Covid-19 and its aftermath
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, the state government introduced different forms of support. Part of this support was leniency towards the goals organisations were supposed to achieve around their activities. Soon after, as result of a successful lobby by the cultural sector, more special support was secured for the cultural sector, in addition to the general support funds for Dutch enterprises. Approximately €3.3 billion in general support and €2 billion in targeted national support reached the cultural and creative sector. These are substantial amounts, considering that the government’s total annual expenditure on culture is just over €1 billion (see table 6a). These funds helped to keep almost all subsidised cultural organizations from falling into financial distress. Commercial cultural organisations and self-employed cultural workers had more problems surviving the Covid-crisis.[1]
Discussion about the subsidy system
In 2023, State Secretary Gunay Uslu (2022-2023) requested the Council for Culture to critically review the existing subsidy system, since it was no longer deemed suitable.
One of the issues is the apparent concentration of BIS-subsidies in the Randstad (the western more urbanised part of the Netherlands). It is fair to say that the differences between the centre (Randstad) and the region in the Netherlands in terms of access to culture are relatively small compared to most other European countries. But the subject remains important in the policy debate. Other points of discussion included the assumed lack of access to the system of newer cultural expressions and the administrative burden and a lack of trust of the system.
The Council published its advice Access to culture – towards a new system in 2029 in January 2024. In its advice, the Council proposed a duty of care for culture on the part of the central, provincial and municipal governments and the creation of one big culture fund with an extended regional role. Additionally, the Council argued that the subsidy system should be accessible to a broader range of artists, cultural organisations and types of culture. The Council proposed a more open and varied funding methodology that can effectively respond to the diversity and dynamism within the sector, including funding for eight years for a limited number of large or unique cultural organisations within the national portfolio.
On October 3, 2025, the caretaker cabinet, at the proposal of Minister Gouke Moes, decided that national subsidies may be granted for a maximum of 8 years starting in 2029, instead of the current maximum of 4 years. A change in the law is required for this. After the elections in october 2025, the new government and the new parliament must decide what will be realised of this proposal.
Reform of the Public Broadcasting System
In his letter to Parliament of 4 april 2025, former Minister Eppo Bruins outlined reform plans for the national public broadcasting system. The key points include:
- Reducing the number of broadcasting organizations from thirteen to four or five as of 2029, to reduce administrative complexity.
- Abolition of the current membership requirement, as membership figures have steadily declined.
- External pluralism (through distinct, competing member organizations) will be replaced by a statutory obligation for the new broadcasting organizations to reflect societal diversity.
In October 2024, Minister Bruins outlined a reform plan for the Dutch local public broadcasters, aimed at strengthening their role as a local guardian of democracy. Many local broadcasters face financial fragility, with some in unsustainable positions according to the Dutch Media Authority (Dutch: Commissariaat voor de Media). The reforms aim for:
- Transferring the funding of local public broadcasters from the Municipal Fund to the national government.
- Increased professionalism through an additional annual investment of €18 million.
- Greater resilience through scaling up operations
- Improved coordination by assigning a coordinating role to the Dutch Local Public Broadcasting Foundation (NLPO).
Cultural labour market
The precarious labour position of those working in arts and culture continues to be a theme in the Dutch cultural policy. A study from the Social and Economic Council (SER) showed that the labour position of people in the cultural sector is concerning. This knowledge led to development of the ‘the Netherlands Labor Market Agenda’ by Kunsten ’92 (the association for cultural organisations) with recommendations for the Minister. Some important points are improving the position of freelance creative professions; improving the working conditions; and strengthening sector-wide cooperation to conduct a social dialogue, and the introduction of a ‘fair practice code’.
To further develop this Labour Market Agenda, Platform ACCT was established to to initiate and foster discussion about employment conditions and social issues in the cultural sector. In the period 2025-2028 this organisation will have a place within the Cultural Basic Infrastructure (BIS). As of that date, Fair Pay is mandatory for all BIS institutions; the Fair Practice Code is a code of conduct to stimulate this. During the 2025–2028 BIS period, an additional €38,2 million per year has been structurally allocated to help ensure fair remuneration within the State-subsidised cultural sector.
Social significance
The cultural sector has long expressed a desire to make its social significance more visible. This may concern the value an institution provides to its immediate community or its concrete contribution to broader societal challenges. Discussions with the sector have resulted in the inclusion of the criterion “social significance” in the BIS subsidy requirements (see also chapter 2.6 Social inclusion).
[1] For more details about the evaluation of the Corona-support in the Netherlands see: Evaluatie Coronasteun cultuursector. Een synthesestudie)
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