25,000 central government jobs would go by 2035
State secretary Eric van der Burg's plan, set out in a letter to parliament, would shrink a civil service that now stands at about 160,000 full-time jobs.
State secretary Eric van der Burg (VVD) wants to cut 25,000 full-time jobs at central government by 2035, he says in a letter to the Tweede Kamer. Central government employed about 160,000 full-time staff in 2025.
The cuts are part of a savings target for the civil service of €3.4bn. Van der Burg is state secretary for an efficient government (Slagvaardige Overheid). He says it is wrong to see the efficiency drive only as a spending cut.
Since 1 October, each ministry must also scrap at least 500 rules a year, under the 500-rule approach (500-regelaanpak).
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Tweede Kamer
The House of Representatives, the lower and more powerful house of the Dutch parliament. Its 150 members are elected directly; it can amend bills and holds the cabinet to account.
Slagvaardige Overheid
A Dutch government portfolio and programme focused on making central government more efficient and effective in how it works. It covers improving how national government organisations operate and deliver services, not only reducing spending. Its name refers to a government that acts decisively and effectively.