For information on broadcasting and audiovisual policy, see chapters 1 cultural policy system; chapter 2.5.3 media pluralism and chapter 4.2.6 audiovisual legislation.
Media funds
Dutch Journalism Fund (Stimuleringsfonds voor de Journalistiek) encourages the quality, diversity and independence of journalism by promoting the renewal of journalistic infrastructure in the Netherlands through funding programs, sharing knowledge, conducting research and hosting events. The Dutch Journalism Fund is an independent administrative body (ZBO) and receives an annual contribution from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
The Co-production Fund for Domestic Broadcasting Foundation (Co-productiefonds Binnenlandse Om CoBO ) is tasked with collecting and distributing funds that the national public broadcasters receive for the broadcasting of their programmes, as well as funds originating from other sources. The funds collected are used to co-finance audiovisual co-production projects of the national public broadcasters. In this way CoBO is an internal allocation mechanism of the NPO.
The Fonds Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten (BJP Fund) was established in 1990 by and for journalists. The fund supports journalists with grants and fellowships for talent development and for special, in-depth journalistic projects. The fund is part of the cultural basic infrastructure (BIS).)
Games
There is limited cultural policy for games in the Netherlands, with an emphasis on artistic, educational, and experimental games within the creative industries. However, there is (still) no comprehensive or structural policy that supports games as full-fledged cultural heritage in the same way as film or the performing arts.
Several Universities of Applied Sciences train game designers: HKU Utrecht, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Hogeschool Rotterdam and Breda Universiy of applies sciences.
Creative Industries Fund NL regularly supports game-related projects, particularly those with an artistic or social focus. In the past, a dedicated Game Fund (2008–2012) stimulated game development, especially at the intersection of art, culture, and innovation. While that fund was discontinued, the Film Fund has supported a number of game projects again since 2022 through the “Digital Culture” scheme.
See for more information: Culture Monitor – games
Film industry
A group of film organisations receive direct state funding via the national basic infrastructure (BIS). In 2025-2028 these included: 4 festivals, 1 supporting institution /film museum (see also chapter 1.1).
EYE Film Museum is part of the BIS as supporting institution for the film sector. In this role, Eye assists film professionals with a wide range of services and products. Programmers, researchers, filmmakers, and film restorers can turn to Eye for research, rentals, and expertise in the field of promotion. Eye established a Chair in Film Heritage and Digital Film Culture at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and collaborates with the UvA in professional education, (international) research projects, the annual Eye International Conference and public lectures. Eye offers educational programs for all levels of education. With the Network Film education knowledge is shared about film education and media literacy with professionals in education. For its museum function, Eye is supported on the basis of the Heritage Act.
The Netherlands Film Fund is the national cultural fund for the professional, independent film sector in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. It provides financial support for the development, production and distribution of film productions and film-related activities. The fund offers various support schemes for the production of feature films, documentaries, animation and shorts, and The Netherlands Film Production Incentive for cinema or television/VOD broadcast.
The Netherlands Film Commission, a division of the Netherlands Film Fund, “is the official liaison between the Dutch creative media industries and foreign producers and production companies.” (…) the general resource for all film related inquiries such as locations, permits and Dutch incentive production companies. The commissioner is matchmaker and can advise on financing possibilities of the Film Fund, including the cash rebate.”
The Dutch government has a special agreement with the film industry to promote the production of Dutch films (btw-convenant Film 2018). In exchange for a lower VAT rate on cinema tickets, Dutch film distributors and cinema operators will make more money available for the production of Dutch film through the Abraham Tuschinski Fonds (see also 4.1.4. tax laws)
A recent policy to counterbalance the dominance of the big commercial American streaming services is the Act on the Investment Obligation for Audiovisual Content, starting from 1 January 2024. (see chapter 4.2.6)
See for more information: Culture Monitor – audiovisual and Film Facts & Figures (Filmfund)
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