Belgium and Netherlands face major fiscal and healthcare reforms

Belgium and the Netherlands are facing significant fiscal challenges and healthcare reforms. In Belgium, Prime Minister Bart De Wever is leading negotiations to address a €10 billion budget deficit. Proposed measures include potential increases in VAT, higher taxes on wealth, and reductions in government spending, including reforms to company car tax benefits and healthcare costs.

In the Netherlands, the government has announced that the mandatory healthcare deductible will rise to €400 in 2027, alongside an expected increase in monthly healthcare premiums to €169. The Dutch cabinet is focusing on healthcare affordability through prevention, including investments in shingles vaccinations and support for vulnerable families. However, political leaders like Jesse Klaver have criticized the government's plans, arguing that current proposals increase individual costs rather than addressing systemic inefficiencies such as market forces in youth care.