With five weeks to go until the general election on 29 October, political parties are reporting far lower levels of major donations than in previous campaigns, the Volkskrant said on Tuesday.

So far this year, parties together have raised around €2 million in donations, according to the public register – a modest sum compared with earlier campaigns. Only three donors have given the maximum amount.

In 2023, parties spent roughly €16 million on advertising for the election campaign, and brought in some €10 million in donations. New rules, introduced in 2023, are likely to have had an impact on donations this time round.

Since then, donations above €1,000 must now be made public, while gifts over €10,000 have to be reported to the home affairs ministry within three days.

Foreign donations are banned, and contributions are capped at €100,000. Nor is it possible to hide behind a foundation and individuals behind such donations must be disclosed.

Christian Democrat donor Koos Dirksen, an Amersfoort businessman who contributed €50,000 this year, told the Volkskrant he sees it as supporting a cause he believes in. “I have given the money in the trust that something good will be done with it, just like a good cause,” he said.

The right-wing VVD, however, has no major donations so far this year. In 2023 the VVD raised nearly €750,000 at a dinner hosted by property tycoon Cor van Zadelhoff, but this year’s event took place in April and no further fundraiser is planned before the vote, the Volkskrant said.

Political parties in the Netherlands receive funding from three sources – the state, membership contributions and donations.

The Dutch state provides subsidies to political parties based on the number of seats in parliament and membership numbers and its contribution is to pay for running the party apparatus.

Some parties, including the SP, also require elected officials to donate part of their salary to the party coffers.