The Dutch government has agreed to purchase 70% of EPZ, operator of the Borssele nuclear power plant, from Zeeland province and municipalities for 115.7 million euros. This move aims to keep the plant operational beyond its current 2033 expiration date, supported by recent amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act. The state will also provide 119 million euros in capital to ensure stability, while German company RWE retains the remaining 30% ownership.
On November 16, King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Rob Jetten, and State Secretary Eric van der Burg will visit Sint Eustatius to commemorate the 250th anniversary of The First Salute. This event marks the first recognition of the United States by a foreign power in 1776. A celebration will be held at Fort Oranje on the evening of November 15 prior to the main commemoration.
The Dutch Second Chamber approved amendments to competition law, granting the Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) the power to review mergers below standard turnover thresholds. This
Starting November 1, 2026, importers will pay a €2 handling fee per product group for goods imported into the Netherlands from outside the European Union. This surcharge compensates customs for the extra costs of checking individual packages and aims to encourage bulk imports for more efficient safety controls. The measure addresses the surge in small parcels from online platforms, which became harder to monitor after the EU abolished the €150 duty exemption earlier this year. The fee allows for additional customs personnel and technology investments to enhance security within the internal market.
The Dutch First Chamber has approved a bill granting personal budget (pgb) care providers working less than four days a week legal access to unemployment and disability benefits, along with 104 weeks of sick pay. This legislation responds to a 2023 court ruling that deemed previous regulations unlawfully discriminatory against women. The Social Insurance Bank (SVB) will assist budget holders with employer duties, including premium payments and wage continuation during illness, while compensating them for additional costs. The law does not apply to those receiving pgb under the Health Insurance Act who have not yet arranged SVB payroll administration by December 31, 2026.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and Geldfit launched the 'Do Not Leave Money on the Table' campaign to help low-income workers access financial support they are entitled to but often miss. Minister Vijlbrief aims to reduce financial stress among nearly 600,000 workers living near or below the poverty line by directing them to tools like the potjes-check to identify available allowances and local regulations.
Minister Vijlbrief of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has proposed a bill requiring parties in collective labor agreement (cao) negotiations to be independent. The proposal, currently open for internet consultation from September 22 to October 19, aims to establish independence as a legal requirement rather than just an ILO convention principle. This change would allow judges to assess potential dependencies between employers and unions, ensuring fair negotiations. The law is expected to enter into force in 2028.
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has launched an internet consultation allowing public feedback until October 19, 2026, regarding military use of Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTHA). A new regulation will cap military aircraft movements at 350 per year and prohibit combat flights like those by F-35s, though other military operations for emergencies or training remain permitted. This separate regulation is necessary because changes to the Air Navigation Act exclude military co-use from the new airport decree. Responses will be consolidated after October 20, potentially leading to adjustments before the regulation takes effect alongside the new airport decree.
Minister Aartsen has submitted a bill to the Council of State to reform childcare financing, aiming for more affordable care for working parents. Starting in 2029, an income-independent subsidy will replace the current childcare allowance, paid directly to providers to eliminate complex reimbursement processes. The government plans to gradually increase subsidies through 2029, with annual costs reaching approximately €9 billion. This transition addresses personnel shortages by managing demand growth while reserving €240 million for municipal support between 2029 and 2038. The system classifies childcare as a service of general economic interest to comply with EU state aid rules, ensuring funds improve sector quality without imposing excessive administrative burdens on operators.
Starting October 1, 2026, individuals with outstanding debts will not be required to pay collection fees or increasing interest if the debt collection service provider is not registered. This enforcement of the final article of the Quality of Debt Collection Services Act (Wki), which entered into force on April 1, 2024, aims to protect debtors from unprofessional conduct by ensuring providers meet quality and reliability standards. Justice and Security State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen emphasized the importance of friendly treatment and checking registration status via the Justis register, while oversight is conducted by the Inspectorate of Justice and Security.
The total asylum influx for week 38, comprising first-time applications, repeat requests, resettlement, readmission, and family reunifications, amounted to approximately 710. This figure includes 500 first-time applications, 140 arriving family members (excluding 8EVRM cases), and 70 other requests. These rounded preliminary figures may vary slightly from the final data, which is published monthly on the IND website.
Five major Dutch pension funds are collaborating with Housing Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan to accelerate the construction of affordable mid-range rental housing through the Action Plan for Accelerating Housing Construction. The partnership aims to attract long-term investments, particularly from abroad, by improving regulatory conditions and streamlining permit processes. To meet the goal of building 160,000 mid-range homes by 2039, requiring an investment of roughly 60 billion euros, the state will engage institutional investors earlier in project development. This initiative seeks to provide stable returns for pension funds while addressing the needs of households earning too much for social housing but unable to purchase homes.
The government is introducing legislation to address overpricing in social housing by requiring tenants with higher incomes to pay increased rent, either 50 or 100 euros more per month depending on their earnings. Housing corporations will be mandated to implement these annual increases until the rent aligns with the property's quality rating, while a new wealth test during allocation aims to ensure homes go to those who truly need them. Minister Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan of Housing and Spatial Planning is developing the proposal, aiming to present it for consultation in early 2027.
The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate launched energietransitie.nl on September 21, 2026, as a central hub for information on the energy transition. The platform consolidates data on sustainable energy projects, replacing fragmented sources to help residents and businesses understand developments. It aims to reduce reliance on foreign fossil fuels by promoting wind, solar, nuclear, and hydrogen energy. The site was developed with partners including provinces and municipalities, offering tools for public input on government initiatives.
The Dutch cabinet has presented the Action Plan for Accelerating Housing Construction, featuring 50 measures to address the severe housing shortage. Minister Boekholt-O’Sullivan aims to halve the average eight-year design and permitting timeline by 2030 through digitalization and parallel processing. The plan includes ten new national large-scale housing locations, €7 billion in funding for affordable housing until 2035, and additional capacity for municipalities. It also addresses grid congestion and nitrogen issues while establishing a National Acceleration Table to resolve project bottlenecks directly with builders, developers, and local authorities.
The government is providing a package worth 12 million euros for urgent medical care for sick children from Gaza. This initiative aims to evacuate 250 seriously ill and injured children to Jordan for necessary medical assistance.
Approximately 4,500 affected parents have now finalized their supplementary damage claims, receiving compensation for losses resulting from the benefits scandal. The government cabinet is expected to take further action in the coming period regarding these settlements.
Frances Diepstraten is appointed as Director-General for Social Security and Integration at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. The Council of Ministers approved the proposal from Minister Heerma of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
Jörgen Tjon A Fong has been appointed as chairman of the Council for Culture, with approval from the Council of Ministers upon the proposal of Minister Letschert of Education, Culture and Science. The appointment takes effect on January 1, 2027.