The Netherlands are getting a new prime minister, likely the 38-year-old left-liberal Rob Jetten (TheColu.mn reported). And with him there will be, for the first time, a First Gentleman. It is Nicolás Keenan, 28, born in Buenos Aires, and a professional field hockey player. Jetten’s fiancé comes — just like Queen Máxima — from Argentina.
Keenan says he is incredibly proud of his fiancé and of his election victory. Election day, Wednesday, felt agonizingly long for him. “Election night was, for me, like a World Cup Final,” Keenan said. Only at 9:00 p.m. did the hopeful prognosis appear on television. After that, he celebrated with his partner for hours into the night the strong result for the D66 party.
Keenan: “For me, life simply goes on”
The partners of heads of government do not play a large public role in the Netherlands. Keenan doesn’t believe his life as “First Gentleman” will change much either. “For me, life simply goes on. I’ll keep training, and nothing will change on the field.”
Keenan had already enjoyed success with the Argentine national team and also competed in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Eight years ago he moved to The Hague and now plays there for the professional club HC Klein Zwitserland.
Meeting in the Supermarket
In The Hague, the two met by chance. “Coincidentally in the supermarket,” Jetten told Linda magazine. He was then climate minister and had to temporarily leave his apartment for security reasons during intense farmers’ protests in the summer of 2022. Jetten was housed in the neighborhood where Keenan lives. They encountered each other by chance in the supermarket and fell head over heels in love.
Keenan was the first male player in the Dutch professional men’s hockey league to publicly come out as queer. The couple’s love, however, is not greeted by everyone in what is allegedly a tolerant country. Jetten also spoke about it publicly and read aloud the hateful and homophobic messages he had received back in 2020.
Total in Love
The left-liberal politician makes no secret of his great love. He spoke about it repeatedly during the campaign, and his ever-bright smile drew attention. Some observers quipped that this was not only due to his message of optimism and a bright future; he was simply in love. In the spring, he proposed to Keenan, and Keenan said yes. The two will marry soon.
