After the election of 2010 Nicolaï was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Rutte I but during the cabinet formation of 2010 his appointment was blocked by the coalition partner Party for Freedom (PVV) and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives chairing the parliamentary committee for Foreign Affairs.
Following the 2010 election, Nicolaï became Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Rutte I cabinet but his appointment was blocked by the PVV coalition partner, leading him to continue serving in the House of Representatives as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.