Netherlands government unveils €20 bn nitrogen reduction package

The Dutch coalition led by Prime Minister Rob Jetten presented a comprehensive nitrogen‑reduction program aimed at lifting the long‑standing “nitrogen lock”. The package allocates about €20‑22 billion and sets sector‑wide targets for 2035: agricultural emissions must fall 42‑46 % from 2019 levels, while industry and transport emissions are to be halved. A key measure limits livestock density to a maximum of 2.6 dairy cows per hectare and introduces buffer zones of 500 m to 1 km around roughly 100 Natura 2000 nature areas, affecting thousands of farms.

The plan also seeks to revive permit issuance by removing the critical deposit value (KDW) and establishing new emission caps for farms, with possible reductions in animal numbers where limits cannot be met. Additional funding of €250 million is earmarked for industry and transport measures, including incentives for electric construction equipment and stricter limits on ammonia and NOx emissions. Energy‑infrastructure developers welcomed the higher under‑threshold for nitrogen, seeing it as a way to accelerate projects.

Political support is uncertain; the minority cabinet will need backing from other parties in both parliamentary chambers. Farmers’ groups have warned that the measures could trigger new protests, recalling large demonstrations in 2019 against earlier nitrogen policies.