The measures taken in the budget are necessary to make sure 2011 is not a forgotten year, caretaker finance minister Jan Kees de Jager said on Tuesday at the presentation of the government’s new spending plans.

Even though the current cabinet is acting in a caretaker capacity, this is a budget for now and for later, De Jager said.
Over the past year the government has overspent because this was necessary to help the economy and citizens get through the crisis, he said. ‘But now is the time to turn off the tap and start taking measures to get the finances back under control’, he said.
Optimism
Even though there are signs of optimism – the Netherlands’ competitive position in the global economy is improving for example – ‘we are not there yet by a long way’, the minister said.
The measures – €3.2bn in cuts – will hurt, De Jager said in his speech. Spending power will go down slightly across the board and companies and families will feel the pinch.
De Jager is not only caretaker finance minister but also closely involved in the talks on forming a new government with the right-wing Liberals and anti-Islam PVV which plans to cut spending by €18bn.
For the main points of the budget, click here