On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 17, the Dutch government announced the official budget for the coming year. Here’s everything you need to know about Prinsjesdag 2024 and what the 2025 budget means for you. 

The Netherlands’ Budget Day 2024

Every year, on the third Tuesday of September, Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day) is hosted in The Hague. A key date on the political calendar, on the day the Dutch government announces the budget for the coming year, with King Willem-Alexander giving a speech from the throne to officially open the Dutch parliamentary season.

This year, in his first speech since Prime Minister Dick Schoof took office, the Dutch King began by expressing his pride over how well the Dutch Olympic team performed during the Paris Olympics and how the rest of the country should look to them as an example of how we can achieve anything we set our minds to “with talent, hard work and perseverance, even when things go wrong.”

The King also mentioned the main concerns that were reflected in the election results from November last year, mainly about migration and the strain on the Dutch housing market and family incomes. More concerns include those about the economy, quality and accessibility of healthcare and education, energy supply and climate, as well as about national and international security. 

The central point of the government policy is “what is possible?”, said the King. The new government is looking at how they can simplify things and cover the basics to give society “more space and certainty instead of less, so that they can shape their own future with strength and confidence.”

Dutch government announces 2025 budget

Overall, the cabinet plans to spend 457 billion euros next year. Here’s a brief overview of the key announcements made on Prinsjesdag:

Income, taxes and purchasing power

Purchasing power for households in the Netherlands will not increase by an average of 1,1 percent in 2025 as originally predicted by the Central Planning Bureau, but will instead increase by an average of 0,7 percent. 

• Changes to 30 percent tax ruling – Instead of phasing out the 30 percent ruling for highly skilled migrant workers, the tax break will be lowered to 27 percent. 
• New income tax bracket – A lower tax band for income tax will be introduced, which would involve those with less income paying less than the  37 percent rate of income tax. 
• Lower transfer tax – The high rate of transfer tax spent when purchasing a property by investors and small landlords will be cut from 10,4 percent to just 8 percent.
• Higher value-added tax (VAT) – There will be an increase in VAT from 9 percent to 21 percent on accommodation, books, concerts, museums, theatre performances and other recreational activities in the Netherlands. 
• Lower tax for companies – Taxes for companies will be cut by 1,5 billion euros a year.

Healthcare

The healthcare allowance will rise slightly to help with the increase in premiums announced by healthcare insurance providers. The deductible for health insurance will also be reduced from 385 euros to just 165 euros in 2027. 

Housing and infrastructure

With the goal of building 100.000 new homes per year, the government will make 5 billion euros available for this in coming years, with an additional 2,5 billion euros to develop new neighbourhoods. 

The Dutch government will cut 110 million euros from the budget for public transport in the Dutch cities of Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam from 2026, and will instead redirect the money towards a general fund for provinces and municipalities to relieve administrative burdens.

Education

To ensure children from low-income families have lunches at schools, government subsidies for free school meals will continue. With the VAT hike for books also increasing the price of school books, the government has come up with a compensation scheme to balance this out. 

More money will also be made available to rural schools so that they can keep their doors open even if there is a decrease in the number of students. By reducing the number of foreign students and encouraging the use of Dutch in universities, the government hopes to save 293 million euros a year. There will then be increased focus on improving the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic, and on research in further education. 

Crime and security

The government has committed to spending 2 percent of the GDP on defence, meeting the NATO standard. The police will receive more money from the government each year, increasing by 50 million euros in 2025, 75 million euros in 2026 and then 100 million euros per year after 2026. Money will also be set aside for a new early retirement scheme for workers in the Netherlands, including the police. 

Life in the Netherlands in 2025

In the government programme released on the Friday before Prinsjesdag, officials announced plans for a strict reduction of the number of asylum seekers in the country and its intention to declare an asylum emergency. These plans would make it more difficult for refugees to bring in new family members, among other implementations. 

Disagreements among the coalition parties over plans for asylum have broken out with the centre-right party NSC, who initially stated they would withdraw their support if the Council of State didn’t approve the plan to reduce asylum seekers. 

