Game industry asks Lower House for a permanent place in government policy
Industry organisations want videogames recognised as a digital, economic and cultural sector.
The Dutch game industry has asked the Lower House to include videogames structurally in policy on digitalisation, innovation, education and culture. The appeal comes as the sector seeks attention for both economic opportunities and online safety.
The Videogames Federatie Nederland, together with organisations including the Dutch Games Association, presented a petition to the standing Lower House committee for Economic Affairs. The Lower House recorded the presentation of the petition on 29 September. A day later, MPs in The Hague had the opportunity to become acquainted with Dutch games and creators during ‘Gamen in de Kamer’.
The sector wants to move away from an approach in which videogames are discussed mainly in terms of risks to young people, consumer protection or online safety. According to the organisations, games are also an industry in which software development, artificial intelligence, design, storytelling and data analysis come together.
The industry is asking politicians to embed games in national policy on digitalisation, innovation, the economy, education and culture. The Netherlands should also become more attractive to companies and talent, including by making existing schemes for innovation, funding, growth and internationalisation more accessible.
The economic scale is considerable, according to figures cited by the sector itself. Dutch consumers spent approximately €1.15 billion on videogames in 2025. Dutch game companies collectively generated revenue of €763 million in 2024. These figures come from sector publications and have not been independently established by the government.
The petition also links games to applications beyond entertainment. The sector cites healthcare, education, science, defence and digital resilience, among others. That argument fits into a broader debate about whether the Netherlands should mainly regulate digital technology or also actively support it.
This is also where the main political tension lies. Greater recognition and funding could keep companies and talent in the Netherlands, but government support can influence market choices and make the sector more dependent on public funds. At the same time, rules on minors, gambling-like game mechanics, privacy and online safety remain in place.
The Lower House has not established any new policy through the petition. The meeting mainly marks an attempt by the sector to put its own priorities on the agenda ahead of future policy and budget decisions. Whether that message leads to additional funding, amended regulations or simply more attention remains to be seen in subsequent discussions.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The game industry has presented a petition to the Lower House.
- The sector is asking for games to be included in several policy areas.
- The petition combines economic arguments with questions about safety and social applications.
- The Lower House has not established any new policy through the petition.
Left
Arguments Games deserve support as a creative and digital sector, but public funds must go hand in hand with strong protection for children, workers and consumers. Their social value must not be used to downplay risks.
Values Equal opportunities, public interests and protection of vulnerable players.
Consequences More support could strengthen talent and innovation, but requires conditions relating to safety, working conditions and accessibility.
Centre
Arguments The government can recognise the sector and open existing innovation and education schemes to it without immediately creating a separate funding stream. Regulation and support should be based on facts and evaluations.
Values Pragmatism, equal rules and efficient use of public funds.
Consequences A broad policy approach could prevent fragmentation, but its effect on Dutch companies will need to be made measurable.
Right
Arguments The Netherlands should give digital companies and talent room to compete internationally. Excessive regulation or fragmented support could drive investment to other countries; safety should mainly be addressed in a targeted and proportionate way.
Values Entrepreneurship, competitiveness and freedom of choice.
Consequences Lower burdens could accelerate growth, but would leave more responsibility to companies and parents for safe use.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The parliamentary petition and the policy requests mentioned have been confirmed by the Lower House and sector sources. The economic figures are clearly presented as figures supplied by the sector.
- confirmed The VGFN presented a petition to the Lower House together with other organisations. — The Lower House recorded the presentation of the petition; the participating organisations are listed in the public reporting. source
- confirmed The sector is asking for videogames to be embedded in policy on digitalisation, innovation, the economy, education and culture. — This is stated in the explanation accompanying the petition. source
- confirmed Dutch consumers spent €1.15 billion on videogames in 2025. — The amount is cited by the sector publication and attributed in the article as a sector figure. source
- confirmed The Lower House has not established any new policy as a result of the petition. — The public Lower House page records a petition presentation, not an adopted policy decision. source
Editor's note
The presentation of the petition and the policy requests have been confirmed. Revenue and spending figures come from sector communications and are therefore attributed as sector figures; no independent government report using the same figures was used.Sources
- Petitie met betrekking tot Nederlandse videogame-industrie — Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal
- Nederlandse videogamesector overhandigt petitie aan Tweede Kamer — That's Gaming
- Nederlandse videogamesector slaat de handen ineen voor beleidsprioriteiten — Videogames Federatie Nederland