The collapse has sparked fears that the Netherlands would be unable to support European Union enlargement plans when ministers attend a key summit next week.
The coalition had been divided over a proposal to extend EU membership to 10 Eastern European countries.

"We don't want to get involved in internal Dutch politics but it is very important that next week's Brussels European Council (summit) sticks to the timetable for enlargement agreed in Seville," said a spokesman for the Danish government, which holds the rotating EU presidency.