DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

24 July 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Finance minister prepared to ditch tax hike on culture and sport

November 14, 2024
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Plans to increase value-added tax on theatres, museums, books and sports clubs from 2026 are set to be scrapped because the upper house of parliament had threatened to torpedo them.

Opposition parties had told finance minister Eelco Heinen to come up with an alternative plan to raising value-added tax on culture, sports, books and newspapers from 9% to 21%, saying otherwise they may vote against it in the senate.

While the right-wing coalition has majority support in the lower house of parliament, it is well short of a majority in the upper house. And opposition to the tax hike could threaten the government’s entire tax planning for 2025.

Heinen told MPs during Thursday’s debate that he is prepared to look for an alternative to bring in €1.1 billion for the treasury if parliament is prepared to work with him.

“The cabinet is open to alternatives, if financially covered, and that is what I have always said,” he told parliament.

The plan to raise BTW would have brought in an estimated €2.3 billion and was aimed at closing budget gaps. The right-wing cabinet had described the move as unfortunate but essential.

On Tuesday a motion calling for an alternative by the Christian Democrats was supported by both the other Christian parties, D66 and the GroenLinks-PvdA coalition, as well as the far-right one-man party JA21.

The tax hike will remain in the government’s tax plan pending an alternative, with a vote scheduled to coincide with the finance minister’s spring statement. Should no suitable alternative be found, then the BTW increase will go ahead, Heinen said.

The BTW hike for hotels and other lodgings is not affected by the U-turn.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Art and culture Tax
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
ICJ: States legally obliged to tackle climate change
George Kooymans, co-founder of Golden Earring, dies aged 77
Court upholds Limburg lily-growing ban over health fears
Visa scam complaints soar as UK ETA rules are used by fraudsters
Dutch have longest working lives in EU despite part-time culture
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now