The Netherlands should follow up on the recommendations of the Social Minimum Commission (Commissie Sociaal Minimum) to ensure an adequate, predictable, and secure income for everyone: reform the benefits and tax system so that people have a secure livelihood and work pays off. Cohesion between laws and simplicity in implementation is crucial for both residents and municipalities. For example, the Participation Act is in need of a fundamental revision: fewer mandatory obligations, more room for personalised arrangements.

Right to access social services

✅ People’s right to access social services is recognised in various laws, including:

• Constitution: Dutch citizens who cannot provide for their own existence have the right to government assistance, as regulated by law.
• Participation Act: all residents have the right to social assistance if they have insufficient income and assets.
• Social Support Act 2015 (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning 2015 – Wmo 2015): municipalities are obliged to support residents in leading an independent life and participating in society. Services include domestic help, day care, and sheltered housing.
• Youth Act: municipalities must provide youth care, including mental health services, support for parenting, and protection when needed.
• Long-term Care Act (Wet langdurige zorg – Wlz): it regulates access to intensive care for people who need 24/7 supervision or care, often due to chronic illness, disability, or old age.
• Municipal Debt Assistance Act (Wet gemeentelijke schuldhulpverlening – Wgs): it provides a legal framework for municipalities to offer debt assistance to residents, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and effective support to help people become debt-free.
• Health Insurance Act (Zorgverzekeringswet – Zvw): it makes it mandatory for all residents and those subject to Dutch payroll tax to take out basic health insurance with a private insurer.
• Unemployment Act (Werkloosheidswet – WW): it provides unemployment benefits for a certain period to those who have lost their jobs.

Definition of social services

❌ The Netherlands does not have a single, universally agreed-upon definition of ‘social services’ in its legislation. In essence, however, social services are support mechanisms designed to ensure people can live independently and participate fully in society, especially when facing challenges related to age, disability, mental health, or social and economic hardship.

National social services catalogue

❌ The Netherlands does not have an official catalogue of social services. However, some platforms inform citizens about the services and benefits they are entitled to in their region or municipality, such as:

• www.socialekaart.nl, a platform where municipalities or regions can host their service maps.
• www.voorzieningenwijzer.nl, a tool that provides residents with personalised overviews of services and financial arrangements.

National social services strategic plan

❌ The Netherlands does not have a national social services strategic plan. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is responsible for the social security laws, while the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport is responsible for the laws on social support, long-term care, health insurance, and youth.

Responsibilities of national, regional, and local authorities 

National authorities are responsible for: 

• Setting the legal framework for social services and defining national entitlements, target groups, and broad responsibilities.
• Funding national-level facilities as well as providing specific grants to municipalities.
• Overseeing implementation via national inspectorates.

Local authorities have a core responsibility for planning and delivering most social services, determining which providers to contract and how services are delivered. They also manage the funds they receive from the national government, decide on local budgets, and evaluate and improve services.

As of 1 January 2024, the Netherlands’ population was 17,942,942 people (Source: Eurostat). That same year, the country’s gross domestic product (at market prices) reached €1,134,115.0 million (Source: Eurostat).

The Netherlands’ 2023 total social protection expenditure was €275,656 million, of which:

• Sickness and health care: €99,556 million
• Disability: €26,876 million.
• Old age: €101,529 million.
• Survivors: €8,085 million.
• Family and children: €13,753 million.
• Unemployment: €5,539 million.
• Housing: €4,201 million.
• Social exclusion not elsewhere classified: €16,117 million (Source: CBS).

Social Services Workforce

In the first quarter of 2024, there were 64,800 employees in the social work sector (Source: AZW).

In the fourth quarter of 2024, there were 1,492,000 employees in the health care and welfare sector, including social work (Source: CBS).

Long-term Care Services for Older People

Population aged 65+

As of 1 January 2024, 20.5% of the population or 3,677,228 people were aged 65 and over (Source: Eurostat).

In 2024, 49.9% of the population aged 65+ had some or a severe level of activity limitation (Source: Eurostat).

In 2023, 215,165 people aged 65+ qualified for long-term care under WIz (Source: MLZ).

Residential care facilities

In 2024, there were 128,686 people in residential care (for all people) (verpleeghuis) and nursing homes (for older people) (verzorgings) (Source: CBS).

Day care centres

In 2020, it was estimated that 0.8% of the total population (including older people) used some form of day care, corresponding to 136,000 people (Source: Movisie).

Home care services

In 2023, 579,500 people of all ages received publicly funded home care (wijkverpleging) (Source: NZA). 

In 2024, on average, people received home care for about 6 months, 4 hours per week (Source: Vektis).

Personal assistants

The personal budget (persoonsgebonden budget – PGB) allows people to purchase care for themselves. Instead of receiving care through a facility, the PGB gives people the freedom to decide who provides their care, where, and when. 

Different laws provide for different types of care. In 2022, the PGB was used by the following number of people aged 65+ under the following laws:

• WIz: 17,895.
• Wmo: 1,2950.
• Zvw: 5,345 (Source: MLZ).

Telecare services

No data available.

Long-term Care Services for Adults with Disabilities

Population aged 18+ with disabilities

In 2023, 30% of people aged 15-64 not in education had a disability: 6% had a severe disability and 24% had a limiting but not severe disability (Source: CBS).

