The Dutch government plans to cut about 25,000 full-time jobs across central government over several years as part of a cost-saving drive.
The proposed cuts are expected to generate savings of €900m in 2027, rising to €3.5bn annually from 2035,
according to a statement issued.
However, the reductions will not affect all government departments equally, with the police and defence sectors among those exempted.
The cabinet is expected to outline its targets and plans for using artificial intelligence to achieve savings in the first quarter of 2027.
“We cannot keep doing what we did. … That is why we are going to make sharp choices for a central government that really works: simpler, smarter and smaller,” Eric van der Burg, state secretary for Kingdom Relations and Effective Government, said in the statement.
The number of Dutch central government employees reached a record 160,000 at the end of 2025, up 41 per cent from 2018, despite previous governments pledging to reduce the workforce, Bloomberg reported.
Ministries, inspectorates and policy implementation agencies are expected to bear the brunt of the planned job cuts, according to Bloomberg, citing a letter sent to parliament by Van der Burg. Some departments could see their staff numbers reduced by 45 per cent or even 60 per cent.
The government also plans to reduce bureaucracy by scrapping or simplifying at least 500 rules annually.
It will also streamline its 28 permanent advisory councils and about 150 advisory committees, with specific targets expected later this year.
In addition, the government intends to reduce the number of policy evaluations it conducts each year from about 400.
The Dutch government also plans to reduce office costs by introducing shared desks, with one workstation for every two employees. It will sell surplus buildings, standardise IT systems and scale back facilities across ministries.
Government departments will also increase joint procurement and reduce purchasing requirements as part of efforts to cut costs. Further details of the proposed reductions are expected in the spring memorandum, the government’s mid-year budget update.
According to the report, Van der Burg also cited non-binding parliamentary motions urging the cabinet to increase government productivity by 20 per cent through artificial intelligence.
Several AI projects are already underway across government departments, with the cabinet seeking to expand the technology’s use to improve efficiency and productivity.
The Dutch government also plans to prioritise domestic and European technology suppliers where possible to reduce its reliance on providers outside Europe.
As part of the initiative, the Dutch tax authority is moving away from Microsoft 365’s cloud services to its own servers and open-source software.
The government is also developing its own Linux-based desktop system as it seeks to strengthen digital sovereignty and reduce dependence on non-European technology providers.
