Over 100,000 people sign petition against planned VAT of 21 percent on books

The protest petition against the planned increase in VAT on (children's) books has already been signed 100,000 times after three days. The petition has been online on boekenpetitie.nl since Wednesday and can still be signed.

Several parties in the literary sector, including the Collective Propaganda Foundation for Dutch Books (CPNB), the General Publishers Group (GAU), and the Royal Booksellers' Union (KBb), have launched the campaign. The initiators are calling for people to take a stand against the increase in VAT on books. It currently stands at 9 percent, but the new Cabinet plans to impose 21 percent VAT on books in the future.

"The signatures for the book petition are pouring in, which is fantastic and a great show of support," says CPNB director Eveline Aendekerk. "But the question is whether there are enough. We will therefore continue!" The initiators plan to present the petition to MPs in The Hague on Wednesday, June 12, together with well-known (children's book) authors.

According to the initiators, the planned VAT will increase the price of books, resulting in less accessibility. This would curb interest in reading among the Dutch and lead to poorer reading and language skills in the long term. "Reading books is of great value for people, society and the economy. Books are the carriers of our culture and show people from an early age other worlds and points of view. Language skills and literacy make a difference in people's development, both at school and in the labor market," the initiators write on the petition site.

Renowned authors such as Heleen van Royen, Adriaan van Dis, Saskia Noort, Kluun, Rutger Vink, and Susan Smit have signed the petition.