In 2023, 358,295 people aged 18+ were classified as having a Wiz indication (WIz-indicatie), meaning they require intensive long-term care under WIz, either at home or in a care facility (Source: MLZ). The WIz indication is provided by the Care Needs Assessment Centre (Centrum indicatiestelling zorg – CIZ), upon assessment of a person’s care needs.

In 2024, 25.6% of the population aged 16-64 had some or a severe level of activity limitation (Source: Eurostat).

Residential care facilities

In the third quarter of 2024, 221,395 people of all ages received residential care under WIz (Source: MLZ). 

Day care centres

In 2024, 65,485 people received day care under Wmo 2015 (Source: CBS). A person is eligible for Wmo daytime activities if they are 18 years or older, require professional daytime activities due to an illness, disability, or old age, are not classified as having long-term care needs under WIz, and do not have sufficient help from their own social network (such as a partner or family).

Home care services

In the third quarter of 2024, 28,805 people of all ages received a full package of home care, and an additional 58,065 people received a partial package of home care, both under Wiz (Source: MLZ).

Personal assistants

The personal budget (persoonsgebonden budget – PGB) allows people to purchase care for themselves. Instead of receiving care through a facility, the PGB gives people the freedom to decide who provides their care, where, and when. 

Different laws provide for different types of care. In 2022, the PGB was used by the following number of people aged 18-64 under the following laws:

• Youth Act: 255.
• WIz: 36,545.
• Wmo: 18,780.
• Zvw: 5,530 (Source: MLZ).

Telecare services

No data available.

Child Protection

As of 30 June 2024, there were 26,435 ongoing child protection measures, of which:

• Supervision order: 17,740.
• Provisional supervision order: 275.
• Guardianship: 8,185.
• Provisional guardianship: 235 (Source: CBS).

In the second half of 2024, the following number of children were placed in alternative care: 

• Foster care: 17,295.
• Family-like care (including family homes, guest houses, etc.): 5,595.
• Secure placement based on a court order: 930.
• Other forms of care (generally with other children and including assisted living): 14,940 (Source: CBS).

In 2021, it was estimated that 81% of young people in need of care had to wait to obtain care, with the average waiting time being 44 weeks (Source: Youth Authority). 

Domestic Violence Support Services 

Women experiencing domestic violence

In 2024, 10.1% of the female population aged 16+ reported being a victim of domestic violence (Source: CBS).

Women receiving support from domestic violence support services

In 2024, Veilig Thuis, the country’s advice and reporting centre for domestic violence and child abuse, received 129,220 notifications, 66,400 of which concerned child abuse. They provided advice on 153,910 occasions (Source: Veilig Thuis). It is unclear, however, how many of these cases concerned female victims of domestic violence.

Emergency accommodation centres

Based on data from 2022 and 2023, there are about 1,000 reception places for victims of domestic violence in the Netherlands, and their average occupancy rate is higher than 90%. In 2023, they accommodated approximately 190 adults (with or without children), totalling more than 3,000 overnight stays (Source: Valente).

Minimum Income Schemes

In the Netherlands, there are different types of minimum income schemes, including:

• Social assistance (bijstand): the Participation Act provides a basic income for people who are unable to support themselves through work or other sources. This is generally for individuals who are not eligible for other benefits (like unemployment benefits) or whose income is too low. The amount varies based on the household composition, but it is intended to cover basic living costs. People receiving social assistance are expected to seek work and participate in reintegration efforts.
• Unemployment benefit (WW-uitkering): the Unemployment Act supports those who have lost their job. The duration and level of the benefit depend on the individual's work history and previous earnings. Unemployment benefits are generally higher than social assistance but are only available to those who meet the eligibility requirements (e.g., having worked for a certain period and contributed to the unemployment insurance system).
• Wajong: it provides income support to young people with a disability or illness who are unable to work or work full-time. This benefit is also intended to encourage integration into the labour market as much as possible.

Other benefits aimed at supporting lower-income individuals and families include:

• Health care benefit (zorgtoeslag): it helps cover the cost of health insurance premiums. Eligibility and the amount depend on income and household size.
• Child benefit (kinderbijslag): it is designed to help with the costs of raising children. The amount varies based on the household income and the number of children.

In December 2024, 405,700 people were recorded as receiving social assistance (Source: CBS).

At the end of 2024, about 166,000 people received unemployment benefits (Source: CBS).

In 2024, 246,100 people received Wajong benefits (Source: Netherlands Youth Institute).

Reforms

In 2024, the Dutch government increased the child benefit as part of a broader €2 billion annual package to combat poverty and support vulnerable households.

The 2024 Tax Plan included measures to support low-income individuals, such as increasing the employment tax credit and halting the reduction of the double general tax credit for social assistance recipients. These changes aimed to improve net income for those on minimum wages. 

Housing and Homelessness Support

Housing support allowances

People who rent a home and have a low income can access rent allowance (huurtoeslag) if they meet specific income and rent criteria. The amount of the allowance depends on factors such as income, household size, and rent costs. This allowance is designed to help people with limited financial means afford decent housing.

In 2023, 1,504,700 rent allowances were granted (Source: Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning).

Homeless people

On 1 January 2023, approximately 30,600 people aged 18-64 were homeless. At that same time, around 9,000 people were recorded in relevant registers such as those with a postal address at a shelter, receiving welfare benefits, without a fixed address, or people who came in contact with the probation service (Source: CBS).