The left-wing alliance GroenLinks-PvdA is set to take eight seats in the European parliament, according to an exit poll by broadcaster NOS, as the polls closed in the Netherlands at 9 pm.

The far-right PVV, which had been tipped to top the poll, is on target to win seven seats, the exit poll said.

The official Dutch results will not be published until Sunday evening, after voting ends in the rest of the EU.

The exit poll, based on a representative sample of polling stations, has a margin of error of one seat, which means the Dutch results are far from certain given the number of parties predicted to win one or no seats.

The poll suggests the VVD will win four seats, while the Christian Democrats and D66 will do better than expected with three. The pro-countryside BBB are polled at two seats, while four parties are on target to win one – newcomers NSC, plus the Socialists, pro-animal PvdD and Volt.