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Dutch Government Cuts 25,000 Civil Servant Jobs for €3.5B Savings

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 3:54 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The Dutch government will cut 25,000 civil servant jobs to save €3.5 billion.
The plan targets €900 million annual savings by 2027, rising to €3.5 billion by 2035.
Civil servant numbers reached a record 160,000 at end-2025, 41% above 2018 levels.
Police and defense are exempt, while ministries and agencies could lose 45%–60% of staff.
An AI program aims for a 20% productivity boost using Dutch and European suppliers.

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Story summary

The Dutch government will cut 25,000 civil servant jobs to save €3.5 billion.
The plan targets €900 million annual savings by 2027, rising to €3.5 billion by 2035.
Civil servant numbers reached a record 160,000 at end-2025, 41% above 2018 levels.
Police and defense are exempt, while ministries and agencies could lose 45%–60% of staff.
An AI program aims for a 20% productivity boost using Dutch and European suppliers.