News item | 03-10-2025 | 15:15
Together to the film, a show, or with your friends building a carnival car. Culture is present everywhere, binds us and expresses our identity. The government believes it is important that there are good cultural facilities throughout the Netherlands. To improve this, the system of cultural government subsidies must be easier, with fewer administrative burdens. An important first step is that these government subsidies can be provided for a maximum of 8 years from 2029, instead of the current maximum of 4 years. The government wants to amend the law on specific cultural policy for this. The Council of Ministers thus approved the proposal of Minister Moes of Education, Culture and Science.
Minister Moes: “Many cultural institutions have been indispensable for our country for decades. Yet in the current system they have to make a very time -consuming subsidy application every 4 years. I want more peace and security, and less hassle and administration. So that as much money as possible that we have for culture really goes to culture.
Longer subsidy periods
Many cultural institutions receive a subsidy from the municipality, province or government. The government currently funds 115 cultural institutions and 6 government culture funds, which in turn pay a subsidy to cultural organizations and spread initiatives throughout the country. OCW has that money on the budget, it concerns € 618 million annually in the period 2025-2028.
Both the House of Representatives and the Council for Culture have called on the government to use a longer subsidy period for the culture subsidies of the government from 2029. Various options have been explored, but in the end the government opts for a maximum period of 8 years. This not only fits best with the subsidy periods of municipalities and provinces, but also ensures more certainty. This allows cultural institutions to plan and invest longer, which is important for innovation and development. According to the Council of Culture, that period also makes it easier for private parties to invest in cultural organizations. Not for each party, a subsidy of 8 years, incidentally, fits the best, shorter installments than 8 years also remain possible.
Not only longer periods, but also better system
The process to change the law starts this fall, so that the change in the law is ready on time to be able to prepare the new subsidy period. In the coming years, it is not only necessary to change the law, but also to investigate whether application procedures can be simplified and to shape the subsidy schemes as optimally as possible. For example, it is being investigated how the money for culture is spread across the country. Culture is important for everyone, the government thinks it is important that everyone throughout the Netherlands has access to cultural facilities.