Queen Beatrix will hold consultations with politicians to discuss the governmental crisis in the Hague on Monday.

Queen Beatrix will first speak with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at Palace Noordeinde and then hold discussions with the chairs of both houses of parliament and the Deputy President of the Council of State Tjeenk Willink. The constitutional head-of-state will also meet with both deputy prime ministers, Wouter Bos and André Rouvoet. The talks are expected to last most of the day.

Prime Minister Balkenende informed the queen, who is currently holidaying in Austria, in writing and by telephone of the current government crisis. Mr Balkenende tendered his government's resignation on Saturday. The queen accepted the resignations of the 12 ministers and deputy ministers from the Labour Party. The Labour Party withdrew from the government after the coalition parties failed to agree on a possible extension to the country's military mission to Afghanistan.

Mr Balkenende also offered the resignations of the 12 cabinet positions held by his own Christian Democrats (CDA) and the three held by the smaller Christian Union (CU). Analysts say it is probable that the CDA and CU will continue as a minority government. Fresh elections are likely to be held within three months.

Mr Balkenende will probably remain leader of his party. The CDA's board has re-nominated him for the post and the party congress is expected to confirm the nomination. Labour leader Wouter Bos, who just resigned as deputy prime minister and finance minister, has announced that he wants to continue to lead his party.

Read more on the Dutch government collapse