The main budget proposals will be debated with the parliament and Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Wednesday and Thursday.

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As the weather starts cooling down, more people around you might be falling ill. To decrease the chance of getting sick yourself, you could consider getting vaccinated. Vaccinations against coronavirus or the flu are mainly recommended for high-risk groups such as people who are 60 years old and older or those with certain health conditions. Here’s what you need to know about getting vaccinated against respiratory infections in the Netherlands.

Vaccinations in the Netherlands

Every year during the months of September, October and November, select groups of people are invited to get vaccinated against the flu. During this period every year, around 6 million people are invited to be vaccinated. 

In addition, a new round of vaccinations for COVID-19 began on September 16. Vulnerable groups are prioritised and include people aged 60 and over, workers in healthcare, and children and adults with certain health conditions. 

People in the target groups who are encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu and coronavirus will receive invitations from their GPs or the municipal health service (GGD). If you are in the target group for vaccines, the vaccinations will most likely be free.

COVID-19 vaccinations in the Netherlands

From September until December 2024, people living and working in the Netherlands can get the new round of coronavirus vaccinations. The first invitations would have been sent to people aged 60 and over in August of this year. Other eligible groups need to make an appointment with the GGD themselves to get vaccinated. 

What are the target groups for the COVID-19 vaccination?

The following people are encouraged to get the new round of coronavirus vaccines:

• People aged 60 years and over
• People between the ages of 18 and 59 who receive the annual flu vaccine
• Healthcare workers
• Adults and children with medical conditions who are more likely to get seriously ill from coronavirus

It is no longer necessary for women to get vaccinated against coronavirus if they are pregnant. According to the Health Council of the Netherlands, this is because most of the population already has a broad immunity against the virus and new variants are not as severe.

How to get COVID vaccine if you’re not in the target groups

If you are not considered an at-risk individual like those in the target groups but want to get vaccinated for other reasons, such as to protect family members who are at risk of contracting coronavirus, then you need a referral from your doctor. This will then allow you to make an appointment with the GGD to get the vaccine.

Flu vaccines in the Netherlands

Everyone who is 60 years and older, pregnant, or with certain health conditions will automatically receive an invitation to get a flu vaccine from their GP. This happens every year in the autumn to protect vulnerable people in the lead-up to the cold winter months. For those in this group, vaccinations are free.

To get the flu jab if you’re not eligible, you can ask your doctor for a referral for the vaccine. This would require you to pay for the vaccine yourself, unless it is covered by your health insurance provider, which could cost around 39 euros.

After surveying rental teams in student cities in the Netherlands, NRC has reported that the Affordable Rent Act, which is meant to regulate rent prices, is the reason that many owners of student houses are selling their properties and leaving students without a home. 

More cases of Dutch landlords emptying out student housing

In Dutch cities where the majority of students are located, namely Amsterdam, Delft, Eindhoven, Groningen, Leiden, Nijmegen, Rotterdam and Utrecht, rental teams have seen a large number of reports where landlords ask students to leave their rental homes or don’t allow them to get new roommates. 

An incident like this was reported in Amsterdam after one housemate in a student home chose to move out. This led to an ultimatum from the landlord, ordering that the remaining tenants would not be allowed to get a new housemate, and would either have to pay the monthly rent of 2.500 euros between themselves or they would have to move out within a month.

“There is even a landlord with dozens of properties in Amsterdam who sent all his tenants the same letter, stating that he wants them to leave,” Gert Jan Bakker of Amsterdam rental team !WOON told NRC.

Rental teams, which are points of contact in municipalities that help with landlord issues, have reported that landlords don’t always give a reason for this, but many blame the Affordable Rent Act. This pattern is similar to what has been occurring with other rental homes, where more rental properties are being sold by landlords.

More student housing landlords are also choosing to put their homes on the market because of the new legislation that came into effect on July 1, 2024. 

Affordable Rent Act seen as limitation on rental income

With the Affordable Rent Act came many new regulations that affect owners of student housing. For example, the points system limits how much rent landlords can charge based on various factors such as the size of the property and the number of residents. This reduces the rental income, leaving many landlords with a desire to sell.

