New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- An exit poll published immediately after voting ended Wednesday in the Netherlands' general election suggested the result was too close to call, with the center-left D66 narrowly ahead of the far-right party of anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders and tough coalition talks likely to follow.

The poll showed that D66 would win 27 seats, a rise of 18 compared to the 2023 election. Wilders' Party for Freedom would lose 12 seats to finish at 25 seats, according to the poll published by national broadcaster NOS. Final official results are likely to take hours.

If confirmed, the result would be a momentous win for D66 and could lead to a shift in government back toward the center for the Netherlands after a far-right governm...