News item | 12-01-2026 | 12:00
The government is introducing a new voluntary termination scheme for livestock farmers who want to stop, for example because they have no business succession. Livestock farmers close to nitrogen-sensitive nature reserves receive a compensation of 110%. The new regulation must lead to nitrogen reduction, so that nature can recover and permits are gradually granted again. €750 million has previously been made available for this scheme. Today starts the internet consultation about this (still draft) scheme, and the content of the scheme will therefore be known.
Minister Femke Wiersma: “When livestock farmers decide that they want to stop, for example because they no longer have a business succession, a voluntary termination scheme can help. I think it is important that we as a government support livestock farmers in a good way, with a generous scheme but also with personal guidance during the process.”
The voluntary termination scheme for livestock farming locations (Vbr) is a generous subsidy scheme for the termination of livestock farming locations with dairy cattle, pigs, poultry, veal calves, other cattle, goats, meat ducks and rabbits. The scheme is similar to the existing voluntary termination schemes (the Lbv schemes). What is different is that applications for the Vbr will be assessed in two rounds. Livestock farming locations within a strip of 1,000 meters around overloaded Natura 2000 areas can claim the subsidy with priority. If there is still a budget left afterwards, livestock farming locations outside this strip can also claim the subsidy, but with different compensation.
By giving priority when granting subsidies to livestock farming locations close to overloaded nature reserves, the scheme makes a targeted contribution to reducing nitrogen deposition and further encouraging the granting of permits. Livestock farmers within the 1,000-meter strip are also offered higher compensation, given the urgency of the nitrogen problem. The government wants to generously support entrepreneurs who want to stop voluntarily, and has therefore opted for a percentage of 110% (within 1000 meters N2000) and 100% (outside 1000 meters N2000).
| For livestock farming locations located within a strip of 1000 meters around congested N2000, the following applies: | For livestock farmers located outside a strip of 1000 meters around congested N2000 areas, the following applies: |
|---|---|
Award based on order of application (first come, first served) | The subsidy is awarded according to nitrogen emissions (ranking of the number of euros of subsidy per kilogram of ammonia emission) |
Compensation of 110% for the loss of value of the stables (production capacity) | 100% compensation for the loss of value of the stables (production capacity) |
Compensation of 100% for the production rights that the livestock farmer must lapse | Compensation of 100% for the production rights that the livestock farmer must lapse |
| A contribution to the demolition costs of € 45 per m2 of stable area. |
The internet consultation about the scheme started today, and closes on Monday, February 9. Anyone can comment on the draft regulation through the consultation
To the European Commission for approval
The draft regulation will also be sent to the European Commission for pre-notification this week. The European Commission must determine whether the scheme concerns permitted state aid. During the pre-notification, the Commission is (informally) consulted about the aid proposal and questions or uncertainties about the Vbr can be discussed. The purpose of the pre-notification is to ensure that the formal notification can then proceed more quickly. Parallel to the pre-notification and the internet consultation, the regulation will also be sent to the Advisory Board on Regulatory Burden for advice.
Next steps
After the consultation period, the responses received will be reviewed and it will be assessed whether the scheme still needs to be adjusted. It is also possible that adjustments will be made to the scheme as a result of the pre-notification. The scheme that is being consulted today can therefore still be changed and is not yet final. The scheme will then be submitted to the European Commission for approval via the formal notification procedure.
After approval by the European Commission, the scheme will be published and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) will prepare the opening of the scheme. The government hopes that the scheme can be opened by mid-2026 (but this depends, among other things, on the duration of the (pre)notification).