The proposed tax hike will also apply to concert tickets, sports events, and newspapers, in a blow to the country's cultural sector. Proposals by the Netherlands' new government to increase the VAT on books, museum visits, hotel bookings, and sports events, have provoked fierce opposition from the country's cultural and leisure sectors. The plans, which will come into effect in two years' time (2026), would see VAT charges on a wide range of leisure activities rise from 9% to 21%.
The Dutch government, led by newly elected Prime Minister Dick Shoof, who succeeded Mark Rutte in May, believes the increase will generate €2.2bn a year for the treasury, to fund social programmes and infrastructure projects. But the tax hike has been slammed by leaders of the country's economically important cultural and leisure sectors, who argue that the move will damage an industry still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
Culture is a big earner for the economy. In 2022, tourism contributed €96bn to the Dutch economy, €36.5bn more than in 2021, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
But much of the increase was driven by domestic tourists, who'll be hardest hit by the VAT increase. Domestic tourists spent €65bn, while foreign tourists contributed around €34.5bn.
In June, a broad coalition of Dutch cultural organisations – including the Dutch Football Association (KNVB), Eredivisie, the top professional football league, the Culture Federation, the Pop Coalition, and the .