Rob Jetten's achievement in dragging his socially liberal D66 party from fifth place to the top of Dutch politics in less than two years has been extraordinary.
But politically, all the stars were perfectly aligned for the 38-year-old to do so.
The result of Wednesday's election is too close to call, with Jetten vying with anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders for the most seats in parliament.
No other political leader commanded as much screen time during the campaign as Jetten, and his smile and cheerful message resonated with voters, while his rivals sometimes struggled.
Hardly a night went by without him on TV. When Wilders cancelled an appearance because of security fears, Rob Jetten seized the moment and took his place. He even featured in a TV quiz show recorded months ago called The Smartest Person.
And his D66 party was untarnished by involvement in Wilders' ill-fated 11-month coalition, largely because Jetten had fared so poorly in the last election in 2023. The government collapsed last June when Wilders' party quit following a row over migration.
But perhaps more than anything else, Jetten was able to convey a positive message summed up by the slogan Het kan wel - an optimistic phrase that borrows from Barack Obama's Yes, we can.
It contrasted strongly with Wilders, who he accused of sowing division.
If his party does come top, Rob Jetten could become the Netherlands' first openly gay prime minister.
A self-confessed politics nerd as a child, the young Jetten grew up in a small town in the southern province of Brabant and came out when he was young.
Jetten has not made his private life part of his political identity, but five years ago he posted a video in which he read out a long list of homophobic messages from his phone, to prove why an international day against homophobia was important.
Jetten is now engaged to Argentine hockey player, Nicolás Keenan, and they are due to marry next year.
He was an early supporter of the centrist D66, which describes itself as a progressive and socially liberal party. After a few years working for Dutch rail network ProRail, Jetten was elected as an MP in 2017 and had a couple of early experiences as leader before serving under long-serving prime minister Mark Rutte as climate minister.
However, Jetten's career has not been without its bumps. Criticism of his pushy approach on climate issues and setbacks in the past have shaped his political journey.
He led D66's disastrous campaign in 2023 when the party secured only nine seats, a stark contrast to its previous performance under Sigrid Kaag.
Despite initial media criticism labeling him as Robot Jetten for his past performances, he has transformed into a compelling candidate who is now compared favorably to Rutte.
The race ahead is set against a backdrop of the Netherlands' housing crisis, with Jetten promising forward-thinking solutions that will require vast political skill and resilience to deliver on.
In summary, Rob Jetten's poised campaign delivers a renewed sense of hope for many in the Netherlands, underlining the transformative potential of young leadership in European politics.
