General elections were held in the Netherlands on 6 March 1888, with a second round in 25 constituencies on 20 March. The Liberal Union emerged as the largest party, winning 46 of the 100 seats in the House of Representatives.

Æneas, Baron Mackay was a Dutch Anti-Revolutionary politician who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1888 to 1891. Born into a noble family from Gelderland, he studied law in Utrecht and worked as lawyer and a judge. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1876, and retained his seat for twelve years before his premiership. In his cabinet, he served as minister of the Interior and minister of Colonial Affairs. After another thirteen years in the House, he became a member of the Council of State, receiving the honorary title Minister of State.