Dutch councils spend record €6.3bn on tailor-made social support
Almost 1.3 million people used tailor-made support under the Social Support Act (Wmo) in 2025, 23% more than in 2017, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) says.
Municipal spending on tailor-made support under the Wmo reached a new peak of just over €6.3bn in 2025, 38% more than in 2017, CBS figures show. Almost 1.3 million people used these services, a 23% rise.
The law helps people stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Tailor-made support (maatwerkvoorziening) covers things such as a mobility scooter, help with housekeeping or changes to a home, and is granted only after their municipality has assessed their needs.
The number of users grew most among 75- to 85-year-olds: 33% more than in 2017. CBS links the rise to "double ageing": the share of older people is growing, the number of people aged 80 and over is growing within that group, and older people live independently at home for longer.
Spending on help with housekeeping doubled since 2017
€bn · 2017–2025
Spending on help with housekeeping doubled since 2017 (€bn). From 0.938 in 2017 to 1.875 in 2025; highest 1.875 in 2025, lowest 0.938 in 2017. Source: CBS.
View data
| Period | €bn |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 0.938 |
| 2018 | 0.991 |
| 2019 | 1.146 |
| 2020 | 1.315 |
| 2021 | 1.399 |
| 2022 | 1.456 |
| 2023 | 1.621 |
| 2024 | 1.769 |
| 2025 | 1.875 |
The rise in spending comes from more clients and from higher average costs per client, up 12% on average, partly because of heavier care needs and higher rates. CBS says the 2019 introduction of the Abonnementstarief, a lower fixed own contribution, lowered the threshold for support and raised both use and spending.
Fewer people now pay for support through a personal budget (persoonsgebonden budget, pgb). Just over 58,000 people had one in 2017; in 2024 it was just over 31,000, almost half as many.
Local approaches differ. In 2024, 86% of municipalities offered help with housekeeping only as a tailor-made service, while 11% offered it as a general service open to all residents, such as a meal service or coffee mornings at a neighbourhood centre.
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CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)
Statistics Netherlands, the independent government body that produces the official statistics on the Dutch economy and society.
Wmo (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning)
The Wmo is the Dutch Social Support Act, the law that makes municipalities (gemeenten) responsible for helping residents who need support to take part in daily life. Typical tailor-made support includes home help, daycare, mobility aids and adjustments to a home, and it is provided on the basis of an assessment of need. Because councils run these services locally, Wmo spending is one of the largest budget items in municipal finances.
Abonnementstarief
The Abonnementstarief is the Dutch name for a fixed monthly own contribution (eigen bijdrage) that residents pay for tailor-made Wmo support, instead of paying according to the amount or type of support they receive. Introduced in 2019, it makes the cost for users predictable and lowers the financial threshold for seeking support.