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Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 15-10-2020 | 08:42

Polarised debate

Since the coronavirus outbreak, social discontent has continued to manifest itself both online and offline. Various groups and individuals have come together in rejecting the government or government policy. Ideological motives are not the main driving force, with this caused instead by feelings of injustice, intense unease or a conflicting view of reality. People who have long distrusted the government, science and traditional media may see their ideas confirmed in conspiracy theories and disinformation. Social media play a facilitating and mobilising role and fan the flames of discontent. In addition to the relatively wide-ranging and diverse activist forefront, there is a radical undercurrent of sometimes extremist behaviour, such as stalking journalists and politicians or intimidating the police.

Right-wing extremist threat of violence is conceivable

The coronavirus outbreak and the measures taken to control the virus have not led to an increased threat of right-wing extremism in the Netherlands. The known groups usually have little influence, are divided and mainly seek to connect with current themes. The developments online are very much another arena: it is on digital platforms in particular that individuals may radicalise through their interaction with like-minded people. A right-wing extremist attack remains conceivable, mainly because of online developments.

ISIS resurgent in Syria and Iraq

Compared to last year, ISIS is showing increased activity in Syria and Iraq. Since the fall of ‘the caliphate’ the threat of attack has diminished, but it has not yet disappeared. ISIS still intends to carry out attacks in European countries. To this end, the group is attempting to set up structures and networks in which sympathisers and supporters within Europe can play a role and come into contact with ISIS members in Syria. The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily curtailed the ability of jihadist travellers to return to Europe.

Jihadist movement in the Netherlands divided, but unpredictable

The direct threat of violence emanating from the Dutch jihadist movement seems to have diminished somewhat due to social and ideological fragmentation, dwindling motivation and the lack of powerful leaders and agitators. Although most activities are non-violent, the threat remains unpredictable. Some Dutch jihadists still intend to commit an attack in the Netherlands. Vigilance is still required with regard to some of the individuals in the movement. The coming years will be decisive for the jihadist movement. If it disintegrates even further, this could lead to a shrinking and less receptive environment for jihadists returning to society from captivity. This requires constant government pressure and the continued use of repressive measure.

Political Salafi agitators continue their activities

Agitators are attempting to increase their political clout by inciting and mobilising their supporters. This applies to individual cases, such as solidarity with the imam of the As-Soennah mosque in The Hague, or the dismissed director of the Cornelius Haga Lyceum secondary school, as well as to political issues, such as the report of the Dutch parliamentary committee of inquiry into undesirable influencing (POCOB: Parlementaire Onderzoekscommissie Ongewenste Beïnvloeding).

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 28-08-2020 | 15:00

The government will extend a number of support measures that were due to end on 1 October 2020. The conditions of support measures will change so that they are more geared to the longer term. In addition, the government is launching new measures to encourage businesses to invest more in economic growth. The government will also direct extra funding towards helping people find new work through training and coaching.

The ministers and state secretaries with responsibility for Economic Affairs & Climate Policy, Finance, and Social Affairs & Employment presented the extended support and recovery package to the House of Representatives on Friday. The measures in this package entail additional expenditure of some €11 billion and bring forward investments totalling €1.5 billion. This spending is separate from the investments the government will announce on Budget Day in September. Hundreds of thousands of businesses have already received support under the first two emergency packages.

The Dutch economy has shrunk less than that of neighbouring countries, but it remains unclear how it will fare in the coming period. The new package therefore has a longer duration, providing greater certainty in what are very difficult times for many people. But it will not be possible to ensure the survival of all businesses or guarantee all work and employment.

Coronavirus schemes for businesses and employees from 1 October 2020

Temporary Emergency Scheme for Job Retention (NOW)

This scheme, which provides a contribution towards wage costs, is being extended by nine months.  Over three phases of three months each, the assistance provided will gradually be reduced. This will give businesses and employees time and scope to adapt to changing circumstances.

Self-employment income support and loan scheme (Tozo)

This scheme is also being extended by nine months to 30 June 2021 and will include an assessment of available cash resources.  From 1 January 2021 municipalities will provide extra services to the self-employed, including retraining and help upgrading existing skills and exploring new careers.

