Budget Day 2025: The Skhov Government Presents a Modest Plan Amid Political Turmoil
Today marks Budget Day (Prinsjesdag) in the Netherlands, which is the third Tuesday of September, when the government traditionally presents its budget for the coming year. This day follows established traditions such as the royal procession through The Hague in the glass carriage, the king's speech from the throne, and the appearance of the royal family on the balcony. However, this year, with the weakened first Rutte government after several collapses, the budget proposal is not expected to bring any major surprises.
The government of Schof witnessed its first budget day last year just two months after taking office. Since then, the ruling coalition has collapsed. The PVV party withdrew in June, followed by the NSC party in August — marking the first withdrawal in Dutch history from an already collapsed government. Only the VVD and BBB parties remain, holding together only 32 seats out of 150 in parliament, making it nearly impossible to gain majority support for any controversial policies.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof described the budget as "poor in terms of policies," with no radical changes or unexpected steps. However, he emphasized that it remains an important responsibility. The leaked figures ahead of Prinsjesdag confirm some minor adjustments: the purchasing power of Dutch households is set to rise by 1.3 percent, supported by a slight increase in the earned income tax exemption. The government will also extend the fuel tax exemption for an additional year, invest nearly 500 million euros in the technology sector, and temporarily suspend the national tax on carbon emissions in industry.
Although interim governments often set budgets, what distinguishes this year's Prinsjesdag is its proximity to the upcoming elections scheduled for October 29. Analysts expect that discussions on public political considerations — the two-day parliamentary debate on the budget — will turn into an electoral battleground, as each party seeks to promote its electoral program.
The festive program began at 11:30 AM with the arrival of parliamentarians at the Koninklijke Schouwburg theater, where the tradition of the "Hat Parade" was showcased with politicians wearing elegant hats despite the stormy weather. At 1:00 PM, the royal family left Noordeinde Palace in the glass carriage and arrived at the theater to attend the King's speech at 1:30 PM. King Willem-Alexander delivered the throne speech, joined by Queen Máxima, Crown Princess Amalia, Princess Alexia, Princess Ariane, Prince Constantijn, and Princess Laurentien.
After the speech, the royal family returned to Noordeinde Palace for the traditional scene on the balcony at 2:00 PM, where its members waved to the crowds. The day of Prinsjesdag concludes at 3:30 PM, when the interim Minister of Finance officially presents the national budget bag to the Tweede Kamer, the Dutch House of Representatives.