A broad coalition of Dutch societal organizations and institutions has issued a joint appeal to the government and the Tweede Kamer to resolve the ongoing cabinet crisis without triggering new elections.
The groups, representing sectors from education and agriculture to local government and labor unions, argue that the country requires immediate progress on long-standing issues rather than further political instability.
“Wij maken ons grote zorgen over de politieke situatie in Den Haag. Na jaren stilstand, waardoor problemen zijn blijven liggen, snakt het land naar oplossingen,” the organizations said in a joint declaration.
The signatories include the MBO Raad, Vereniging Hogescholen, Universiteiten van Nederland, LTO Nederland, the Unie van Waterschappen, Natuurmonumenten, the CNV union, and the Interprovinciaal Overleg. They emphasized that the country is in urgent need of clarity and progress across all sectors, from nature and agriculture to the housing market and education.
Het amendement van Progressief Nederland en Volt op het Belastingplan raakt wel degelijk het midden- en kleinbedrijf, zegt @MKBNL-voorzitter Marijke Vuik. "Ik hoor: we hebben het niet over de slager, de bakker, de winkel. Maar 99 procent van de bedrijven zijn dat soort bedrijven.… pic.twitter.com/AXFP0E699W”
The call for stability is echoed by the Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten (VNG). Sharon Dijksma of Utrecht and chair of the VNG, said that a long list of themes requires urgent attention, particularly the shortage of affordable housing. Dijksma emphasized that local governments often manage to reach agreements across party lines to serve the public interest, a practice she believes is currently lacking in national politics.
“We zitten al jarenlang vast en dat dreigt nu weer,” she said. According to Dijksma, local governance functions on principles distinct from national politics, focusing on the needs of residents rather than party interests. “Wat men misschien niet goed in de gaten heeft, is dat op dit moment in heel Nederland iedereen dat al lang wenst,” she added.
Meanwhile, major business organizations, including VNO-NCW, MKB-Nederland, and ONL, have expressed frustration over the political deadlock. The crisis intensified after coalition partners D66 and the CDA reached a deal with opposition parties Pro and Volt to increase taxes on wealth by 1 billion euros.
Employers have frequently complained of being treated as a “pinautomaat” by the government, a sentiment fueled by past rushed decisions regarding the minimum wage and childcare allowances that were funded by increasing bank taxes and rates in box 2 and box 3.
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“We moeten als land vooruit, de opgaven zijn groot en urgent en de wereld is onrustig,” stated VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland. They warned that it is “onverteerbaar” that the costs of political conflict are once again being placed upon businesses. According to the organizations, the current shift represents a “sluipende lastenverzwaring” that erodes confidence in politics.
While some observers, such as Duco van Lanschot, suggest the 0.19 percent budgetary shift is being exaggerated as an economic disaster, the organizations maintain that investment is under pressure.
MKB-Nederland chair Marijke Vuik added that a cabinet collapse would be the worst possible scenario for the country, stressing that everyone in the Netherlands is craving peace, stability, and clarity. Vuik urged parties to focus on the content of the tax plan and prioritize the broader economic picture to ensure entrepreneurs can continue to invest.