SME fixed costs grant scheme (TVL)

This tax-free grant scheme will be extended to 30 June 2021. The maximum amount will be increased to €90,000 per business per three-month period. Over three phases of three months each, the assistance provided will gradually be reduced. This will give businesses and employees time and scope to adapt to changing circumstances.

NOW, Tozo and TVL conditions and changes in full.

Guarantees, loans and guarantee funds

The schemes providing for additional, extended and more accessible credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ensure sufficient liquidity will continue to be available after 1 October 2020.

Conditions and changes in full: BMKB, GO-C and KKC.

Tax measures

Businesses can apply until 1 October 2020 to defer tax. Deferral will end by 1 January 2021 at the latest. To ease the burden on businesses, they will be given ample time – 2 years – to pay off the tax debt they have built up. The temporary reduction in the interest on overdue tax to almost zero will be extended to 31 December 2021 to minimise extra costs faced by businesses.

More information on deferred tax for businesses.

New measures on investment

The government is also launching new measures to encourage investment and, ultimately, economic growth. Public investment in infrastructure and other areas totalling €2 billion will be brought forward. In addition, the government is investing €150 million in a national scale-up facility and is setting aside €300 million for possible participation in a planned private fund to recapitalise large and medium-sized companies.

The government is also making €150 million available to boost the capital of the funds managed by the regional development agencies to enable them to strengthen innovative SMEs by providing them with financing. The government has set aside €255 million to co-finance EU programmes focusing on regional development, innovation, sustainability and digitalisation.

Additional package of social measures

Some people will lose their jobs in the months ahead and will have to look for new employment. Others will switch from their current job to a job with better prospects. The government wants to help people in these situations. It is therefore funding efforts by the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) and municipalities to help people find new work. And it is providing more money for retraining and upgrading existing skills. People who are especially vulnerable in an economic crisis, such as young people and people employed under the agreement between the social partners and the government to increase the number of disabled people in regular employment, will also receive extra help from the government. The government also wants to help people at a high risk of poverty and problem debt. The government will earmark over €1 billion for these additional social measures.

More information about the support and recovery package for jobs and the economy

For more information about the support and recovery package for businesses and employees, go to Business.gov.nl/corona. If this website does not answer your question, call the advisory team on 0800 2117. Employees and jobseekers can also find out more on hoewerktnederland.nl (only in Dutch).

Businesses seeking assistance under the credit schemes should apply to their lender, for example their bank. The NOW scheme is run by the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV). The TOZO scheme is run by the municipalities. The TVL scheme is run by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl). Businesses wishing to defer tax should contact the Tax and Customs Administration.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 17-03-2020 | 18:45

The Ministers and State Secretaries of Finance and of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment announced the package of measures to the Dutch House of Representatives on Tuesday. The measures form a supplement to the economic measures already implemented by the government on Thursday, 12 March.

The members of government issued a joint statement to the effect that, “First and foremost, it is vital that all Dutch citizens comply with the health-related decrees and recommendations issued at all times. However, it is clear that these measures will have a significant impact on businesses, ranging from self-employed people to major companies, in all industries. They will not have to face this alone, as this new plan will provide them with a higher level of support. Moreover, the government will provide easier access to allowances and relax the conditions to be met, thus allowing employees and self-employed people alike to keep their jobs where possible.

The government is closely monitoring the situation and is discussing this on an ongoing basis with employers’ organisations, social partners and banks. Thanks to sound government finances and budget agreements, the government will not immediately have to start cutting costs in response to this package. The government is choosing to allow the national debt to increase. We can afford to do so because our debt level was reduced in better days.

The following measures will be implemented:

1. The implementation of a temporary scheme allowing companies to apply for help in paying their labour costs (Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment)

Any company that expects to lose at least 20 per cent of its revenue may apply with the Employee Insurance Agency for an allowance that will enable it to pay its employees’ wages for three months (up to a maximum of 90 per cent of the company’s wage bill, depending on the loss of turnover). The Employee Insurance Agency will provide the company with an advance amounting to 80 per cent of the requested allowance. This will allow companies to keep paying their employees’ salaries. In order to be eligible, companies must not dismiss any employees from their jobs for economic reasons during the period covered by the allowance. This Temporary Emergency Measure for the Preservation of Jobs (NOW) will enter into effect as soon as possible and will supersede the current Regulation for Reduction in Working Hours (regeling werktijdverkorting). As of today, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment will no longer accept applications for the latter. Applications previously submitted but not yet processed will be processed in accordance with the new scheme. Companies are welcome to apply for an allowance for any drop in turnover they may have experienced since 1 March.

