Speech from the Throne 2026

Members of the States General,

Today, 15 September, is the United Nations International Day of Democracy. That puts an extra gloss on this year’s State Opening of Parliament. At the same time, it reminds us that democracy needs constant protection and maintenance. Democracy is not some simple calculation. It is a state of mind, which needs to be alive in all of us. Everyone who does something for another person – as a volunteer, an unpaid carer or in some other capacity – serves the public interest and makes the Netherlands stronger. Fortunately, this Dutch tradition of community spirit endures, as an antidote to polarisation. That is why it’s so important that we don’t reduce the concept of democracy to the will of half the people plus one. Democracy should unite people, not play them off against each other.

One of the main questions in this regard is whether people still trust in government and politicians to really solve their problems. Parliament and government have a shared duty to ensure that the answer to that question is more often ‘yes’. That means not getting distracted by day-to-day controversies, but focusing on what people need, and what the future demands of us. Parliamentary democracy belongs to everyone, is for everyone and must serve everyone.

With that in mind, the government, in formulating the 2027 budget, aims to lay the foundation for broad-based cooperation. Hopefully, parties that are not part of the coalition government will also see their own points addressed. Of course, this does not mean that all political differences have magically been swept away. The debate will go on. But our goal is to tackle problems together as much as possible. Problems that in some cases have waited far too long for a solution. Take the obvious issues, like nitrogen emissions, housing and migration. Take the future of our social security system and the need for major investment in our economy and security. Or, following this year’s incredibly dry summer, take the need to adapt to a changing climate. In terms of our energy supply, for example, our industry and our water management. The future won’t wait for those who don’t keep up.

One issue that has kept our country in a stranglehold for years is nitrogen emissions. It is high time we broke the impasse. For the granting of permits, which urgently needs to get back under way to create scope for housing, business and roads. For nature restoration, better water quality and a reliable water supply. And, not least, for Dutch farmers, who deserve clarity and prospects for the future. In late June the government presented a broad package of solutions to dramatically reduce nitrogen emissions. As of this autumn, you will start receiving the corresponding proposals. Everyone will have to play their part: industry, the traffic and transport sector, and the livestock sector alike. But the immediate pain and uncertainty will understandably be felt most keenly in farming families near vulnerable nature areas. That is why the government is setting aside a large amount of money to support them. As the government develops and improves these plans further it will continue listening to all views, and weighing all interests with care, working in close consultation with the farmers themselves and the provincial authorities. But cancelling or delaying plans yet again would be irresponsible. Nature restoration provides scope for a mathematical threshold level – a nitrogen emissions norm – which allows the Netherlands to move forward again, including the agricultural sector. That is where we are setting our sights.

Another issue that is closely related to this and also requires a breakthrough is housing. The National Spatial Strategy sets out long-term plans for addressing this problem. But the need for housing is acute. Far too many people are asking themselves how they, or their children, are supposed to find an affordable, decent home to buy or rent. The best response to that question is: build as much new housing as possible as quickly as possible for all sections of society. For buyers and renters, for young and old, and also for people who need extra support and attention in order to live independently. This is not a promise that homes will be available for everyone overnight. But the government is doing everything possible to develop a pragmatic approach in order to reduce the number of home-seekers. This pragmatic approach is illustrated by the recent designation of five new large-scale housing construction locations. It means building in places where no investment in infrastructure is needed, and where solutions can be found to accommodate activities that cause nitrogen pollution and meet demand for grid connections and drinking water supplies. It also means making use of existing rules to facilitate the granting of permits. It requires far more industrial construction using prefab components. And above all, it requires close cooperation and coordination. Not only with municipalities and commercial stakeholders such as construction firms and property developers, but also within central government. Different spatial plans must not undermine each other. This autumn you will receive the government’s action plan on accelerating housing construction, which elaborates this approach into 50 concrete measures, most of which can be achieved quickly.

Where asylum policy is concerned, the goals are clear: reducing the number of new arrivals, getting asylum reception in order, and pursuing a strict policy of return in the case of asylum seekers whose applications have been denied, those with no prospect of obtaining a residence permit and those who engage in anti-social behaviour. Our society has to be able to cope. In the Netherlands there must always be room for people who are fleeing war, violence and oppression. And with language classes and assistance finding work, they will be able to stand on their own two feet as quickly as possible and contribute to society.

