Opposition on left and right rejects cabinet's 'vrijheidsbijdrage' tax rise
Opposition parties on both sides reject the vrijheidsbijdrage, and the cabinet will have to change its tax plan for next year substantially to win enough support in parliament.
After a lengthy debate in the Tweede Kamer on the cabinet's tax plans for next year, left-wing and right-wing opposition parties said they do not back the vrijheidsbijdrage ("freedom contribution"). The tax increase mainly hits ordinary people and is meant to raise billions.
The cabinet will have to amend the plan considerably if it wants enough support in parliament.
The coalition parties D66, VVD and CDA have not yet offered the opposition concrete proposals to amend the plan and win it a majority. During the debate they said at times that they are also unhappy with certain measures, but they did not discuss alternative options.
The cabinet's separate plan to scrap the deduction for healthcare costs in the tax return also meets resistance in parliament.
Guide: Dutch income tax brackets and rates 2026
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.