2. Additional support for independent contractors (Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and municipalities)

The government will implement a temporary scheme with relaxed rules to support independent contractors (including self-employed persons) and allow them to continue their operations. The scheme will be executed by municipal governments. Self-employed persons will have recourse to an expedited procedure allowing them to apply for additional income support, which will help them pay their costs of living for a three-month period. Under this scheme, their income will be topped up to the amount of the social minimum wage. No repayment will be necessary. Applicants will not be subjected to a means test or a partner income test. Alternatively, under this temporary scheme, independent contractors may apply for support in the form of a working capital loan at a favourable interest rate.

3. Relaxed rules with respect to the payment of taxes and reduced fines (Dutch Tax and Customs Administration)

It will be made easier for companies that have been impacted by the coronavirus to request a deferment of tax payment. The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration will halt the collection of taxes at once upon receiving the request for deferment. The deferment of payment applies to income tax, corporation tax, payroll tax and value-added tax (VAT). Any fines that may be imposed for the late payment of taxes do not need to be paid. Moreover, companies are excused from having to submit evidence at once. They will be granted more time to do so. The interest on overdue tax normally levied after the term of payment has expired will be temporarily lowered from 4% to nearly 0%. This rule will apply to all tax debts. The rate for interest on tax will be temporarily lowered to practically 0% as well. This reduction will apply to all types of tax that are subject to interest on tax. The government will lower the interest rate as soon as possible.

4. Broadening of the scope of the Guarantee Corporate Financing scheme (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy)

Companies that are having difficulty obtaining bank loans and bank guarantees will have recourse to the Guarantee Corporate Financing scheme (GO scheme). The government has proposed that the guarantee ceiling for the GO scheme be increased from €400 million to €1.5 billion. The scheme will allow the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to help small and medium-sized enterprises by guaranteeing 50% of the amount of their bank loans and bank guarantees (between €1.5 million and €50 million per company). The maximum guarantee to be awarded to a company will temporarily be raised to €150 million. The government commits to providing whatever amount is needed to grant these guarantees.

5. Interest-rate deduction on Qredits microcredit for small companies (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy)

Qredits, a provider of microcredit, finances and coaches a large number of small start-ups, which generally have difficulty obtaining loans from a bank. For instance, it provides microcredit to restaurant and cafe owners, retailers, personal care companies, construction companies and business service providers. Qredits is implementing a temporary emergency measure, under which small companies impacted by the coronavirus pandemic will be granted a six-month deferment of repayment, and the interest rate on their loans will automatically be lowered to 2% during this period. The government will allocate up to €6 million to Qredits to allow it to implement this measure.

6. Temporary guarantees for companies active in agriculture and horticulture (Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality)

The Ministry will temporarily underwrite working capital granted to farms and horticultural companies as part of the Guarantee SME Loans scheme for small and medium-sized farms (BL). In this way, the government will act as a guarantor for loans granted to farms. The government seeks to ensure that the scope of this scheme will be broadened in the short term

7. Meetings with respect to tourist tax (central government/municipalities) and the arts and culture sector

In consultation with the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the government will discuss the possibility of waiving provisional local tax assessments to be paid by companies and to retract previously imposed tax assessments. This proposal particularly applies to tourist tax. Furthermore, the central government has entered into talks with the arts and culture sector in order to make sure that it benefits from the generic measures, as well as from potential sector-specific measures where necessary

8. Compensation scheme for impacted sectors (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy)

A number of sectors will be hit particularly hard by the health-related measures imposed by the government. For instance, cafes and restaurants will suffer from the mandatory closure, and the travel industry will be hit hard by cancellations. To make matters worse, it will be hard for companies to recoup their losses once the coronavirus outbreak has blown over. Therefore, the government is implementing a compensation scheme with appropriate measures for companies active in the aforementioned sectors. This scheme is currently being finalised and will be submitted to the European Commission very soon for an assessment of whether it constitutes permissible state aid.

Where to look for more information if you run a company

Banks can apply for broadened credit arrangements (Guarantee SME Loans and GO) with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland), the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy’s executive agency. Companies should contact their credit provider The measures proposed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment will enter into effect as soon as possible.

