands has had four governments over the past eight years.
The general election is likely to be held at the end of May.

More on this
Cabinet collapse: the recriminations begin
Cabinet collapses as Labour pulls out
Cabinet collapse: what happens next?
Afghanistan stand boosts Labour in polls