On Budget Day 2025 the Dutch government presented the Budget Memorandum and the 2026 Tax Plan. As in previous years, the main focus was on the economy, purchasing power and public finances, but there were also important points relating to sustainability, circularity and the financial frameworks that events and venues need to work with.
A striking element of the plans is the Climate Fund, which has now become a permanent part of the national budget. This underlines the government’s intention to continue investing structurally in climate measures and the energy transition. For venues and event organisers this could translate into more opportunities to access funding or subsidies for making buildings, installations and infrastructure more sustainable. Examples include improving insulation, using sustainable materials, or installing energy-efficient systems that permanently reduce energy consumption at venues.
It also became clear that existing schemes for sustainable investment, such as the EIA, MIA/Vamil and the SDE++, will remain available. Although some budgets have been slightly adjusted, the underlying message is that investing in sustainability will continue to be supported through fiscal incentives. For the events sector this presents opportunities to make technologies such as LED lighting, solar panels, or more efficient heating and cooling systems more financially viable. The emphasis on bio-based construction and sustainable building methods could also inspire venues to look beyond traditional solutions when renovating or constructing new spaces.
For organisers there was further good news: the planned VAT increase on culture and sport will not go ahead. The reduced rate of 9 per cent remains in place, preventing ticket prices from rising. This is positive not only for keeping events accessible to the public, but also for the financial stability of organisers, who are already dealing with rising costs elsewhere.
Energy costs were also addressed. The government announced compensation for companies facing high electricity bills and a reduction in the CO₂ levy for certain sectors. Since events are often energy-intensive, particularly with regard to lighting, sound and climate control, such measures could provide tangible relief in operational costs.
At the same time, the government continues to emphasise budgetary discipline and stability. This gives organisations greater predictability, which is crucial when making long-term decisions on maintenance, investment and contracts. For venues, this means more certainty when planning sustainable upgrades, without the risk of sudden tax changes upsetting financial calculations in the short term.
There are, however, some caveats. While there is considerable attention for energy and the built environment, little has been announced that directly addresses circular event management, such as material reuse or innovative waste streams. For now, the sector will need to rely on its own creativity and collaboration with municipalities and partners. Moreover, some of the announced measures will only take effect in 2026, making forward planning all the more important.
Taken together, Budget Day 2025 outlines a direction in which the government aims to further support the transition to a more sustainable economy and society, with clear benefits for events and venues. For organisers, it will pay to keep a close eye on which subsidies and schemes are most relevant, and to time renovation or investment plans carefully in order to take full advantage of new measures as they come into effect.
