Businesses and regions call for more infrastructure funding
Trade bodies support the focus on maintenance but call for sustained funding and predictable delivery.
Follow-up to: Government prioritises maintenance and pauses infrastructure projects Friday, 16 October 2026, 16:50
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
Businesses and regional authorities responded both positively and critically to the new infrastructure plans on Friday. They support prioritising maintenance but warn that this will not eliminate the funding shortfall for maintenance, replacement and new construction.
A broad coalition of business organisations, municipalities, provinces and regional transport authorities is asking the government to hold talks on the future of infrastructure by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest. In a joint statement published by Transport en Logistiek Nederland, they describe the choices made as an important first step. Their request goes further: they want sustained investment, a multi-year plan and the actual delivery of projects.
Minister Vincent Karremans and State Secretary Annet Bertram presented their priorities on 16 October. They want to make around €18 billion available for maintenance and renewal up to and including 2041. To achieve this, allocations within the infrastructure funds are being changed. De Vector previously reported on the priority given to existing infrastructure and the suspension of construction projects. The joint appeal from businesses and regions and the specific concerns of businesses carrying out the work are new developments.
The signatories to the statement believe the remaining shortfalls also threaten transport access to new housing developments. They also fear disruption to existing infrastructure if necessary replacement work is not carried out. These are warnings from the organisations involved; the statement does not demonstrate that every postponed intervention automatically leads to a closure or delay. The signatories include the Vereniging Nederlandse Gemeenten, the Interprovinciaal Overleg and Bouwend Nederland.
In a separate response, Cumela focuses on the practicalities of delivery. According to the trade body, shifting workloads and uncertain schedules make investment decisions more difficult for contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. It therefore calls for businesses to be involved early in planning. The organisation also wants them to have a say in measures intended to limit damage caused by unexpected infrastructure failures.
Cumela also advocates a critical examination of the costs of supervision, inspections and project organisation. It says recurring elements can be standardised, provided local circumstances allow for tailored solutions. Safety for road users and road workers must be maintained. The organisation does not present an independently verified calculation of the savings its proposals would generate; these are recommendations from the sector carrying out the work.
The government letter also contains proposals to carry out more work with the resources available. Karremans and Bertram mention standardisation, innovation, simplification and fewer rules that drive up costs, among other measures. They intend to inform the Lower House (Tweede Kamer) of further details as spring 2027 approaches. The letter links this approach to intended savings in the funds, meaning that further decisions will require an assessment of whether those efficiency gains are achievable.
Friday’s announcement of an interview with Bertram on NPO Radio 1 also emphasised that the announced sum does not cover the entire maintenance backlog. The responses thus highlight a specific follow-up question: what certainty will infrastructure managers and builders receive about work for which there is still no adequate budget? For now, the joint call for talks is a request to the government, not a new funding decision.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The government wants to make around €18 billion available for maintenance and renewal up to and including 2041.
- Business organisations and regional authorities are calling for additional sustained investment.
Left
Arguments Assess investments against public accessibility, safety and access to homes and amenities. Do not leave financially weaker municipalities to bear the cost of postponed national investment.
Values Equal access, public responsibility and regional solidarity.
Consequences Fears that persistent shortfalls will widen differences between regions and place an additional burden on people with few transport alternatives.
Centre
Arguments Draw up a verifiable multi-year plan with infrastructure managers and those delivering the work. Prioritise essential upkeep and assess new construction and savings against social benefits and feasibility.
Values Reliable governance, continuity and efficient spending.
Consequences Expects stable planning to reduce uncertainty but wants to prevent new commitments from exceeding the available delivery capacity.
Right
Arguments Reliable infrastructure supports enterprise and economic growth. Combine targeted investment with simpler procedures, cost control and exploration of private financing.
Values Economic strength, fiscal discipline and scope for enterprise.
Consequences Fears both economic damage from delays and greater burdens on the public when additional money is spent without demonstrable efficiency gains.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The new responses can be found directly in publications issued by the organisations involved on 16 October. The main financial details have been checked against the government letter; predicted consequences remain clearly identifiable as opinions.
- confirmed The coalition is asking for talks by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest and identifies sustained investment, multi-year planning and delivery as the next steps. — This is stated in the joint appeal of 16 October. source
- confirmed VNG, IPO and Bouwend Nederland are among the signatories; the statement warns of consequences for replacement work and transport access to housing developments. — The signatories and concerns are explicitly listed in the statement. source
- confirmed Karremans and Bertram want to make around €18 billion available for maintenance and renewal up to and including 2041. — The amount, period, date and signatories appear in government letter 2026D51852. source
- confirmed Cumela calls for predictable planning and standardisation while retaining tailored solutions and safety. — The response contains these proposals and concerns about investment and indirect costs. source
- confirmed The government intends to provide more information on efficiency measures and savings as spring 2027 approaches. — The letter mentions standardisation, innovation and simplification and announces further information. source
- confirmed NPO Radio 1 announced an interview with Bertram on 16 October and stated that the sum was insufficient to address the entire backlog. — Checked against the text accompanying the radio clip; no statements from audio that had not been listened to were used. source
Editor's note
The responses and government letter date from 16 October. Economic risks and delivery problems are attributed to the interest groups; their scale has not been independently established. The government letter was consulted via OpenTK.Sources
- Prioriteren infrastructuur belangrijke stap, maar extra geld blijft nodig — Transport en Logistiek Nederland
- Infra-prioriteiten Karremans leggen achterstand pijnlijk bloot — Cumela
- Prioritering en perspectief Mobiliteits- en Deltafonds — Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat, weergegeven door OpenTK
- Waar gaat het schaarse geld voor infrastructuur naartoe? — EO / NPO Radio 1
The story so far
- Friday, 16 October 2026, 16:50 Government prioritises maintenance and pauses infrastructure projects
- Saturday, 17 October 2026, 10:02 Businesses and regions call for more infrastructure funding (this article)