The recently announced coalition agreement, titled “Hope, Courage, and Pride,” outlines the ambitious plans of the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB parties for the Netherlands. Spanning 26 pages, the agreement details their vision for the country’s future across various policy areas.
Key points:
1. Ensuring social security and purchasing power
- The coalition aims to more than halve the mandatory healthcare deductible (eigen risico) by 2027, reducing it from the current €385 per year to €165 per year.
- They plan to introduce an additional income tax bracket to ease the tax burden on labor.
- Measures to enhance job security, improve debt assistance, and provide nearly free childcare are also on the agenda.
2. Hardened stance on asylum, migration and integration requirements
- The coalition intends to implement the strictest asylum package ever. This includes a temporary Asylum Crisis Act with crisis measures.
- Permanent residency permits for refugees will be abolished, and rejected asylum seekers will be deported whenever possible.
- Priority for social housing will no longer be given to refugees with a residence permit.
- Automatic family reunification will be scrapped, and the number of people allowed to join family members will be significantly limited.
- The coalition seeks an opt-out from the European Commission regarding European refugee and migration policies. They also plan to strengthen border controls.
- The focus isn’t solely on asylum; the coalition will also impose additional requirements on non-EU labor migrants and crack down on exploitative employment practices.
- Study migration will be restricted by offering more courses in Dutch, setting a numerus fixus for foreign students, and increasing tuition fees for non-EU students.
- In terms of integration (inburgering), knowledge of the Holocaust will become compulsory, and Dutch language requirements will be raised.
3. Housing, infrastructure, and transport
- With the aim of addressing the housing shortage, the coalition plans to facilitate the construction of 100,000 new homes annually. This ambitious goal will be achieved by making more land available.
- Social housing rent increases will be restricted to the average pay increase, ensuring affordability for tenants. Additionally, the coalition aims for 30% of all new construction to be designated as rent-controlled units, promoting inclusivity in housing.
- Mortgage tax relief will remain unchanged, providing stability for homeowners. Furthermore, there will be a cap on local tax hikes for property owners, preventing excessive financial burdens.
- The coalition plans to implement a standard speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour on roads where feasible, facilitating smoother and faster travel for motorists.
The policies of the new coalition span various sectors, potentially affecting both international residents and businesses alike. Their stance on migration and asylum policies could have repercussions for international companies operating in the Netherlands. Tighter regulations might disrupt workforce availability and mobility, prompting businesses to reevaluate their recruitment strategies and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
The announcement of a new coalition accord has sparked a wave of criticism. Opposition parties, environmental groups, and labor unions voiced concerns about the potential dismantling of social safety nets, environmental rollbacks, and a harsher approach to immigration. GroenLinks-Pvda leader Frans Timmermans expressed fear of a “radical right-wing party” gaining dominance, while unions like CNV and FNV warned of cuts to public services and impacts on workers. Concerns extended beyond domestic issues. UNICEF highlighted potential harm to children and development cooperation, while UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, expressed “very serious concerns” about the asylum policy plans.
While the dominant narrative was negative, there were a few outliers. The Farmers Defense Force, an agricultural advocacy group, praised the coalition plans as a reward for their protests. Additionally, some politicians, like D66’s Hans Vijlbrief, said further analysis of the plans is needed before reaching definitive conclusions.
