Today is Prinsjesdag, the day the outgoing government presents its budget pending the appointment of a new cabinet. The day is as rich in traditions as it is in terminology. Here is a round-up of the main jargon.

Prinsjesdag
Always on the third Tuesday of September – this is the day the government presents its annual budget. The queen plays a prominent role, travelling to parliament in a golden coach where she delivers her troonrede, or speech from the throne, outlining the government’s vision for the coming year. Then it’s the finance minister’s moment of glory, as he explains how he is going to spend tax-payers’ money. The occasion is almost as famous for its hats as for its financial implications.
Troonrede
Written by the government, this is one of the monarch’s main ceremonial jobs, in which she tells the upper and lower houses of parliament what the government’s plans for the coming year will be. This year the speech will be thin on new policy initiatives because the government has caretaker status following the June general election.
Rijksbegroting
Rijksbegroting literally means state budget and sets out how much money each ministry has been allocated for the coming calendar year and what the spending priorities are. This is presented to parliament by the finance minister in the form of draft legislation.
Miljoenennota
A close cousin to the rijksbegroting is the miljoenennota which is the background story to the figures, outlining the economic and financial situation in the country.

MEV
The annual Macro Economische Verkenning (MEV) or macro-economic outlook is published by the government’s economic policy advisory group CPB on budget day. It contains all the forecasts which ministers have used to work out their spending plans and calculates what the effect of those policies is likely to be. Most years, at least some of the figures are leaked to the press.
Algemene Beschouwing
On the Wednesday and Thursday after the formal presentation of the budget or rijksbegroting, party leaders debate the main socio-economic points with the prime minister and finance minister in the Algemene Politieke Beschouwing. This year that debate has been cancelled because the cabinet is acting in a caretaker status.
In the following weeks, each ministry’s spending plans will come under the spotlight. The budget, and any amendments, will not be voted on until the end of the year – so anything could happen in 2010, given the political situation.