Dutch households are sitting on over €535 billion in savings, and the European Commission has a plan for all that cash: put it to work.
Under a new initiative called the Savings and Investment Union (SUI), the EU wants to shift money out of bank accounts and into investment portfolios, reports RTL Nieuws.
The long-term goal is to help companies grow faster and, in theory, give citizens better returns in the process.
Oké, but why now?
According to a report by former ECB chief Mario Draghi, battling climate change and geopolitical tensions will require around 800 billion euros in additional investment annually.
As the European Council reports, European households hold an estimated €10 trillion in bank deposits, and these funds could go a long way in tackling these challenges.
The focus is also on start-ups and high-risk ventures, as banks are generally reluctant to finance these projects, preferring to lend to larger, established companies. The EU wants citizens to step in where banks won’t.
Of course, this is easier said than done
Not everyone is convinced the new initiative will change investment behaviour overnight.
As Mark Sanders, Professor of International Economics at Maastricht University, tells RTL Nieuws, “Europeans consider it important that their savings are safe.”
With Europeans rightfully prioritising the safety of their savings, experts say that investment offers need to be genuinely attractive for the SUI to work: the best funds available across the EU, at low costs, in accessible languages.
READ MORE | Investing in the Netherlands: 7 great apps for getting into stocks in 2026
Sanders also suggests tax incentives, such as more favourable schemes for managing your own pension pot, could help nudge more Europeans towards investing.
Meanwhile, a deadline is looming
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has set June 27 as a deadline for member states to show sufficient progress on the SUI.
If they don’t, a smaller group of EU countries will move ahead without the rest.
The Netherlands is feeling the strain, with Finance Minister Eelco Heinen stating that “real steps” must be taken to ensure that the country makes it across the SUI finishing line.
Do you keep your savings in a Dutch bank account, or have you already made the leap to investing? Let us know in the comments.
