News item | 16-09-2025 | 11:37 AM
On Prinsjesdag, the government is taking various measures that work out well for companies and entrepreneurs. Consider the extension of the lower fuel excise duty. The competitive position of the industry improves by a lower CO2-tax and a scheme that compensates for up to and including 2028 high electricity costs (€ 150 million). We also invest extra in innovation and our earning capacity of the future. With the highest budget ever in the WBSO scheme (€ 1.8 billion), € 230 million for Dutch participation in innovative semiconductor projects and € 200 million financing so that promising startups can grow to scale-ups.
That is desperately needed, because the economic growth figures for the Netherlands are worrying. The Central Planning Bureau (CPB) expects economic growth to be 1.4% in 2026 (2025: 1.6%). That may sound positive, but the Netherlands needs higher economic growth to continue to pay everything – from education to safety. Moreover, the Netherlands already has a longer period of moderate growth and the CPB predicts that this growth will continue to decrease in the somewhat longer term.
Minister Karremans (Economic Affairs): “Good care and a social safety net for those who need it are enormously important. We also see that the increasing expenses of this are swallowing our economic growth. It is precisely to keep these facilities strong and affordable in the future that we have to keep room to invest in our economy. That is only possible if we need a powerful and entrepreneurial life.”
At least as important is that companies can count on a stable government policy. Certainly when it comes to rest around tax arrangements and not always putting the bill with the business community. Entrepreneurs can therefore continue to use important schemes to do business in the Netherlands. Such as the SME profit exemption, the interest deduction within the corporation tax and the expat scheme.
SMEs gives the Dutch business climate a tight enough, so we are not yet there with only stability. That is why the government will focus extra on reducing regulatory pressure by deleting, adjusting or clarifying rules. In the context of this approach, the government has decided to register the trip registration (Reporting obligation for work -related persons mobility) for the entire SME (
Minister Karremans: “Entrepreneurs have too little faith in politics. This requires action, so that we do not frustrate companies but stimulate companies. That is why this budget is ‘entrepreneurial -friendly’ and we invest with it in our future earning capacity. But the fact that our business climate, in particular for the SME, is full of regulatory pressure. In that context, we cancel the first of the 500 lines that the cabinet wants to simplify or delete the Netherlands at the same time.
From 2026, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will contribute more than half a billion extra to innovation. Below are the three most important new investments.
Almost a quarter of a billion euros in the future of the semiconductor industry
In the coming years, new applications of semiconductors in the industry are gaining momentum. These developments go fast and have a major influence on our earning capacity. Thanks to innovation, the Netherlands still has a good international starting position. The government wants to retain that knowledge and competitiveness and also prevent undesirable dependencies in the field of technology and industry.
That is why the government is making € 230 million available for participation in the Netherlands in an IPCEI, one Important Project of Common European Interestin the field of Advanced Semiconductor Technologies (AST). ICPEIs are large -scale European collaborations of companies and knowledge institutions around innovative technology, a production chain or infrastructure that is seen as strategically important for the EU. Member States may give public financing – more than normal.
200 million euros for growth of startups
The growth of startups in Europe is far behind compared to, for example, the United States, partly due to a lack of available (courage) capital. That is why various countries have joined forces to bring financing together for this.
Extra budget is therefore available for Dutch startups that have the potential to grow to scale-up. The Ministry of Economic Affairs contributes € 200 million to the so -called European Tech Champions Initiative (Etci). With this financing, innovative Dutch companies can also take steps. In 2023, the government also invested 100 million euros in this.
Budget WBSO scheme is increasing
The subsidy for the The Promotion of Research and Development Work Act (WBSO subsidy) is a scheme for tax benefits for innovation. The budget for the WBSO rises to € 1.8 billion in 2026 (was € 1.6 billion). For example, companies have to pay less tax for their research and development (R&D) and they can innovate cheaper. This ensures more companies that do R&D in the Netherlands.