Before the summer, the government implemented a number of major changes to ensure that strict limits can be placed on the number of people entering and staying in our country. It is understandable that people want to see the effects of these measures overnight, in the form of declining numbers. The reality is that this is a gradual process. In the meantime, unfortunately, polarisation surrounding the reception of asylum seekers is taking increasingly extreme forms, as we saw recently in Loosdrecht and Engelen. This is alarming. The quieter voices of people who have genuine concerns about their own communities, or about the fate of others, are being drowned out. It should be absolutely obvious that threats and violence are unacceptable. At the same time, we must work to gradually get migration more under control, so that the tensions surrounding this issue can be calmed as much as possible. Stricter controls on Europe’s external borders and ongoing initiatives for cooperation with safe countries outside Europe can substantially reduce the influx of asylum seekers. For those awaiting a decision on their application, decent accommodation must be provided. Amid all the public debate that understandably can arise at local level, the government would urgently appeal to municipalities to show solidarity with Ter Apel and all the other locations that have already been overburdened for far too long. By its nature, getting migration under control is an issue that demands a united approach.

On these and other topics, the government wants to break the impasse and take decisive action, so that the Netherlands can start moving forward again. But the 2027 budget comes with a frank message: not everything can be achieved at once. Not everything can be solved overnight. There are also clear financial constraints, as we must not saddle our children and grandchildren with an irresponsibly high national debt. A good life for people now cannot come at the expense of a good life for people in the future. That is why the government will continue to pursue a fiscal policy that avoids passing the bill on to future generations.

This immediately raises the question: what is needed now to ensure a proper standard of public services in the future? After all, every system requires maintenance from time to time. With healthcare, for example, this means prevention must be a much higher priority. More focus on health will lay the basis for a system in which care needs do not always immediately require a medical solution. It is also important that we pay attention to affordability, and that we combat healthcare fraud. This is the only way to preserve our current high level of quality and accessibility. Children and young people must receive special attention, and not only with a view to striving towards the healthiest generation in history. One big challenge is to ensure, together with the municipalities, that good youth care remains available for everyone who needs it.

The employee insurance system also requires maintenance, to ensure that people can continue participating in society. If someone falls ill, or becomes unemployed, they shouldn’t find themselves trapped in the benefit system. That is important not only for people themselves, but also for the continued viability of the system and for our future prosperity. The Netherlands needs all its citizens. The government hopes to reach a broadly supported social accord with the trade unions and employers’ associations as soon as possible, offering certainty both for employees and for the economy of the future.

Reforms such as these will make sure that the Netherlands remains a prosperous country in which people can make plans for the future with confidence. A primary requirement for this is security, especially with the world around us growing less stable and less predictable. It is easy to feel powerless in the face of the violence in Ukraine and the situation in Gaza, in Iran and other areas of conflict. It is entirely logical for people to wonder: what kind of world are my children and grandchildren growing up in? Many parents and grandparents will recognise this feeling. The government sees this as an extra incentive to keep working with partners, as a member of the global community, to defend democratic values, promote lasting peace and foster a strong international legal order. When major powers opt mainly to pursue their own interests, the Netherlands must collaborate even more with new and existing partners. By increasing our independence – in areas like energy supplies and raw materials – we can build towards a position of strength.

A secure future requires heavy investment. The Netherlands needs to be resilient, and ready to defend freedom, democracy and the rule of law. As a first step, we need to make up lost ground in terms of our military capabilities. For too long, the Dutch and European armed forces suffered financial neglect. But the tide has turned. The 2027 budget once again features a large increase in defence funding. The Netherlands will work more closely with international allies to ensure we are better armed, and to boost our combat power. With an aggressive Russia on Europe’s eastern border, ongoing support for Ukraine remains a direct investment in our own security. Our integration with strong international organisations like the European Union and NATO is crucial in this regard. Because the same applies to our international situation as to our domestic situation: together, we are stronger. The Netherlands will play its part in this regard. The men and women of our armed forces who stand ready to defend what we hold dear, and the veterans who did so in the past, deserve our special gratitude.

And of course, the same goes for the police and all those other professionals who work every day to safeguard our security at national level. Security at home is becoming increasingly intertwined with events abroad, and the Netherlands must not be naive about that. Cyber threats and hacks from Russia and other countries, and from international criminal organisations, are already a common occurrence. And this requires a firm response. The government will therefore present proposals that will allow the intelligence services to protect people and businesses more effectively against cyberattacks, disinformation and terrorism. Combating organised crime that undermines our society has the highest priority. The shocking images and reports of events in Overasselt are still fresh in everyone’s memory. A key focus in this regard is ensuring that young people don’t get lured into criminality. That is a task not only for the justice system, but also, for example, for our youth care and debt counselling systems.

A second key requirement for the future, in addition to security, is a strong and modern economy. Following the COVID years and the energy crisis of 2022, the Dutch economy has proved more resilient than those of countries around us. It is also good to see that the forecasts for the year ahead are moderately favourable, despite all the international uncertainty. The government will take targeted measures to support the purchasing power of households and families with children, notably by means of the Emergency Energy Fund and the various child benefit schemes.

