New road and bridge projects delayed as upkeep comes first
A majority is forming in the Tweede Kamer for the infrastructure budget, which puts upkeep of ageing roads, bridges and locks ahead of new projects that now face delay.
A majority is emerging in the Tweede Kamer for the budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the budget debate showed. Besides the coalition parties, opposition parties JA21, SGP and the ChristenUnie can approve it, even though there is too little money for everything that needs doing.
Why it matters
- €18bn will go on maintaining ageing bridges, roads, locks and other infrastructure over the coming years.
- A large part is taken from planned new projects that already had money reserved, so those projects are delayed.
JA21 can live with the money going mainly to making existing roads and bridges safe again. The SGP regrets that some new-build projects are shelved but understands that maintenance matters more now. The ChristenUnie says such a maintenance backlog must never happen again and wants more money in future for access to new housing estates, but will not "knock over" the budget now.
BBB, which pushed for regional projects such as the Nedersaksenlijn rail line, is broadly satisfied but has not yet said it will vote in favour. Pro wants to work towards an overall deal on all ministry budgets, but says Infrastructure needs more money before it will vote yes.
Parties are still seeking changes. Coalition party D66 wants a new tram line near a housing estate to be built near Utrecht, and the VVD argues for extending the metro and RandstadRail around Rotterdam and The Hague. The budget has no money for either. Minister Karremans (VVD) has said parties must find majorities themselves for small changes and agree on where the tax money would come from.
D66, the VVD and CDA have agreed among themselves to study reforming car taxation, provided motorists do not end up worse off. The VVD did not rule out the study ending in a form of kilometre charge.
The budgets for Education (minister Letschert, D66), Health (Hermans, VVD) and Social Affairs (Vijlbrief, D66) can also count on majority support in the Tweede Kamer.
The cost of civil engineering work, such as building roads, bridges and waterworks, has climbed. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) puts its input price index for the sector at 200.2 in October 2022 and 231.0 in July 2026. The sharpest rise came in March 2026, when the index rose from 213.4 to 226.0, and it peaked at 234.1 in June 2026.
Road and waterworks building costs jumped in spring 2026
Index (2000 = 100) · Oct 2022–Jul 2026
Road and waterworks building costs jumped in spring 2026 (index (2000 = 100)). From 200.2 in Oct 2022 to 231 in Jul 2026; highest 234.1 in Jun 2026, lowest 197.8 in Jan 2023. Source: CBS.
View data
| Item | Index (2000 = 100) |
|---|---|
| Oct 2022 | 200.2 |
| Jan 2023 | 197.8 |
| Apr 2023 | 199.4 |
| Jul 2023 | 202.9 |
| Oct 2023 | 208.1 |
| Jan 2024 | 206.4 |
| Feb 2024 | 207.6 |
| Mar 2024 | 207.1 |
| Apr 2024 | 208 |
| May 2024 | 208.1 |
| Jun 2024 | 207.3 |
| Jul 2024 | 211.1 |
| Aug 2024 | 211 |
| Sep 2024 | 207.9 |
| Oct 2024 | 207.9 |
| Nov 2024 | 209.8 |
| Dec 2024 | 208.6 |
| Jan 2025 | 210.7 |
| Feb 2025 | 211.8 |
| Mar 2025 | 213.2 |
| Apr 2025 | 209.9 |
| May 2025 | 209.6 |
| Jun 2025 | 209.6 |
| Jul 2025 | 211.5 |
| Aug 2025 | 210.9 |
| Sep 2025 | 210.2 |
| Oct 2025 | 210.3 |
| Nov 2025 | 210.7 |
| Dec 2025 | 208.6 |
| Jan 2026 | 212.5 |
| Feb 2026 | 213.4 |
| Mar 2026 | 226 |
| Apr 2026 | 233.3 |
| May 2026 | 233.8 |
| Jun 2026 | 234.1 |
| Jul 2026 | 231 |
More on cabinet and parliament · roads and traffic
JA21 (Juiste Antwoord 2021)
A Dutch right-wing party, founded in December 2020 after a split in Forum voor Democratie (FvD), by Joost Eerdmans and Annabel Nanninga. It is critical of the European Union and of immigration, and favours lower taxes.
SGP (Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij)
The Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij is a Dutch political party, in English the Political Reformed Party, based on orthodox Protestant (Reformed) Christian principles. It holds seats in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, where it takes part in votes on laws and the national budget. Its votes are counted alongside those of the other parties when a majority for a bill or budget is formed.
ChristenUnie
The ChristenUnie is a Dutch political party whose politics are based on Christian values, in English the Christian Union. It is represented in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, and its votes count in the majorities that pass or reject laws and the annual budgets. Its name is not translated in Dutch political reporting.
BBB (BoerBurgerBeweging)
The BoerBurgerBeweging, in English the Farmer-Citizen Movement, is a Dutch political party that focuses on rural areas, farming and the countryside. It holds seats in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, and its votes affect whether budgets and laws get a majority. It often campaigns for regional and rural projects, such as local rail and road works.