Dutch cabinet moves 18 billion euros to maintenance, shelves A50 and Ameland projects

Upkeep gets the money

On Friday, 16 October, minister Vincent Karremans (VVD) and state secretary Annet Bertram (CDA) presented the cabinet's new priority list for infrastructure. Some 18 billion euros will go toward maintaining existing bridges, locks, rail and roads, and another 2.4 billion is set aside for setbacks in ongoing projects through 2030. The ministry faces a shortfall of 80 billion euros up to 2040, which forced a review of nearly every large project. The Mobiliteitsfonds and Deltafonds, which pay for upkeep and construction, are the funds affected.

Karremans said the infrastructure is ageing and needs attention.

Our infrastructure is outdated, and we notice that more and more.

Projects that go ahead

The renewal of the Haringvlietbrug and the replacement of the Merwedebrug remain on the list, and the Haringvlietbrug carries about 66,000 people a day across the A29. The sluice and pumping station at IJmuiden receives 2.3 billion euros and is described as the top priority, because of its role in national safety. The high-speed line viaducts between Amsterdam and Breda, together with the ERTMS rail signalling system, cost 3.5 billion euros in total. The Nedersaksenlijn between Twente and Groningen proceeds at 2 billion euros, and the 100 million euros for the Meppel bottleneck stays in place. Enschede and Hengelo receive part of 355 million euros, shared with other cities, for infrastructure serving a housing site where about 10,000 homes are planned. The bypass around Mariënheem keeps its funding, and the A6 widening between Almere and Lelystad keeps 157 million euros.

Projects that are shelved

The expansion of the Randstadrail and the Rotterdam metro network falls outside the criteria, freeing 270 million euros according to NRC. The renovation of the A27 and A12 on the Utrecht Ring is also dropped, which leaves nearly a billion euros extra available. The widening of the A50 between Nijmegen and Oss is postponed, because there is still no nitrogen space and the project has been paused since 2024. The N35 stretch between Nijverdal and Wierden goes on the shelf, and the 35 million euros for the A28 between Amersfoort and Hoogeveen is removed. No money is allocated to improve access to Ameland, where about 250 million euros earmarked for that purpose now goes to other projects. The widening of the sluices at the Afsluitdijk at Kornwerderzand is not coming for now. The N36 keeps its 240 million euros, but a median barrier along the whole route would need another 105 million, and the most dangerous sections come first, with works expected to start in 2029.

Regional reactions

In Hardenberg, alderman Piet-Cees van der Wel was relieved that the N36 and the Nedersaksenlijn were spared. He stressed that more money is still needed to make the entire N36 safer.

I am relieved that these two projects are untouched. We should be glad about that as a region.

In Overijssel, deputy Martijn Dadema welcomed the continuation of measures on the N36 and other roads, and said the province had been worried about serious signals that the cabinet would cut many plans. Overijssel is pressing the cabinet, together with other regions, for a long-term vision on accessibility, a different financing system and more money.