Start of the parliamentary year 2024

Just before the weekend, it was already leaked that the cabinet wants to look again at postponement of zero-emission zones for urban logistics, partly to regulate exceptions for entrepreneurs nationwide. The government is creating confusion with this, thinks Frits Van Bruggen, chairman of the RAI Association. 'This is vacillating policy. We cannot have the government making changes the day before the introduction. Entrepreneurs have invested. Now it is a matter of persevering.' RAI Association has been arguing for some time for clarity on the number, date and size of zero-emission zones and for sufficient charging facilities.

Maintenance

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) announced that significant maintenance work will continue in the coming years. A baseline quality level has been set for roads, waterways, railways, and the water system to ensure infrastructure usability. By the end of the year, new agreements will be made on timely dike reinforcements. Additionally, the government is launching the renewed "Room for the River" program, which includes measures to prevent riverbed erosion and create extra space for high river discharges.

Evofenedex

Evofenedex sees "sufficient opportunities" to strengthen the position of trade and manufacturing companies. According to Director Bart Jan Koopman, smooth and safe traffic flow on roads, railways, and waterways is crucial for a trading nation like the Netherlands. In response to the King's Speech, he emphasized the need for strategic choices to balance spatial demands related to housing, infrastructure, logistics, and freight transport.

The organization also notes that there is room for entrepreneurship and increased focus on the interests of SMEs. It appreciates the government's efforts to reduce regulatory pressure but believes the current policies need further elaboration. Additionally, the government emphasizes the need for sufficient charging infrastructure for electric trucks.

Inland shipping

In 2025, nearly 800 million euros will be allocated for waterway maintenance, which is 150 million euros more than this year. The government is also focusing on supporting smaller vessels and will provide millions in subsidies for making inland shipping more sustainable. Additionally, an emissions label for inland shipping is likely to be introduced.

“Inland shipping plays a crucial role in our logistics and is of great societal importance,” the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management states in the national budget. The sector faces challenges due to waterway blockages. Minister Barry Madlener describes it as the biggest maintenance effort ever. More work will be needed in the coming years to maintain infrastructure, requiring additional government funding and patience from users, as disruptions will occur on roads, railways, and waterways. The government believes 800 million euros should be sufficient for this purpose.

TLN: 1,4 biljion less

TLN is concerned that if the government does not properly address the planning and funding for maintenance, more infrastructure will experience unexpected failures due to neglect. According to TLN, the costs of emergency repairs and the financial impact of traffic disruptions far exceed the current maintenance budget. Although the government is allocating more funds for maintenance and renewal, it is still 1.4 billion euros less than what is needed according to the Court of Audit.

Big problem: electricity

The Dutch energy sector is pleased that the lack of capacity in the electricity grid, which is a significant issue for companies with expansion plans, was highlighted in the King's Speech. The government intends to prioritize these problems. Industry association Energie Nederland also welcomes the government's intention to reduce regulatory pressure and pursue a predictable policy.

Deltalings: Nitrogen Issue

"There is still no solution for the sky-high net tariffs, which are much higher here than in our neighboring countries. This hinders both the sustainability efforts of businesses and their competitiveness. It will take at least another six months to address this issue, a luxury we can't afford," says Victor van der Chijs, chairman of the business association Deltalinqs, representing port and industrial companies in the Port of Rotterdam.

Deltalinqs notes that the national budget still lacks concrete solutions for the nitrogen issue. “Many important projects are currently stalled due to nitrogen regulations. We really need to address this together,” says Van der Chijs.

Digital attacks

Notably, the King warned in the Speech from the Throne about "attacks on our digital connections, roads, energy grids, ports, and waterworks." He emphasized the importance of resilience, not only for national infrastructure but also at home, where people should be prepared for potential outages of electricity and water. The government, prioritizing resilience, has allocated an additional 65 million euros to strengthen citizens and businesses against cyberattacks, espionage, and misinformation, as announced by Minister of Justice David van Weel.

Source: NT