The Netherlands, whose government is currently in the process of stepping down, will allocate an additional €700 million to Ukraine for 2026. The decision was reported by Dutch media outlet NOS on 8 December.
These funds became available because several ministries are not expected to use parts of their budgets by the end of the year. Additional financing will come, among other sources, from the Defence Equipment Budget Fund and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where some projects have been postponed.
Overall, the Netherlands provides approximately €3.5 billion to Ukraine annually. This year, however, part of the budget for the following year — around €2 billion — has already been used. As a result, the political alliance GreenLeft–Labour Party proposed replenishing the 2026 budget, and the decision to allocate the extra €700 million was made in response to this initiative.
At the beginning of next year, the government plans to identify sources for the remaining funds needed by Ukraine. In a letter to parliament, the ministers of defence, finance, and foreign affairs warned that securing additional resources will be difficult: “The financial reality is that next year we will face limitations.”
During parliamentary debates in late November, outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof stated that it currently “makes no sense” to allocate additional billions to Ukraine. He argued that other countries, particularly those in Southern Europe, should increase their support.
This position sparked criticism in parliament, where the government was accused of taking an “accounting-based approach” to assisting Ukraine. Schoof rejected this characterization, stressing that the Netherlands already provides substantial support. However, under pressure from the majority, he agreed to consider the proposal to increase funding, while noting that the current moment is not ideal for additional expenditures.
