The Dutch ruling Christian Democrats are on course to win a parliamentary election without securing a majority in the assembly, according to exit polls.
A poll released by RTL television shortly before voting was due to end forecast the Christian Democrats, led by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, would win 38 places in the 150-seat parliament. It forecast the opposition Labour party would win 34 seats.
The Labour party was hoping for a late surge of support from people of immigrant origin, who are often underrepresented in opinion polls, and from the about 15 percent of voters who pollsters said were still undecided overnight.
The polls suggested neither Balkenende's alliance with the VVD liberals nor a Labour-led coalition with the far-left Socialists and environmentalist Green Left would win a majority in the 150-seat parliament, making long coalition talks more likely.
Balkenende, 50, underlined the Netherlands' economic improvement as he voted.
"We have been very successful during the last years ... we were behind in Europe and now we are really one of the front-runners," Balkenende, speaking in English, told reporters.
"I really hope that people will recognise this and that we can go on with these successful type of policies."
Labour leader Wouter Bos, 43, had a bad start to the day. He was turned away from a polling station after failing to present the correct voter card, and had to return later to vote
The campaign focused largely on tough welfare reforms which initially hurt Balkenende's popularity but which he says have since helped revive the economy. Bos accuses him of pandering to big business and the wealthy while failing to fight inequality.
"Labour is a more social party. The CDA did okay but they took away a lot of benefits," said unemployed Elise Goor, 45.
The first exit poll was expected to be released shortly before voting ends at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. Irish time). Official results will trickle in soon afterwards.
More than 50 percent of the about 12 million voters had voted by late-afternoon, NOS public television said. Pollsters said turnout was high amongst immigrants, potentially good news for left-wing parties.