The Netherlands’ influence at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is likely to be reduced in favour of developing economies, the Financieele Dagblad reported on Friday. Sources told the paper there is pressure to merge the Dutch IMF seat with that of Belgium.

‘There is growing pressure from other countries to combine the Dutch and Belgian seats,’ one IMF source told the paper. ‘The Dutch are standing firm, and that is leading to some resentment.’
The Dutch representative at the IMF, Age Bakker, told the paper he expects the Netherlands’ influence be reduced in favour of countries such as China, Brazil and India which are demanding a greater say over IMF issues.
‘It remains to be seen if that has consequences for the Dutch seat,’ said Bakker. ‘We are currently looking at a new division of representation at the IMF.’
The IMF board is made up of 24 directors who either present one large economy, such as the US and Japan, or a group of countries. As director of the Dutch group, Bakker represents countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia and Israel as well as the Netherlands.