The centrist D66 party has made huge gains in Dutch elections, likely giving it the lead in government formation as the party of far-right leader Geert Wilders lost support.

With 90 per cent of the votes counted early on Thursday, D66 and Wilders' Freedom Party (PVV) were both projected to take 26 seats in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.

It was a sharp fall for Wilders from a record showing in 2023, while D66 made the biggest gains and almost tripled its seats.

Exit polls and early results had indicated a narrow victory for the progressive D66, with Wilders trailing in second place, but vote counting indicated a slightly stronger showing for the anti-Islam populist.

The shift in the early hours of Thursday is unlikely to alter the composition of the next government coalition.

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