If you have any other questions about the coronavirus, please consult Government.nl or the website of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). Alternatively, consult the Chamber of Commerce’s website. 

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 13-03-2020 | 17:09

The supervisory authority will take account of this situation while the RIVM measure is in force. Where the child-to-carer ratio is too high, where groups exceed the maximum size or, out of necessity, have had to be combined, or where children are confronted by too many different carers, the supervisory authority will decide whether the childcare provider is in contravention, taking into account that no evident harm may be done to the safety and interests of the children.

This measure has been taken to prevent childcare centres closing due to staff shortages caused by the RIVM’s temporary measure, and these closures consequently leading to additional staff shortages in other sectors.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 14-07-2023 | 15:00

As the outgoing Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Robbert Dijkgraaf, outlined previously in his letter on the subject of internationalisation, the international dimension of higher education is of major importance for students, educational institutions, the knowledge economy and wider society. Its benefits include attracting international talent and learning international skills.

However, recent years have seen the number of international students increase sharply to reach 115,000. In academic higher education, some 40 percent of all new students come from outside the Netherlands (up from just 28 percent in 2015). Left unchecked, this will undermine the quality of education, resulting in overcrowded lecture halls and excessive workloads for lecturers. It also threatens Dutch students’ access to certain English-language study programmes. In the major cities in particular, students are also increasingly struggling to find housing.

These developments are undermining the experience that education and student life should offer. There is a need to seriously rethink the strategy for internationalisation and the sharing of talent. This proposed legislation aims to strike a sustainable balance in the Dutch higher education system. This will involve balancing the benefits of internationalisation on the one hand with the need to maintain quality, access and efficiency on the other. The ultimate aim of this targeted approach is to help sustain the leading international position enjoyed by Dutch universities of applied sciences and academic universities.

Space for multiple languages

The proposed legislation currently under consultation contains a series of ‘buttons’ that aim to manage and control the influx of international students: mechanisms designed to boost the advantages of internationalisation, limit the disadvantages and withstand major or sudden shocks. This will include specific scope for differentiation to accommodate regional differences and shortage sectors. First and foremost, the measures relate to language and aim to ensure that the use of Dutch in higher education is retained and strengthened.

The legislation also aims to make better use of the opportunities for multilingual approaches while also boosting the international standing of academic universities and universities of applied sciences. It will create more space for courses and modules in other languages within Dutch Bachelor and Associate degree programmes, up to a maximum of one third of the total credits. If more than one third of all credits are obtained on non-Dutch courses, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science will assess the suitability of a Bachelor or Associate degree programme by applying a ‘foreign-language instruction test’. He can grant permission after a thorough assessment of:

• the availability of staff in a specific sector and students’ labour market prospects. There are currently significant shortages in education, healthcare and technology. However, in some of these shortage sectors, there are also jobs where a good command of Dutch matters, for example in contact with patients.
• the regional impact of a study programme. In regions facing economic decline, a knowledge institution that has international appeal can be very welcome. The situation may be quite different in cities that are no longer able to cope with the pressure of more students.
• the extent to which a study programme contributes to the Netherlands’ international standing. Some study programmes deliver graduates who compete among the very best internationally, for example in the fine arts.
• the question of whether there are sufficient numbers of staff to teach in Dutch. If this is not the case, programmes in other languages will be permitted.
• the distribution of similar types of programmes across the country. In principle, there should always be a Dutch-language version of any specific programme available to students.

When the test is applied, compliance on just one of the elements will not be sufficient. All of the different elements will be viewed as a whole, set within the specific context of the study programme.

The proposed legislation also includes measures for promoting proficiency in the Dutch language among both Dutch and international students. A good command of Dutch opens doors in the labour market and boosts connections between students, lecturers and wider society. Institutions will still have freedom on how they intend to promote students’ language proficiency, but this will need to be firmly anchored within the basic curriculum (Bachelor and Associate degree programmes). In the case of Master’s programmes, this can be extracurricular.

All students on study programmes not taught in Dutch will have an obligation to improve their proficiency in the Dutch language. The purpose of this differs for each group: Dutch language students will be expected to improve their academic and professional language proficiency whereas the aim for students who are native speakers of other languages is to help them feel more at home in the Netherlands and improve their job prospects in the country.

