The Netherlands wants Wopke Hoekstra to return to the European Commission, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced Tuesday.

"This gives the Netherlands a strong candidate for a substantial portfolio. I informed the House of Representatives this morning," Schoof wrote on X alongside a copy of a letter he sent to Ursula von der Leyen congratulating her on being reelected as president of the European Commission as well as nominating Hoekstra.

Hoekstra officially joined the Commission in October, taking on the climate portfolio and replacing Frans Timmermans when he stepped down to lead the Dutch center-left campaign in a national election. 

Hoekstra is unlikely to keep the same portfolio for the next five years. Instead, the Netherlands is hoping that he is given a financial or economic portfolio, according to Dutch media reports.

The nomination came as something of a surprise, as Hoekstra's party, the Christian Democrats, is not part of the governing coalition.