Dutch municipalities plan 5.8% spending increase in 2026, social services see biggest rise
Dutch municipalities are budgeting €84.6 billion for 2026, a 5.8% increase from 2025. Citizens may notice higher local taxes as social services, including youth care and refugee support, see the largest spending boost. This reflects growing demands on public services.
| Key Data Point | Value (2026) |
|---|---|
| Total budgeted expenses | €84.6 billion |
| Increase in expenses | 5.8% (vs. 2025) |
| Largest expense increase | Social tasks (7.6%) |
| Social expenses share | 42.9% of total budget |
| Total budgeted revenues | €83.5 billion |
| Increase in revenues | 5.3% (vs. 2025) |
| Municipal levies revenue | €15.3 billion (+6.5%) |
| Municipal fund allocations | €47.0 billion (+5.1%) |
| Operating result (2024) | €2.0 billion surplus |
Municipalities in the Netherlands manage local services such as social support, youth care, and infrastructure. They rely on a mix of national funding, local taxes, and grants to balance their budgets and address community needs.
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Municipalities budget 5.8 percent more in expenses for 2026
Dutch municipalities have budgeted €84.6 billion in expenses for 2026. This is 5.8 percent more than in the budgets for 2025. This increase is smaller than in the three years prior. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) based on the 2026 municipal budgets. Usually, the budgeted revenues and expenses are lower than the actual revenues and expenses in the annual accounts. For revenues, this difference is usually larger than for expenses. In 2024, the most recent year for which CBS has annual accounts, Dutch municipalities together spent €80.9 billion, while revenues amounted to €82.9 billion.The operating result for designated purposes thus came to €2.0 billion. The operating result for designated purposes is the balance of total revenues and expenses, excluding additions to and withdrawals from equity. The operating result for designated purposes is also equal to the growth of equity.
Higher expenses across all policy areas, largest increase in social tasks
Budgeted expenses increase on all ten policy areas compared to the 2025 budget, particularly in the policy area Other Social Domain. This includes costs under the Social Support Act (WMO), youth care, social work, tackling domestic violence, and refugee reception. Budgeted expenses in this area rise from €20.5 billion to €22.1 billion, an increase of 7.6 percent.Expenses for income schemes and participation also increase, by 6.2 percent to €14.2 billion. Together, total budgeted social expenses amount to €36.3 billion, 42.9 percent of all budgeted expenses.
Revenues from municipal levies see largest increase
Municipalities budget a total of €83.5 billion in revenues for 2026, 5.3 percent more than in 2025. Municipal revenues consist of: municipal fund allocations, revenues from municipal levies, and other revenues. Other revenues include specific government grants, rents and leases, capital gains from the sale of shares, interest and dividend income, and transfers from other governments besides the national government.For 2026, municipalities budget €47.0 billion in revenues from the municipal fund, €15.3 billion in revenues from municipal levies, and €21.2 billion in other revenues. Budgeted revenues from levies increase the most (6.5 percent). Revenues from the municipal fund rise by 5.1 percent and other revenues by 5.0 percent.
Sources
Relevant links
- News article - Municipalities budget €15.3 billion in levy revenues
- News article - Municipal costs nearly 8 percent higher in 2024
- Dashboard - Government finances - Government Finances Dashboard