Then there is the question of how Dutch people will earn their living in 10 or 20 years’ time. This issue of our future prosperity is a very pressing one. Without major, targeted investment, the Netherlands risks falling behind, especially in the technology sector. The lightning-speed advances we are seeing in digitalisation and AI must of course be managed carefully and safely. But the opportunities are enormous. Together with businesses, knowledge institutions and others, the government will work to foster an economy in which each new innovation unlocks another, and in which startups and established companies reinforce each other. This will require more financing options and scope for experimentation. That is the thinking behind the government’s plans for a national investment institution and a special organisation aimed at transformative technological breakthroughs. After all, today’s brilliant idea by a lone entrepreneur could be tomorrow’s ASML and so the start of a whole new leading-edge sector. In Europe, too, the Netherlands is pressing hard for a shift from money for the old economy to more money for innovation and new tech. A key requirement for economic growth is good infrastructure. More maintenance is needed on aging roads, bridges and railways. In the coming period more money will be made available to do this. At the same time, the budget remains limited. Reprioritising projects and making difficult choices will be unavoidable, if we are to ensure the basics are in order.

Tomorrow’s economy cannot be anything but clean and sustainable. The summer of 2026 has underlined the urgent need for ambitious national and international climate policy. This will bring multiple benefits. In an unstable world, the importance of energy independence is growing ever greater. Consumer and industrial demand for dependable and affordable energy is growing too. In practical terms, this means, for example, that continuing to incentivise home insulation will pay dividends. But it also means that future prosperity is inconceivable without cleaner industry and less fossil energy. Certainly in the long term, clinging to the fossil fuel economy is not a smart economic choice. The government will therefore continue working urgently to increase nuclear power and offshore wind energy, hydrogen facilities and carbon storage capacity. As we make this transition, it is crucial that the Netherlands deals with peaks and troughs in the energy supply in a smarter way, and that sufficient power-grid capacity is available. Expanding the grid is high on our agenda.

Equally essential is a labour market that is well aligned with the strong economy we want. The government is developing new legislation – the Self-employed Persons Act – to give people the freedom they need to do business, while also combating false self-employment. The new Act should provide reassurance and certainty, to prevent self-employed persons missing out on work because clients are afraid of fines being imposed at a later time. Tomorrow’s labour market also requires us to attract, train and retain top talent in crucial sectors such as AI, digitalisation, energy and biotechnology. That talent can be found everywhere: from institutions of secondary vocational education and higher professional education to universities. To this end, in the summer the government presented its Talent Strategy. This will be developed further in the coming period, in consultation with educational institutions, businesses, students and other stakeholders. Naturally, there must be space in a modern labour market for talented students and scarce knowledge workers from abroad. But we will combat the exploitation of labour migrants.

Lastly, it is important for the government itself to work differently and more effectively. In short, we need to temper the urge to regulate and control, give people and businesses more room to manoeuvre, and ensure that government helps rather than hinders. The government realises that this aim is not new. But this time, the approach must deliver clear results. The first step is to exercise more restraint when making new rules. That means no longer piling on exception after exception. Otherwise we are fighting a losing battle. The second step is reducing the number of rules. Every year, starting this autumn, the government will submit a Simplification Act to abolish superfluous rules and laws. The goal is to eliminate or simplify at least 500 rules every year. In addition, the government is working to remove the barriers between policymaking and implementation. It must be easier for government organisations to share information with each other, so that people and businesses receive better help more quickly and are not sent from pillar to post. For all government service providers the motto should be: fast, digital services where possible, and in-person services where necessary. This will help foster better, smaller and less costly central government.

Of course, there is more to government than the ministries and bodies based in The Hague. Good working relationships with fellow public authorities – the provinces, municipalities and water authorities – are crucial. The government is only too aware of this. All public authorities will work to develop a cooperation agenda, which can also help make government more effective and recognisable. 

Last, but not least, the government is joining hands with the countries of Curaçao, St Maarten and Aruba, and with the Caribbean Netherlands. In November we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the First Salute, fired from St Eustatius, with which the Netherlands became the first country in the world to recognise the United States. This anniversary underscores the historical ties between the different parts of our Kingdom, and with the rest of the world. This autumn, a Kingdom-wide summit will be held to discuss progress and opportunities in every area of cooperation. From the economy and socioeconomic security to climate adaptation and waste processing. From now on, this summit will be an annual tradition, helping us to fulfil our key guiding principle: Nos ta un Reino – We are one Kingdom.

Members of the States-General,

According to a well-known definition, democracy is the need to yield occasionally to the opinions of others. That is an idea worth holding on to, well beyond today’s State Opening of Parliament and International Day of Democracy. Because the spirit of reasonableness and compromise implied in that remark will solve more problems for people than the constant controversies that sometimes seem to be gaining the upper hand. The Netherlands enjoys an age-old tradition of cooperation, which once began with a shared recognition of the importance of good water management. It is in that same tradition that the government seeks to work with you to create a better Netherlands. In discharging your duties, you may feel supported in the knowledge that many are wishing you wisdom and join me in praying for strength and God’s blessing upon you.