Maximum number of students

The proposed legislation also includes a measure that permits limited enrolment for part of a study programme. Currently, this is only possible for study programmes as a whole. Targeting limited enrolment on a specific track will help prevent part of the programme becoming oversubscribed and reducing access to the rest of it.

The legislation also proposes a maximum number of places for students from outside Europe in cases where teaching capacity is limited. This will safeguard access for Dutch and European students. The government has a responsibility towards Dutch students and – in view of the close cooperation and reciprocity within the European Economic Area (EEA) – also towards other European countries.

Finally, study programmes that suddenly face large numbers of applications can opt to apply an emergency limit on enrolment, serving as an ‘emergency brake’ if the quality of education is threatened.

Autonomy and self-governance

The measures on language and limited enrolment will prove effective only if they are applied together, within the context of the whole system and wider society. This calls for careful management: first of all through coordination between institutions and secondly by government.

However valuable the individual autonomy of institutions may be, this cannot take precedence over the long-term sustainability of the system, access for students and efficient use of public resources. Taking responsibility for the whole system while also taking wider societal effects into account will require a different and more active attitude from government. For this reason, the proposed legislation provides opportunities for the Minister to intervene as an ultimate measure.

Anyone can express a view about the proposed legislation until 15 September. Separately from these legal measures, outgoing Minister Dijkgraaf intends to make further executive agreements with academic universities and universities of applied sciences, on such issues as more targeted recruitment, more active steering of international students towards the Dutch employment market and effective information about accommodation. These measures are necessary to plug the gap until the legislation enters into force.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 21-04-2023 | 16:56

The number of students from abroad has risen sharply in recent years. In the last academic year, there were 115,000 international students in the Netherlands, 3.5 times as many as in 2005-2006. At universities, 40 percent of new students came from abroad (2015: 28 percent). In some places, this rise is leading to problems with accommodation, a higher workload for staff and reduced access to some educational programmes.

Robbert Dijkgraaf: “The Netherlands is not an island. On the contrary, we are one of the most internationally connected countries in the world. It is therefore a good thing that Dutch students can study abroad and that international students can study here in the Netherlands. It is good for the students themselves, but also good for our society and knowledge economy. There are high-growth technology sectors that are desperate for new international talent. But it should also be possible to manage the number of students arriving here, where necessary. Left unchecked, the current numbers will lead to overcrowded lecture halls, excessive workloads for lecturers, a lack of student accommodation, and reduced access to study programmes. Using this targeted, long-term approach, I want to prevent the quality of education in our colleges and universities from coming under so much pressure that our leading international position is undermined. My aim is to strengthen that position. We need a brake as well as an accelerator – and, above all, we need a steering wheel.”

Differentiation for strategic growth sectors and regional differences

In his letter, the Minister proposes a series of instruments to improve the way in which the influx of international students is managed. This involves a combination of legislation and agreements with the institutions concerned.
The minister expressly intends to leave room for differentiation when it comes to study programmes that educate students to work in strategic growth sectors such as ICT and engineering, and for those sectors of the labour market that are experiencing shortages.

He also emphasizes that when developing these instruments, differences within the higher education system should be taken into account. Different regions of the country have specific needs, for instance. Universities and colleges located close to the borders with Germany and Belgium will occupy a different position when it comes to internationalization, of course.

Managing the system for the good of society as a whole

The package of measures firstly includes a form of central management. This will make it possible to look at the whole education system consistently and from the perspective of society as a whole. As such, it will be easier to address strategic issues pertaining to internationalization at the system level, such as: what can society and the education system cope with? How do we ensure that adverse developments around internationalization are identified in a timely manner? How is the demand for talent changing and developing? And how does that fit into the Netherlands’ growth strategy?

This new approach will provide universities and colleges with instruments that they can use to manage flows of international students better. The Minister wishes to make sure that options for intervention are in place if the system is at risk. The precise details of the new approach will be determined in greater detail in the near future.

Limits on the capacity of study programmes

Other steps involve limiting the number of students enrolled for certain study programmes when the maximum capacity has been reached. At present, such a limit is only possible for an entire study programme. The more targeted use of this instrument – such as applying it only to a certain track (e.g. one taught in a foreign language) – will improve access for Dutch-speaking students.

