Prinsjesdag 2025: mobility and infrastructure in the 2026 national budget
On 16 September 2025, the caretaker Dutch government presented the 2026 Budget Memorandum and national budgets. The main priorities for mobility and infrastructure are set out in three documents: the Budget Memorandum, the budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW), and the Mobility Fund budget statement.
The direction for 2026 is maintenance of existing infrastructure, access to housing development sites, and additional funding for public transport and cycling.
Key figures
- Main road network: €4.44 billion
- Railways: €3.18 billion
- Main waterway network: €1.55 billion
- Regional infrastructure and accessibility programmes: €427 million
- Major traffic and transport projects: €591 million
- Exploratory studies, reserves and investment capacity: €287 million
- General investment capacity to 2039: €3.6 billion
2026 Budget Memorandum
The Budget Memorandum states that most spending in the coming years will go towards maintenance and preservation. Ageing infrastructure and more intensive use are increasing maintenance needs. Labour shortages, permitting procedures and grid congestion also play a role.
The reduction in the Brede Doeluitkering (BDU), the Dutch broad-purpose grant for regional public transport, will not take effect until 2027. A development strategy for large-scale infrastructure is also being prepared, focusing on preservation and sustainability. In 2025, €2.5 billion had already been transferred to the Mobility Fund for housing development sites.
2026 IenW budget
The IenW budget focuses on a mobility system in which roads, public transport and cycling complement one another.
The Onderwegpas is being introduced for people on low incomes, allowing cheaper or free off-peak travel. In addition, €300 million a year is available on an ongoing basis for regional and metropolitan public transport.
Cycling is supported through investment in infrastructure and facilities at stations. There are also subsidies for electric vehicles, charging points, shared mobility and zero-emission lorries. Electric car taxation is changing: from 2026, the reduction in Dutch motor vehicle tax will fall to 30%, compared with the current 75%.
Major traffic and transport projects include ViA15, comprising the A15 extension and widening of the A12/A15, and the Blankenburgverbinding. €591 million is available for these in 2026.
Mobility Fund
The Mobility Fund provides the financial basis for investment in mobility and aligns with the Mobility Vision 2050 and the National Strategy on Spatial Planning and the Environment. It is a multi-year fund running to 2039, giving long-term projects certainty about financing.
A significant share of the funding is linked to access to housing development sites. €2.5 billion was transferred to the fund for this purpose in 2025 to improve access to new residential areas.
The fund also includes exploratory studies and reserves totalling €287 million. These resources are intended for projects still in preparation or awaiting future policy decisions, retaining scope to respond to emerging developments.
Funding is allocated without favouring a particular transport mode: the focus is each project's contribution to the mobility system as a whole. Major projects such as ViA15, Blankenburgverbinding and Lelylijn fall under the fund, alongside the operation and maintenance of roads, railways and waterways.
A total of €3.6 billion is available as general investment capacity up to 2039. This is intended to cover risks, setbacks and new policy ambitions.
The overall picture
Together, the Budget Memorandum, IenW budget and Mobility Fund show that funding for 2026 mainly targets infrastructure preservation, access to new housing development sites, and support for public transport and cycling. Major projects continue, while financial flexibility remains to accommodate new developments.
What does this mean for you?
Interested in what these budgets mean for mobility challenges in your municipality or development? Please contact us for an explanation.
Sources:
Would you like to read the full documents? You can find them here:
- 2026 Budget Memorandum
- 2026 Infrastructure and Water Management budget
- 2026 Mobility Fund budget statement
