Netherlands to Cut 25,000 Civil Service Jobs by 2035

The Government of the Netherlands plans to eliminate 25,000 full-time civil servant positions by 2035 to achieve 3.5 billion euros in savings. State Secretary Eric van der Burg announced that the reduction represents approximately 16 percent of the current 160,000 employees, though some departments will face cuts as high as 60 percent.

To reach the budget goal, the government will reduce its reliance on independent contractors and cut the number of its 176 advisory bodies. The plan also includes a significant reduction in office space, moving toward a ratio of one workstation for every two employees. Van der Burg attributed the need for cuts to substantial growth since 2018, particularly in policy-making, which he said has made policy "incredibly complex."

While the government will not implement a total hiring freeze to avoid operational halts, it will evaluate whether departing personnel need to be replaced. The administration intends to offset the workforce reduction by increasing the use of digital solutions and chatbots.