On Friday afternoon, April 18, 2025, Minister Heinen sent the Spring Memorandum 2025 to the House of Representatives, revealing significant budget cuts across various sectors, sparking outrage among health and education advocates.
Among the most alarming announcements was the confirmation that the previously announced structural cut of 300 million euros to the pandemic preparedness of the Netherlands remains uncorrected. This has left GGD GHOR Nederland, the national organization for public health and emergency preparedness, dismayed. Minister Agema had previously promised to seek a solution, but as of now, no corrective measures have been taken.
André Rouvoet, chairman of GGD GHOR Nederland, expressed his concerns, stating, “When the minister does not find a solution, the Netherlands will not be prepared for serious health threats in the event of a new pandemic.” He emphasized that the science is clear: another pandemic is inevitable. With these cuts, the cabinet is taking conscious risks with the health and safety of all Dutch citizens, a move he described as "irresponsible and incomprehensible" in the wake of the recent pandemic that exposed the country’s vulnerabilities.
Rouvoet further elaborated on the implications of these budget cuts, highlighting the dire state of outdated ICT systems, shortages of medical professionals in infectious disease control, and an inadequate crisis organization. He warned that essential structural improvements initiated during the pandemic will be dismantled without the necessary funding. “This cut is a mistake and should have been corrected. I assume that the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport will resolve this within her budget. Doing nothing is simply not an option when you take the health of people in the Netherlands seriously,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, the education sector is also facing severe budget cuts, with the Spring Memorandum indicating further financial reductions that will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable students. Thijs Roovers, chairman of the AOb (the Dutch teachers’ union), criticized the government for imposing additional cuts with “icy precision.” He stated, “We knew a blow was coming, but not one this hard. The cabinet is laying extra cuts on the most vulnerable students and higher education.”
These cuts amount to an additional half a billion euros on top of the previously announced 1.1 billion euros, intensifying the financial strain on educational institutions. Roovers lamented, “Thousands of students and education staff have already taken to the streets; in fourteen cities, university and college employees have gone on strike. Minister Bruins ignored this cry for help.”
He further condemned the government’s actions, stating that Minister Bruins is ignoring the students whose courses are disappearing, the staff being laid off, and the ongoing teacher shortage that is increasing the workload on remaining educators. “This is incomprehensible and irresponsible,” Roovers declared. “This cabinet does not want to strengthen or restore anything; instead, it is breaking the future of our children.”
The AOb expressed shock at the targeted nature of these cuts, particularly the abolition of the education opportunities scheme, which is designed to support students from challenging home situations. Roovers emphasized that this funding is crucial for schools burdened with the challenging task of addressing educational disparities. “You are cutting from the people who work hard every day to eliminate backlogs. This is no mistake—this is policy. Deliberately, ideologically,” he asserted.
Additionally, higher education is facing structural cuts amounting to 58.8 million euros in funding, alongside 21.5 million euros for senior secondary vocational education (mbo). Roovers remarked, “One thing is clear: the entire education sector stands united against this demolition. We will not allow ourselves to be pitted against each other, and we cannot let this happen. We must stand up for our education.”
In a broader context, Oxfam Novib responded critically to the Spring Memorandum, particularly regarding cuts to development cooperation. Under pressure from the Senate, the cabinet has only partially restored the link between economic growth and the budget for development cooperation. This link will be reintroduced in 2026, but the international commitment of 0.7% of gross national income has been completely abandoned, leaving a structural cut of 2.4 billion euros per year intact.
Oxfam Novib has voiced strong concerns about the implications of these cuts, stating they will harm the world's poorest. The cabinet has not allocated any extra budget for climate measures, jeopardizing the Netherlands' ability to meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals. Michiel Servaes, general director of Oxfam Novib, criticized the cabinet's actions, stating, “The cabinet is disrespecting the Senate by only partially restoring the link between our economy and the budget. This government is breaking with a long Dutch tradition of solidarity with the most vulnerable.”
Servaes further highlighted the cuts to emergency aid, with nearly 300 million euros being slashed over the next four years. He expressed dismay at the cabinet's failure to allocate additional funds for climate goals, stating, “This is very bad news for countries that are already hardest hit by the climate crisis and have contributed the least.”
As the cost of living continues to rise, with food and housing prices soaring, the cabinet is simultaneously distributing 1.5 billion euros in tax benefits to the wealthiest. Oxfam Novib is calling on the political sphere to advocate for a fair and functioning tax system that benefits everyone, not just the super-rich and large corporations.
In summary, the Spring Memorandum has unveiled a troubling landscape of budget cuts that threaten public health, education, and international solidarity, prompting widespread concern from various sectors. Advocates are urging the government to reconsider these cuts and prioritize the health and education of all citizens, as well as their responsibilities on the global stage.