In addition, in the event that a restricted access study programme is almost full, the Minister wishes to be able to limit the number of students coming from outside Europe (EEA). This means that both Dutch and European students will still be able to access those programmes. This ‘emergency capacity limit’ should help to cope with any large and unexpected rise in the number of students from outside Europe.

Promoting Dutch language skills

Mr Dijkgraaf also wants universities and colleges to promote Dutch language skills among all students, including those from other countries. A better command of Dutch will improve their chances on the labour market, and also improve the chance that students from abroad will want to (and will be able to) stay in the Netherlands after completing their studies.

The Minister will elaborate on these language measures in a new bill. The principle is that education is provided in Dutch: this remains unchanged. Dutch is and will remain the primary language, with acceptable exceptions to this being defined better. This will make it possible to oversee those exceptions. Given the urgent need for action, the Minister will begin drafting the new bill immediately, and it could come into effect in September 2024 at the earliest. The plan would then be to withdraw the Language and Accessibility Bill (WTT), which was postponed last year. The Minister will discuss the letter with the House of Representatives before the summer.

Better information regarding accommodation

Finally, the Minister wishes to make further administrative agreements with universities and colleges before next summer – agreements that could help improve the management of the number of international students coming to the Netherlands. This includes implementing agreements on targeted recruitment: for example, institutions should only actively recruit abroad for programmes that focus on (shortages in) the regional labour market. An appeal for restraint in recruitment practices was already issued in December. The Minister also wishes more international students to be actively steered towards the Dutch labour market, institutions to adopt Dutch as the primary administrative language (with a policy of bilingualism if necessary) and for students to be provided with better information regarding accommodation.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 21-04-2022 | 15:56

Besides in the reception facilities arranged by the government, thousands of people are staying with friends, family or private hosts, or in hotels.

The Netherlands stands ready to assist refugees from Ukraine in the Netherlands. To this end the Ministerial Crisis Management Committee (MCCb) made the following decisions today.

Education

Municipalities will receive funding to arrange transport for school-aged Ukrainian children who do not live near a school. Schools with experience of teaching Ukrainian pupils will receive extra funding to assist other schools. The government is also drafting a bill that will make it easier for school boards and municipalities to set up temporary educational facilities, including in regions where this is more difficult to organise. Temporary schools are needed when the regular schools in a region are no longer able to take in new pupils.

Organising access to healthcare

Refugees from Ukraine have a different status from other refugees. This also means they cannot access healthcare under the medical care scheme for asylum seekers (RMA), nor can they take out Dutch health insurance (unless they get a job in the Netherlands). The State Secretary for Justice and Security has therefore been tasked with organising access to medical care and long-term care for Ukrainian refugees. This is similar to his responsibility for regular asylum seekers.

The Ministry of Justice and Security, supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, is working with health insurers to draw up an implementation agreement, similar to the contract that covers asylum seekers. In principle, it will be modelled as much as possible on the existing systems, contracts and cover from the RMA. In the interim, care providers can apply to the grant scheme for essential medical care for uninsured persons (SOV). Reducing the administrative burden for care providers is being tackled with priority, and the government has already taken the first steps to this end.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 09-07-2021 | 14:00

Items voluntarily returned by owner

In its request for the items’ return, the Peruvian government noted that the objects came from archaeological locations or excavations not authorised by the Peruvian authorities. After the Inspectorate was notified about several objects being offered to an auction house, it began an investigation which revealed that the objects had been acquired in the 1970s by the father of the current owner. Following Peru’s request and the Inspectorate’s investigation, the owner voluntarily handed over the objects so that they can once again be part of the country’s cultural heritage collection. During the handover ceremony, the Peruvian authorities expressed their appreciation for the return of these cultural objects, which will be publicly exhibited once they are back in Peru.

Pottery and textiles

The collection of objects being returned to Peru contains a diverse range of cultural objects. The 28 objects come from various pre-Columbian cultures, such as the Chimú, Chancay, Moche, Wari and Vicús, and date from between 200 BCE to 1,500 CE. The collection consists mainly of pottery pieces, including decorative jugs and figurines in the form of humans and animals. A number of colourful decorative textile fragments were also returned, as well as a collection of seeds.

