In 2023, the Netherlands was the 7th largest OECD donor country by ODA expenditure relative to the size of its economy, which amounted to about US$7.4 billion or 0.66% of Gross National Income (GNI). In the same year, about 70% of this ODA spending was managed by the Dutch Ministry for Foreign Trade and Development via bilateral channels, while approximately 27% was channeled to multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank.

However, this position changed following the general election in November 2023, after which the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) led the formation of a new cabinet. The new cabinet announced significant cuts totaling US$3.6 billion to the country’s development budget over the 2025–2027 period. Additionally, the development budget was slated to be reduced by around €1 billion over a five-year period, with a structural reduction of €2.4 billion from 2027 onward. These measures are expected to decrease the ODA-to-GNI rate from 0.62% in 2024 to 0.44% in 2029—0.22% less than the 2023 reference point.

Against this backdrop, in February 2025, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid announced that funding for women’s rights, gender equality, education, sport and culture, climate protection, and advocacy would be discontinued or substantially reduced.

To provide insights into these changes, DevelopmentAid, in collaboration with HFVC, hosted the “Dutch Development Aid 2025: Overview on the Cuts, Priorities, and Next Steps” webinar. This high-impact session featured Han Valk, a senior fundraising consultant with over 15 years of international not-for-profit senior management experience. Han explained the Netherlands’ shifting ODA priorities, analyzed the proposed budget cuts and restructuring, and shared practical advice on how NGOs, businesses, and individual experts can align their projects with the Netherlands’ new economic and geopolitical direction.

Key Takeaways:

• - Understand the budget cuts and ODA restructuring proposed by Dutch development aid
• - Gain a better overview of what to expect in the coming period
• - Discover tips on how to align with Dutch economic and geopolitical interests