BZK builds democracy, Groningen, Kingdom, and digitization in 2026

In 2026, strengthening the democratic rule of law and restoring citizens trust in politics is paramount. BZK is working on good governance through increased collaboration between governments and strengthening national security against increasing threats. An open government that actively shares information is essential. The cabinet aims to renew and strengthen democracy and will address disproportionate hardships in policy, legislation, and implementation. At the same time, efforts will be made to protect against misinformation and covert influence, and to better protect politicians and civil servants against threats.

The cabinet and the VNG have reached joint agreements on compensating the incidental shortages in youth care for 2023 and 2024. Municipalities will receive 728 million euros from the national government, in accordance with the advice of the Van Ark committee. This compensation can be used for the transformation of youth assistance.

The cabinet is making a one-time €60 million available to municipalities for organizing the early parliamentary elections on October 29. The cabinet made this decision after consultations with the VNG. This one-time compensation is in addition to the compensation that municipalities receive annually through the Municipal Fund for carrying out their legal duties in organizing elections.

The recovery of damage and strengthening of homes in Groningen and Drenthe remains the highest priority, at all costs and for as long as necessary. The Groningen Act, which will soon be submitted to the House, establishes the agreements made about settling the historic debt caused by the consequences of earthquakes in the gas extraction area. With this law, the cabinet commits to a generational-long involvement in sustainability and providing social and economic perspective to the area. In 2026, over €2.5 billion will be available for a safe Groningen with future prospects, including over €60 million for the Social Agenda, the first measures of which started last summer. This agenda focuses on supporting youth, combating poverty, additional activities in schools (such as culture and music), and accessible help for mental health issues. Additionally, in 2026, €50 million will be available for economic investments and €60 million for a potential AI factory. Since September 2, homeowners can apply for a subsidy to insulate their homes in Groningen and North Drenthe. With a total budget of €1.65 billion for the next ten years, an important step in significantly making the housing stock in the region more sustainable is being addressed.

In cooperation with the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, good governance, a strong rule of law, healthy public finances, and economic resilience are central. From this perspective, work is being done towards a shared future, taking into account the local circumstances of all six islands. To support the island governments of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, the implementation capacity is being strengthened with over €4 million. In addition to the €30 million from 2025, investments are being made in the port of Saba (€10 million) and the roads in Bonaire (€16 million from 2025 to 2028). The rule of law in Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten is also being strengthened (€68 million), and socio-economic reforms are being supported through the Land Packages (€27.6 million). To stimulate the economy, the MKB credit guarantee scheme is being opened up for the islands. The Netherlands continues to financially support Sint Maarten in the reconstruction after Hurricane Irma, using the trust fund at the World Bank and technical assistance. Until 2028, €24 million is available for a revolving fund that supports projects contributing to food security on all six islands. Additionally, in 2026, €23 million will be invested in social initiatives and action agendas as a follow-up to the apologies for the slavery past.

To tackle major societal challenges, BZK is focusing on accelerating digitization. Together with other governments and public service providers, the Dutch Digitalization Strategy (NDS) has been developed, which was adopted by the cabinet in July and will be elaborated in concrete actions and an investment agenda in the coming year. The priorities are realizing a sovereign government cloud, better data sharing, and responsible use of artificial intelligence. Additionally, efforts are being made to improve digital skills and modernize digital government services for citizens and businesses. To ensure safety and digital autonomy, strengthening digital resilience and reducing dependence on a limited number of tech companies has been included as a priority in the NDS. Policy initiatives are also being developed to safeguard online childrens rights and combat online discrimination.