The shortage of student housing in the Netherlands is not helped by more landlords selling properties into the owner-occupied market. There are currently 23.100 too few student rooms and apartments available for people studying in the Netherlands and with more disappearing, it is likely to become a bigger problem. Even with all the plans to build 16.800 student homes by 2033, the 2031 / 32 academic year could see a deficit of 42.000 student homes.

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Breakfast, lunch and dinner; pancakes can be enjoyed any time of the day and the popularity of pancake restaurants in the Netherlands certainly shows just how true this is. One of the biggest drivers behind the success of Dutch pancake houses is the ageing population as many grandparents treat their grandchildren to a tasty outing with pancakes.  

Dutch pancake restaurants popular among grandparents

According to a report by ABN Amro, 75 percent of the turnover at pancake houses in the Netherlands is attributed to seniors visiting them with their families. As the population continues to age, with Statistics Netherlands (CBS) predicting that the percentage of residents aged 65 years or older will increase from 20,5 percent in 2024 to 24,9 percent in 2040, pancake houses can expect to have even more business in the future.

“The ageing population means that more grandparents and their children and grandchildren are finding their way to pancake restaurants,” Janneke van der Ham of the Association of Recognised Pancake Restaurants told NOS. 

Pancake houses thrive in the Netherlands

There are currently 339 pancake restaurants in the Netherlands – almost 12 percent more than there were in 2010, reported the Dutch bank. Not only are there more of the restaurants, but in the past eight years there have been only five bankruptcies in the pancake sector, making it the most stable of the catering industry.

Whether your choice is sweet or savoury, what makes the restaurants so popular is that pancakes are usually quite cheap and are served quickly, making them a top pick for a meal out with small children. Pancake houses are also often found in great locations in Dutch cities near nature reserves that are easy to reach by cycling and walking, which according to ABN Amro “makes them ideal for families, cyclists and walkers.” 

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If dating apps haven’t been giving you much success, you might just meet your other half where you least expect; your local supermarket in the Netherlands. Jumbo has launched “flirt hour” where singles can pick up some shopping and perhaps a date at the same time. 

Hour for flirting at Dutch supermarkets

Inspired by a viral TikTok video of a Spanish woman placing a pineapple upside down in her trolley at the supermarket as a sign that she’s ready to flirt, the Dutch supermarket chain decided to come up with its own Dutchified version. 

Everyday from 6pm until 7pm, Jumbo invites singles to grab a packet of rusks, or beschuit in Dutch, and place it upside down inside a shopping trolley or basket. This will serve as a sign that you’re single and ready to mingle.

Get your flirt on at Jumbo

To encourage unattached people who live in the Netherlands to join in, Jumbo even made a TikTok of some pickup lines that you could use during “flirt hour”. For example, “Volgens mij mist er iets op je boodschappenlijstje… Ik sta er niet op” (I think there’s something missing on your shopping list… I’m not on it).

Check it out for some other cheesy ideas – you might even learn some new Dutch words! 

After their latest match was cancelled due to police strikes, supporters of Ajax Football Club in Amsterdam have planned a demonstration to protest against the police action that is disrupting their football matches. Ajax fans have made the call to gather on Leidseplein in the Dutch capital on Sunday, September 15 at 2.30pm – when their match against Utrecht was supposed to be taking place.

Another Ajax match cancelled due to police strikes

At the beginning of the week, Amsterdam city authorities made the decision to cancel the football match between Ajax and FC Utrecht that was set to take place this Sunday, as the Dutch police would not be present due to planned strikes for the extension of the early retirement scheme. This is the second Ajax match to be cancelled this season due to police strikes. 

The football match between Feyenoord and Ajax that was meant to take place on September 1 in Rotterdam was also cancelled due to strike action by police. This means that while most Eredivisie clubs have played four matches this season so far, Ajax has only played two. “The safety of the players, supporters and public order in the city cannot be guaranteed without the important efforts of the police,” wrote the city’s deputy mayor in a joint statement with the district police chief and prosecutor’s office.

