The revenues of municipalities amounted to 82.9 billion euros. The operating balance for destination was 2.0 billion euros, compared to 1.6 billion euros in 2023.
Municipalities spend by far the most on social tasks. The largest cost item is Other social domain, including the highest expenditures on youth care, the Social Support Act (Wmo), and refugee reception. These expenditures also increased the most (+2.3 billion euros).
The second largest expenditure item with social tasks is Income schemes and participation, including social assistance, debt counseling, and social workplaces. Expenditures here decreased slightly due to the abolition of the energy allowance in 2024.
Costs in the policy area of housing, spatial planning, and urban renewal amounted to over 5.8 billion euros. This is nearly 20 percent more than a year earlier. Especially the costs of land development increased sharply. The four major cities recorded over 1.1 billion euros in costs in this category, compared to nearly 0.6 billion euros in 2023. This mainly concerns land developments in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
In 2024, total revenues of municipalities amounted to 82.9 billion euros, compared to 76.7 billion euros a year earlier. Municipal revenues consist of income from the municipal fund, levy revenues, and other income. The main municipal levies are property tax, sewer charges, waste disposal charges, and parking fees.
Income from the municipal fund increased by 2.8 billion euros to 44.1 billion euros. In addition to compensation for wage and price increases, municipalities also received more money to compensate for rising youth care costs. This was offset by the disappearance of the energy allowance budget from the municipal fund.
Levy revenues increased by 1.0 billion euros to 13.8 billion euros. Revenues from almost all levies were higher than in 2023. Notably, income from passports, driving licenses, and marriage fees (secretarial fees, +163 million euros) increased. Municipalities issued more passports and identity cards than in previous years due to the validity period being extended from five to ten years in 2014. However, municipalities must pay part of this income to the national government.
Income from building permits decreased from 747 million euros to 711 million euros. This decrease is related to the introduction of the Environment and Planning Act as of January 1, 2024. According to various municipalities, relatively many building permits were applied for in 2023.
Other income amounted to 25.0 billion euros, compared to 22.6 billion euros in 2023. The increase is partly due to municipalities receiving more money from the national government for social assistance and policies related to climate and energy transition. Additionally, interest income, rental and lease income, and income from land sales were higher than in 2023. Finally, several municipalities in the southwest of the Netherlands received a super dividend from an energy company.
Due to the positive operating result, the equity of municipalities increased. Equity is the difference between the book value of municipal assets and liabilities. At the end of 2024, the total equity of all municipalities amounted to 43.3 billion euros, compared to 41.3 billion euros a year earlier. The value of non-financial assets increased by 4.5 billion euros, mainly due to investments in infrastructure and commercial buildings. The value of financial assets also increased, but this was offset by a larger increase in liabilities.
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