Peruvian cultural heritage

Peru has an extraordinarily rich cultural heritage. One famous example is Machu Picchu, an Incan city that was never discovered by the Spanish, and has thus been preserved in its original state. Machu Picchu is now the largest tourist and archaeological attraction in Peru. The ruins are situated on a 2,500 metre-high mountain ridge, above the valley of a sacred river. Many cultural objects from this and other pre-Columbian cultures were plundered and illegally exported for sale. To protect this valuable heritage the International Council of Museums drew up a list of cultural heritage from Peru that may not be traded.

1970 UNESCO Convention

The return of this collection to Peru was carried out in the spirit of the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The Netherlands has been a party to this convention since 17 October 2009. Under its provisions the State Parties must offer each other assistance when illegally exported cultural property is discovered, and must take appropriate steps to return such cultural property. In this case the Inspectorate investigated the origin of the items concerned and supervised the subsequent voluntary return process.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 25-06-2021 | 17:43

This policy enables the return of items of cultural value to the original owners or their heirs, specifically those looted, stolen, confiscated, sold under duress or otherwise expropriated involuntarily prior to and during the Second World War.

“We must continue our efforts to return items lost involuntarily or acquired illegally around the time of the Second World War to the right people,” says Van Engelshoven. “We will achieve this through systematic research and better communication. And when we really don’t know who the owner is, I am happy to say that we will then look at how we can return art looted from Jewish owners to the Jewish community. This is an important step forward in our thinking around restitution policy.”

Systematic provenance research

Systematic provenance research is to be resumed. This means that the provenance of all works still in the so-called Netherlands Art Property Collection (NK Collection) of cultural items returned to the Dutch state after the war will be re-examined. This effort will determine whether there are any new clues as to their provenance or original ownership. The aim is to return the items to the original owners or their heirs. As custodian of the NK Collection, the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) will carry out this research and will also actively approach possible rightful owners. In so doing, it will build upon the extensive provenance research previously undertaken by the Origins Unknown Agency. The RCE’s work is intended to complement the research that is already conducted by the Expertise Centre for the Restitution of Items of Cultural Value and the Second World War at the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Better communication

With a new helpdesk and better access to all available information, Van Engelshoven also wants to make it easier to submit an application for restitution. Good and active communication about the policy and works which may have been looted will contribute towards this goal. As of 2022, the RCE will therefore be expanding its heritage helpdesk function to include information and advice on restitution. As well as people with questions about restitution applications, collection managers seeking advice about the relevant procedures will be able to contact the helpdesk.

In addition, access to the available information about possible looted art is being centralized. From now on, full details of the NK Collection can be found on the National Collection website at wo2.collectienederland.nl. This portal is to be further expanded and improved over the coming years.

Transfer of heirless art

If the original owners or heirs cannot be found, items of cultural value looted from Jewish owners and now in the possession of the State will be returned to the Jewish community. This is another basic principle of the strengthened restitution policy. The key requirement is that provenance research must first be carried out in order to determine whether an item belongs to anyone. But if the original owner or their heirs cannot be found, then arrangements will be made in consultation with the Jewish community to transfer this heirless art to a Jewish heritage institution. By taking this step, the minister is acting in accordance with the spirit and the substance of the 1998 Washington Principles, Article 9 of which states that a “just and fair” solution should be found for heirless art.

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 09-06-2021 | 11:00

The funerary vase was purchased by the museum in 1988 as an addition to the national collection. The Italian authorities recently submitted a request for its return, having established that the vase was illegally excavated in Italy and was unlawfully removed from the country.

Scylla askos

The funerary vase, known as a Scylla askos, is made of earthenware. It originates from Canosa, Southern Italy, and dates to around 400-300 BC. The vase depicts the nymph Scylla and is decorated with dogs, a woman and child, Amazons, and the head of a duck. These types of vases were used in funeral rituals and then placed with the deceased in the grave.

Voluntary return

The State of the Netherlands is voluntarily handing the vase over to the Italian authorities, in response to their request that it be returned. The Italian authorities have convincingly demonstrated that the item left Italy unlawfully. The return of the vase to Italy is in the spirit of the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums, which states that museums should engage in dialogue on matters related to return and restitution. The procedure for disposal from the Dutch national collection laid down in the Heritage Act (Erfgoedwet) has been followed. The return is also in line with European and international legislation, such as the Directive on returning cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of another EU country.