From Parliament to Pride: Rob Jetten and Nicolás Keenan Are the Power Couple Europe Needs Right Now

It’s not every day that a national election win turns into a celebration for queer people worldwide. But when Rob Jetten, at just 38, clinched victory to become the Netherlands’ youngest and first openly gay prime minister, the ripple effect was immediate and deeply felt across LGBTQ+ communities . But it’s the love story behind the politics that’s inspiring queer folks to dare to dream—enter Nicolás Keenan, the Olympic heartthrob who’s not just Jetten’s fiancé, but a cultural force in his own right.

Let’s set the scene: Nicolás Keenan, a 28-year-old Argentine field hockey champion, has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in a swirl of Spanish and Italian culture, Keenan’s career has been a globe-trotting journey—from the youth pitches of Club Egara in Spain to the roar of the Tokyo and Paris Olympic stadiums, where he represented Argentina with pride . In 2017, he landed in the Netherlands, signing with top club Klein Zwitserland and, as fate would have it, moving into the same Hague neighborhood as a certain rising political star.

“We happened to live close to each other – that’s how we bumped into each other. And now we’ve been together for two and a half years,” Jetten told De Telegraaf, capturing the kind of serendipity queer people often dream of in a world that can make finding community—and love—feel like finding a needle in a haystack .

Keenan isn’t just arm candy for a prime minister. He’s fiercely authentic, having come out as bisexual after his first Olympics—a rare move in the still-closeted world of men’s sports. “I played one Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020) when I wasn’t openly homosexual and another (Paris 2024) when I was. I can tell you that I enjoyed the second much more,” he told Argentina’s GENTE magazine—a quote already circulating on queer social feeds as a rallying cry for living out loud .

Their relationship is a walking, talking, dancing, Instagramming celebration of queer joy. Keenan has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, sharing everything from training montages to sun-drenched holiday snaps with Jetten—giving their followers a glimpse into what queer relationships can look like when lived without apology .

And then there’s Keenan’s now-famous tattoo: the word “Ubuntu” inked in Thai script, which went viral in Thailand after the couple’s election night appearance. It’s a nod to the African philosophy meaning “I am because we are”—a fitting mantra for a couple whose love is as much about community as it is about each other. Thai social media erupted with pride, highlighting the global resonance of their story and the power of visible queer love to spark connection across cultures .

Being the partner of a world leader is no small feat, especially when your relationship is a matter of public record—and public opinion. But Jetten and Keenan have leaned into their roles as trailblazers with warmth, humor, and a sense of purpose. After Jetten’s historic win, he took to Instagram to thank Keenan for his “unconditional support,” adding, “I cannot do this without you.” Keenan’s reply was simple and perfect: “Love you, Mr. Jetten” .

It’s a reminder that even as queer people smash glass ceilings in politics, sport, and beyond, the heart of our movement has always been about love—messy, joyful, complicated, and real. To see that love celebrated from the halls of parliament to the Olympic field is no small thing.

The visibility of Jetten and Keenan as an openly queer power couple at the highest levels of government and sport is about more than just representation—it’s about possibility. For young LGBTQ+ people in the Netherlands, Argentina, Thailand, and everywhere else, their story says: you can be seen, you can lead, you can love, and you can win.

Of course, the road to this moment wasn’t always smooth. Jetten, who began his political career as a policy advisor and climbed the ranks to lead the Democrats 66 party, has faced his share of scrutiny—not just as a young leader, but as an openly gay man in public life . Keenan knows what it means to compete—and to win—when you’re not sure the world is ready to cheer for you. Their engagement, announced with a joyful Instagram caption—“Soon we will be Mr & Mr”—is a defiant, beautiful answer to anyone who’s ever doubted the power of queer love to change the world .

The couple reportedly plans to tie the knot in the summer of 2026, making Keenan the Netherlands’ first “first husband” in a queer, high-profile political marriage . For many in the LGBTQ+ community, it’s not just a personal milestone—it’s a symbol of how far we’ve come, and a reminder of the work that remains.

As Europe and the world watch this love story unfold, Jetten and Keenan are offering a new vision of leadership—one that’s out, proud, and unafraid to let love take center stage.