Dutch municipalities cut number of welfare sanctions by half since pandemic

Dutch municipalities have become more lenient in cutting welfare benefits, reflecting a "shift toward trust and understanding", according to data from the ten largest cities.

According to NOS, before COVID-19, the ten largest municipalities imposed over 6,500 penalty reductions annually for failing to meet obligations such as job searches or participation in work programs. In 2020, the number fell by half, and in 2024 about 3,000 reductions were recorded, suggesting a permanent change.

Municipal approaches vary. Reductions may be full or partial, often spread over several months. Amsterdam, for example, now reduces benefits 10 percent over three months rather than a larger one-time cut, and Tilburg can stop reductions if recipients meet obligations. Warnings have also increased: Amsterdam’s rose from 30 per year to 300 between 2022 and 2023.

Nibud noted the shift in attitude: “Previously, the prevailing view was that financial problems were largely people’s own fault… There is now more emphasis on trust rather than distrust.” The 2023 benefits scandal, which wrongly labeled thousands of families as fraudsters, reinforced the change.

Rotterdam and The Hague still issue the most reductions but have sharply cut back since the pandemic. Nijmegen, Almere, and Breda have also become more cautious, while other large cities show smaller decreases.