Ajax fans plan protest in Amsterdam against police strikes

In a statement on Instagram by Ajax supporter clubs AFCA and F-side, there is a call for fans to gather on Leidseplein in Amsterdam at the time when the match was originally scheduled. “We, Ajax supporters, are completely fed up with the fact that Ajax matches are continuously targeted by these kinds of police actions,” said AFCA and F-side in the statement.

“Now that we will not be in the stadium at 2.30pm on Sunday, we all have a free agenda at this time,” they wrote. “We can make our voices heard against the ongoing police strikes during Ajax matches.” It is not yet known whether future Ajax matches will also be affected. 

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The NOS has added a news bulletin that broadcasts in an easier version of Dutch for people who have difficulty following the regular news programme, including those learning Dutch and those with learning difficulties.

NOS news now presented in simplified Dutch

NOS Journaal in Makkelijke Taal, or NOS news in easy language in English, is targeted at the 2,5 million adults in the Netherlands who have difficulties with the Dutch language. Based on research conducted with the Dutch Reading and Writing Foundation, the NOS found that the news can be difficult for these people to understand.

“And because the NOS is there for everyone, we have taken up the challenge and developed this news bulletin,” said Marga van Beusekom, editor-in-chief of the NOS Journaal in Makkelijke Taal. The easy-to-follow news bulletin is broadcast daily at 5pm on NPO 1 and will cater to a diverse group, including the elderly, internationals who have moved to the Netherlands, and people with learning difficulties. 

More explanation and easier vocabulary for news in “easy Dutch”

In the regular news bulletin, the Dutch broadcaster creates content assuming that viewers “have a reasonable command of the Dutch language and a certain basic knowledge”. However, newcomers to the country might not know about certain complicated subjects, such as politics or legislation, which can make news stories seem more complicated if they’re still learning the language. 

This is why in the news programme in simplified Dutch, topics will be explained much more to include more background information and without the use of complex words. The easy language programme also has a different target audience than the news bulletin for children, Jeugdjournaal. “Children’s news is often delivered with lots of intensity and effects,” said Van Beusekom. “The tempo and the use of images in NOS Journaal in Makkelijke Taal is much more sedate so that the target audience can follow it.”

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As many residents of the Netherlands may have noticed, the weather has been even more wet than normal in the past few years, with new records set for several months this year. This increase in heavy rainfall has not only affected the overall mood of people living in the country but will also have an impact on the yield of tulips for next year. The famous Dutch flower will become harder to find and more expensive too.

Tulip bulbs planted later in the Netherlands due to heavy rainfall

Every autumn, small tulip bulbs are planted to grow into bulbs with sizes suitable for sale. This event was delayed this year as the heavy rainfall from the past several months resulted in wet conditions that weren’t optimal for planting.

According to an organisation for the flower bulb trade, Royal Anthos, because many bulbs were planted late or not at all, there will be far fewer tulips growing when it comes time for tulip season from March next year. “We have never experienced this before. It’s not just a bump, it’s unprecedented,” said General Manager of Royal Anthos Mark-Jan Terwindt.

Larger Dutch tulip shortage than originally expected

Previously, the sector was concerned that tulip yields would drop by approximately 20 percent. According to Royal Anthos, this estimate is far too optimistic, with the scarcity of tulips expected to be much larger. “I don’t dare put a percentage on it yet, but it is such that it will change the market,” said Terwindt.

The knock-on effects from this will cause tulip prices to rise. As existing contracts between trading companies are affected by the drop in tulip bulb availability, they will have to purchase many additional bulbs outside of contracts, which could cost double or triple the regular amount. Florists and supermarkets will most likely hike their prices because of this. “In the end, the supermarkets decide the price themselves, but the sales you usually see will decrease significantly,” stated Terwindt. “And a lot less will be available.” 

Attractions in the Netherlands that draw people from all over the world to see tulips, such as Keukenhof, could also be impacted. Other flowers such as crocuses and ornamental onions will also be affected. 

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