Dutch government boosts security funding for Jewish institutions to €2 million in 2026

The Dutch government is set to bolster the protection of Jewish institutions with a 700,000 euro funding boost in 2026, bringing the total security budget to 2 million euros, Justice Minister David van Weel confirmed during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday.

The additional funds will be used to improve security at places such as schools, cultural venues, religious sites, and public events. Heightened protection has become necessary as threats against the Jewish community continue to rise. Only last month, two separate attacks were reported, one targeting a synagogue in Rotterdam and another involving a Jewish school in Amsterdam.

The 2025 budget amounted to 1.3 million euros, but demand was so high that dozens of applications had to be turned down. During the debate, Van Weel explained that this shortfall, combined with expected higher demand this year, led to an additional 700,000 euros being allocated.

ChristenUnie leader Mirjam Bikker asked Van Weel whether the money is intended only for buildings or also for events that do not take place in Jewish buildings. “It is becoming more difficult for the Jewish community to participate in our country and to rent a venue.”

The minister stated that each application will be evaluated on its own merits. Bikker followed up by asking Van Weel to consult with the Jewish community and revisit the issue next year to determine whether the measures have been adequate for events held outside fixed venues.

Education Minister Rianne Letschert intends to adopt all recommendations from the Taskforce on Combating Antisemitism’s report “Gevangen in Vrijheden.” She said the effectiveness of the measures will be assessed after one year.

During the debate on the report, the D66 minister outlined several steps, including extra funding aimed at improving the sense of safety for Jewish students and staff, and efforts to increase understanding of Jewish life.

The minister described the latter as a bottom-up initiative originating from Jewish students. In addition, confidential advisors will be trained to better identify antisemitism, and reporting procedures for Jewish students are set to become more transparent.

Eddo Verdoner, the National Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism, will collaborate with the ministry and education providers to develop the set of recommendations.

Letschert opened her speech by addressing what she described as doubts about her focus on the issue. She emphasized that she has been attentive from the start and noted that, in her role as chair of the Maastricht University executive board, she had to rapidly learn how to respond to pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

A number of right-wing MPs questioned Letschert about why universities are not more inclined to report vandalism linked to protests, and why Maastricht University issued guidance suggesting that not every incident should be reported to the police, describing some cases as potentially “youthful indiscretions.”

Letschert rejected the suggestion that universities fail to report suspected criminal offences, saying she does not recognize that picture. She also refused to elaborate on actions taken in her previous position or to specify which types of slogans would or would not warrant filing a police report.