Every third Tuesday of September is Prinsjesdag Day in the Netherlands. 

On September 16th, the Dutch caretaker government announced several measures to benefit businesses and entrepreneurs.

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Starting in 2026, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will contribute over half a billion euros to innovation. 

Below are the key takeaways from the budget 2026:

Quarter of a billion euros for the semiconductor industry

In the coming years, new semiconductor applications in various industries are expected to grow. 

The Netherlands currently holds a favourable position internationally, and the government aims to maintain this while minimising dependencies in technology and industry.

To support this effort, the government is providing €230M for the Netherlands’ involvement in an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) focused on Advanced Semiconductor Technologies (AST).

IPCEIs involve collaboration among companies and research institutions in Europe on technologies and production processes that are considered important for the EU. Member States can offer more public funding for these projects than is usually allowed.

€200M for startup growth

Startup growth in Europe is slower than in the United States, largely due to the limited availability of venture capital. 

To address this, several countries have combined their funding efforts. Dutch startups with growth potential will receive additional support, as the Ministry of Economic Affairs is contributing €200M to the European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI). 

This funding aims to assist innovative companies in progressing. In 2023, the government also invested €100M in this initiative.

WBSO scheme budget increases

The Research and Development Promotion Act (WBSO) offers a tax benefit to support innovation.

In 2026, the WBSO budget will rise to €1.8B, an increase from €1.6B. This means companies will pay less tax on their research and development (R&D), making it cheaper for them to innovate.

As a result, more companies are likely to invest in R&D in the Netherlands.

Eliminating mandatory mileage registration for SMEs

In general, it’s important for businesses to be able to count on consistent government policies, especially when it comes to tax rules.

In this way, entrepreneurs can continue to use helpful programmes in the Netherlands, like the SME profit exemption, interest deductions on corporate taxes, and the expat scheme.

However, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) don’t think the Dutch business environment is that great, so just having stable policies isn’t enough. To help with this, the government is working to make regulations easier to understand and less burdensome.

For instance, they are removing the requirement for mileage registration for work-related travel for all SMEs with fewer than 250 employees.

Minister Karremans says, “Entrepreneurs have too little faith in politics. This calls for action, so that we don’t frustrate businesses but rather stimulate them. That’s why this budget is ‘business-friendly,’ and we’re investing in our future earning capacity with it. But the fact remains that our business climate, especially for SMEs, requires significant improvements. The government is fully committed to this, including by reducing the stifling regulatory burden in the Netherlands.”