Three months after the Dutch elections, D66, VVD, and CDA leaders Rob Jetten, Dilan Yesilgöz, and Henri Bontenbal have finally presented their coalition agreement this afternoon.

The three parties reached an agreement this week on their coalition plans, which span approximately fifty pages covering everything from security and migration to housing, healthcare, social security, nitrogen, climate policy, and more.

The coalition agreement carries the motto “Aan de slag” (Get to work), and party members have already signed off on the plans their leaders hammered out behind closed doors. The three leaders describe it as “a beautiful, cohesive story.”

There’s just one tiny problem: they don’t have enough votes to actually implement any of it, but more on that little hiccup later.

Billions for defence and security (coming from your wallet)

National security takes centre stage, with the coalition citing “growing geopolitical uncertainty” and threats from Russian escalation, sabotage, and cyberattacks.

The plans pump billions into defence and intelligence, expanding the armed forces to 122,000 personnel and strengthening both security services: the AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) and MIVD (Defence Intelligence and Security Service).

Every Dutch resident will pay a new “freedom contribution” (vrijheidsbijdrage) through income tax, eventually generating over €3 billion annually. The total defence package? €19 billion in extra spending.

The coalition also wants more neighbourhood police, cyber investigators, and €100 million for prisons. Earlier calculations suggest far more is needed — currently, some prisoners get released early because cells are full.

Healthcare costs will rise for most

Big cuts are coming to healthcare and social security, though the coalition calls it “slowing growth.”

The mandatory health insurance deductible (eigen risico) jumps from €385 to €460, reports NOS. This helps younger, healthier people by keeping premiums lower, but people with higher incomes and healthcare needs will feel the squeeze.

Low earners get an increased healthcare allowance (zorgtoeslag) to offset the hike. The coalition also scraps household help (huishoudelijke hulp) for wealthier people who can pay privately.

The state pension age (AOW-leeftijd) keeps rising, and from 2027 it’ll increase with life expectancy. This alone saves nearly €3 billion yearly by 2033.

If you lose your job in the Netherlands, your safety net just got considerably shorter, reports RTL Nieuws. The coalition plans to limit unemployment benefits (WW-uitkering) to a maximum of one year.

There’s a small silver lining: you’ll receive a higher payment during the first two months than under the current system. After that, though, the support drops off — and the maximum benefit amount is being lowered overall.

But the 30% ruling is here to stay

Good news if you’re an international worker benefiting from the 30% ruling: the coalition isn’t touching it.

READ MORE | The 30% ruling in the Netherlands: The easy guide in 2026

The agreement explicitly states that the Netherlands’ economic strength depends partly on “leading large companies that choose growth and a sustainable future in the Netherlands” and “we versoberen de expatregeling niet.”

Translation: we’re not messing with the expat tax scheme (expatregeling). Which is also the only time the word expat gets mentioned in the whole scheme of things.

Housing, asylum, and climate

The coalition will keep the mortgage interest deduction (hypotheekrenteaftrek) unchanged, maintaining “housing market stability.” Since 2020, this tax benefit has been dropping 3% yearly, but that won’t be accelerated.

However, bad news for renters, as annual income checks will determine rent increases, plus wealth tests (vermogenstoets) for new social housing tenants. From 2029, the government will invest €1 billion yearly in affordable housing.

On asylum, the coalition promises “real steps this time” with tighter EU-aligned controls. The distribution law (spreidingswet) stays, procedures get stricter, and if intake spikes, a temporary asylum stop becomes possible. Criminal asylum seekers face harsher treatment, whilst recognised refugees get better integration support.

Climate policy focuses on solving grid congestion (netcongestie), which threatens economic competitiveness. Expect a crisis law on grid congestion, plus investments in offshore wind, green hydrogen, small nuclear reactors, and CO2 storage in the North Sea.

A minority cabinet means haggling for votes

D66, VVD, and CDA will form a minority cabinet, meaning they don’t have a majority in either the Second Chamber (Tweede Kamer) or the First Chamber (Eerste Kamer, the Senate).

This means that for every single piece of legislation they want to pass, ministers in the Jetten cabinet will need to convince one or more opposition parties to support them. No guaranteed majority, no smooth sailing.

Whether today’s presented plans will actually become reality remains very much an open question. The three party leaders have repeatedly stressed they’re “very aware” of their position and committed to working “very hard” to win opposition support.

Who will actually be in the new cabinet?

After today’s presentation and a debate on informateur Letschert’s final report next Tuesday, the three leaders will begin conversations with potential cabinet ministers.

These ministers will also need the ambition to approach opposition parties from across the political spectrum “with an outstretched hand” to secure the necessary majorities.

Regarding cabinet composition, it has been confirmed that Jetten will become the new Prime Minister. Bontenbal has made clear he doesn’t want a ministerial post, preferring to remain chair of the CDA faction in the Second Chamber.

VVD leader Yesilgöz hasn’t revealed her plans yet, though her name circulates as a potential Minister of Defence.

The Jetten cabinet is tentatively scheduled for the royal swearing-in on February 23, though that date remains tentative rather than confirmed.

Will the Netherlands’ newest minority cabinet actually get anything done, or are we in for months of political horse-trading? Share your predictions in the comments.

After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations (and one broken printer) in The Hague, the Netherlands’ incoming coalition government is officially getting started — well, next week.

The parliamentary parties of D66, VVD, and CDA have all approved the coalition agreement, fittingly titled “Aan de slag” (Getting Started).  

Led by D66 leader and soon-to-be prime minister Rob Jetten, the new coalition has apparently made firm choices on domestic and international security, affordable housing, and more investments in defence, reports NOS. 

However, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow (Friday) when they will officially present their plans.

We’ll then have to wait a bit longer for an official cabinet complete with ministers, as Rob Jetten, the upcoming formateur, will start to actually build his team next week.

Parties feeling positive 

According to party leaders, the mood was positive, to say the least. 

Jetten admitted there were still a few “small points” and “tweaks” to discuss, but assured the media that they won’t lead to any issues. 

“We’ve already been testing each other’s limits quite a bit these past few weeks,” Jetten said on Tuesday. 

VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz shared that her party is feeling “very positive” about their meeting. 

Meanwhile, CDA leader Henri Bontenbal took the longest time to read “a very large document.” When asked if he was proud of the agreement, Bontenbal replied to NOS:  

“I think so. I’m allowed to stay, so I think it will be fine.” 

Translation: “Coalition is in agreement.”

It’s a minority cabinet, and that will be a challenge

While the complete “Getting Started” agreement will be presented on Friday, the cabinet’s priorities are clear. 

The need for more affordable housing, stricter control over migration (the “VVD stamp” on the agreement) and higher investments in defence and security. 

As the face of a minority coalition, Jetten affirms that the problems of now mustn’t be passed on to future generations. 

But despite their best intentions, it remains to be seen if the new cabinet can deliver on its promises. 

They only have 66 seats, and they need at least 76 to get things through parliament, which means that they have to hustle and haggle for every law they want to pass. 

The same also applies to the Dutch Senate. There, the new coalition also falls short.

Let’s see what they have in store for us tomorrow and how it goes down with the rest of parliament.

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