The Netherlands has put forward Klaas Knot, president of De Nederlandsche Bank until 2025, as its candidate to succeed Christine Lagarde as president of the European Central Bank.
Why it matters: The nomination opens the contest for the euro area's top central bank job, with Lagarde reported to be leaving early, and puts a long-serving Dutch rate hawk in the field.
Data as of NOS initial report of November 4, 2026, in Dutch, read in full in this run; NOS said more detail would follow. The nomination was also reported by Yle, in Finnish. No timetable for the succession or other candidates has been published yet. Developing item.
The Netherlands is nominating Klaas Knot as its candidate for president of the European Central Bank, NOS reported. The post is falling vacant because Christine Lagarde is leaving earlier than scheduled, according to the report.
Knot led De Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank, until 2025, and sat on the ECB’s Governing Council throughout that tenure. Finland’s Yle also reported the nomination.