The Netherlands plans to eliminate approximately 25,000 government positions by 2035, with some organisations facing potential workforce reductions of 45% and, in one exceptional case, as much as 60%.
Announced on Monday, 26 October 2026, the overhaul aims to save €3.5 billion annually through artificial intelligence, simpler regulations and reduced bureaucracy.
The proposed cuts represent roughly 16% of the central government's workforce covered by the plan. However, the impact will vary considerably. Ministries, inspectorates and agencies responsible for implementing government policies face some of the steepest reductions.
Police and defence are among the exempted areas.
The government now faces a major challenge: cutting staffing costs while determining how much work AI can realistically handle and which public services may need to change.
Why Some Departments Could Lose 60% of Their Staff
State Secretary Eric van der Burg outlined the restructuring in a government announcement and a parliamentary letter dated 26 October.
The government estimates that approximately 25,000 full-time-equivalent positions could be eliminated over several years. However, the reductions will not be distributed equally. Many organisations face cuts of around 20%, while some could lose approximately 45% of their personnel.
In one exceptional case, the reduction could reach 60%, partly because temporary funding is due to expire. The parliamentary letter does not identify the organisation facing that reduction. Further details are expected in the government's multi-year restructuring plans.
The proposal does not mean 25,000 employees will immediately lose their jobs. As reported by Binnenlands Bestuur, Van der Burg ruled out a blanket hiring freeze, calling it too rigid. The balance between natural departures, recruitment restrictions and potential redundancies remains unclear.
AI Could Reduce Administrative Work, but How Much?
Artificial intelligence forms part of the government's ambition to improve productivity with fewer civil servants. Officials plan to expand AI adoption, standardise IT systems and improve information sharing between public bodies.
The overhaul also includes scrapping or simplifying at least 500 regulations annually. By reducing paperwork and unnecessary procedures, the government hopes to lower administrative workloads without relying entirely on technology.
However, detailed AI productivity targets and savings plans are not expected until the first quarter of 2027. The government has therefore announced substantial workforce reductions without specifying how many positions AI could help eliminate or how much the technology might save.
Previous experience offers reasons for caution. Van der Burg's parliamentary letter warns against overestimating staffing savings from AI and automation. Earlier technology initiatives created additional responsibilities, increased staffing requirements and led to greater reliance on external contractors.
Dutch Government Jobs Rose 41% Before Planned Cuts
The proposed reductions follow years of rapid growth in the Dutch civil service. Central government staffing reached approximately 160,000 full-time-equivalent positions by the end of 2025, an increase of around 41% compared with 2018, according to government figures.
Reuters reported that approximately 46,500 government positions had been added since 2018, despite previous commitments to reduce staffing.
Figures in the parliamentary letter show that staffing in government policy and support roles grew by 56% between 2019 and 2025, compared with 28% in agencies responsible for implementing government policies.
The government now wants to reconsider whether all existing administrative responsibilities remain necessary. It also plans to reduce office space, aiming for one workstation for every two employees. Surplus government buildings would be disposed of, while purchasing arrangements would be consolidated to lower costs.
Advisory bodies and committees also face reductions. The government currently has 28 permanent advisory councils and approximately 150 advisory committees. Officials also intend to reduce the roughly 400 policy evaluations conducted annually.
Can the Netherlands Save €3.5 Billion Without Cutting Services?
The Dutch government aims to save approximately €900 million in 2027, with annual savings rising to €3.5 billion from 2035. Achieving those targets will require more than AI adoption and administrative efficiencies.
According to the parliamentary letter, general efficiency measures could account for approximately one-third of the required savings. The remaining two-thirds would require strategic decisions about government operations, including which responsibilities should be reduced, changed or discontinued.
That raises questions about the future of public services, particularly in organisations facing the steepest staffing reductions. The parliamentary letter acknowledges that significant changes could affect service delivery, continuity and existing government responsibilities.
The government expects to present its broader multi-year restructuring approach within six months. Until then, the extent of AI-driven savings, potential redundancies and changes to public services remains uncertain.
