News report | 04-12-2025 | 13:55
His Majesty the King will pay a working visit on Wednesday, December 10, together with the Minister of Finance, Eelco Heinen, to the Agency of the General Treasury of the Ministry of Finance in The Hague. The visit focuses on financing the Dutch national debt, managing public funds in the treasury, and organizing the payment transactions of the central government.
At the Agency, risk managers, IT specialists, lawyers, analysts, and economists work together daily to ensure a financially healthy Netherlands. They prepare financing policy for the minister. Additionally, the Agency represents the minister in concluding transactions on the financial markets. One of the tasks is to ensure that the Dutch treasury has enough money every day to pay the governments bills, such as salaries for healthcare workers, teachers, and scientists.
The raising of money takes place in the so-called dealing room. There, the King and minister meet with employees who execute transactions daily on the international money and capital markets, financing the national debt throughout the year. This happens in auctions where billions of euros can be raised in a few minutes. The King and minister also observe the transactions. The Netherlands holds the highest international rating, triple A, regarding creditworthiness. This allows borrowing money at favorable interest rates.
The King and minister first visit the back office where the administrative processing of transactions is done. Daily tax revenues and government expenditures are also tracked here. The balance must be positive at the end of the day. Because it is not exactly predictable when tax money will be received, the back office relies on forecasts so that colleagues in the dealing room know how much money needs to be borrowed. Another task is Treasury banking for public institutions. Participants such as ministries and other public organizations place surplus money in a current account at the Agency at a competitive interest rate. By concentrating this in one place, surplus public funds can be managed more efficiently. The King and minister receive explanations about the social role of the Agency and the complexity of managing the national debt and treasury.
The King regularly makes working visits with a minister or state secretary. Using concrete practical examples, the officials demonstrate the importance and challenges of a department.
RVD, no. 325
