Most people in the Netherlands will have a little more disposable income next year, according to the five parties currently putting the final touches to next year’s government spending plan.

Nos television reports that the parties are optimistic about the impact of their plans on spending power.

However, the government’s macro-economic policy unit CPB still has to calculate the impact of the measures on income, Nos points out.

‘There is light at the end of the tunnel,’ the VVD’s parliamentary party leader Halbe Zijlstra said. ‘Not everyone will have more to spend but the general picture is much more positive.’

Income tax cuts and an end to the civil service pay freeze have already been agreed. However, pensioners with a company pension may well not have more to spend as pension funds continue to lower their payouts.

The five parties – two coalition parties plus three from the opposition – are expected to finalise their plans on Wednesday. The budget will be presented to parliament on September 16.