NL Has an €80 Billion Hole in Its Infrastructure Budget and Some Projects Will Be Cancelled

The Dutch government has acknowledged it faces an infrastructure funding gap of more than 80 billion euros over the coming years and has warned that not everything can be built, repaired or maintained. Minister Vincent Karremans and State Secretary Annet Bertram of Infrastructure and Water Management sent a letter to the House of Representatives last week saying sharp choices must be made, with a priority list to follow before the summer.

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How big the problem is

The total shortfall in the Mobility Fund and Delta Fund over their combined lifespan amounts to more than 80 billion euros, or many billions per year on average. The money is needed not only for building new roads and rail lines but also for maintaining and replacing existing infrastructure.

The National Audit Office has calculated that the maintenance backlog now stands at 54.5 billion euros: 20 billion euros for ProRail, which manages the rail network, and 34.5 billion euros for Rijkswaterstaat, which is responsible for national roads, waterways and water systems.

Rijkswaterstaat can currently only start new renewal projects by postponing others. ProRail needs clarity this year on repairs to the high-speed line between Schiphol and Rotterdam.

Which projects are at risk

Specific projects already under pressure include the Spui and Pumping Station complex in IJmuiden and the Haringvlietbrug. The Haringvlietbrug received emergency reinforcement after cracks appeared but needs a full overhaul, currently scheduled for 2030, with no funding yet secured.

Previous ministers had already placed a series of projects on hold, but money to restart them has barely materialised. In recent years, additional financial setbacks accumulated after the previous cabinet cut the infrastructure funds.

Why the backlog grew

The infrastructure problem has been building for years. A succession of governments deprioritised maintenance spending in favour of new construction and other policy goals, while costs rose due to inflation, labour shortages and nitrogen regulations that delayed or halted dozens of projects. The current coalition, which includes D66, VVD and CDA, came to office promising to invest more, but even with the extra billions the new cabinet intends to spend, Karremans and Bertram say they would have been in an even worse position without it, and that difficult choices remain unavoidable.

What comes next

Karremans and Bertram are not yet presenting a list of priority projects. As a minority cabinet, they want to first consult with parliament before deciding which projects proceed. The House of Representatives debated the issue on Thursday. A priority plan is expected before the summer.

The ministers were clear in their message to parliament: "Nothing doing is not an option, but not everything can happen at once."