THE Dutch government collapsed today after far-right politician Geert Wilders pulled his party out of the ruling four-party Dutch coalition in a dispute over a crackdown on migration.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced his decision to step down on Tuesday and was set to hand in his resignation to the country’s monarch.

After an emergency cabinet meeting, Mr Schoof described the decision of Mr Wilders to withdraw the support of the Party for Freedom (PVV) as “irresponsible and unnecessary.

“As far as I’m concerned, this shouldn’t have happened,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Wilders told reporters that it was his intention to become the country’s prime minister “and ensure that the PVV becomes bigger than ever in the next elections.”

The government meltdown comes just three weeks before the Netherlands is scheduled to host a summit of Nato leaders in The Hague.

Mr Wilders told reporters that he was withdrawing his support for the coalition and pulling his ministers out of the cabinet over its failure to act on his desire for a clampdown on migration.

Mr Schoof had made a last-minute appeal to coalition party leaders on Tuesday. But Mr Wilders stormed out of the meeting after just one minute.

Mr Schoof will remain in a caretaker capacity until a date is set for a new general election.