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Details of The Netherlands' support measures to help citizens and companies during the significant economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Commission has adopted support measures under the state aid Temporary Framework and EU state aid rules. These measures aim to help citizens and companies and mitigate the significant economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic:

  • On 16 February 2022, the Commission approved a €120 million scheme to support companies of all sizes active in all sectors, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The aim of the scheme is to compensate the beneficiaries for the costs of events cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and restrictive measures implemented to limit the spread of the virus.

  • On 19 January 2022, the Commission approved six schemes and the amendment of one scheme to support companies in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The six schemes are a re-introduction of previously approved measures, and the amendment regards a budgetary increase and extension of the maximum aid amount per beneficiary, such as, for example, increasing the maximum aid amount to €12 million and an overall budget increase by €475 million, bringing the total budget for a measure to around €2.37 billion. These modifications aim to provide support to small and medium enterprises, start-ups and help them continue their economic activity.

  • On 9 November 2021, the Commission approved an amendmentto an existing scheme to support companies offering special transport services. The existing scheme was modified to accommodate an extension of the eligibility period and an overall budget increase by €402.5 million. The purpose of the modification is to help the beneficiaries tackle their turnover losses, and continue their economic activity.

  • On 21 September 2021, the Commission approved a €16 million scheme to support the fireworks sector in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme, covering transport and storage costs, aims to compensate firework wholesalers and retailers for the losses incurred due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the consequent prohibition of sale and use of fireworks for the New Year’s 2020 celebrations.

  • On 27 July 2021, modifications to an existing scheme aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak were in line with the state aid Temporary Framework. The scheme was previously modified in November 2020 , February 2021 and June 2021 to accommodate the additional needs of the beneficiaries. The latest amendments include an overall budget increase by €1.8 billion, an extension of the eligible period, a modification of the maximum aid amount for large enterprises and a prolongation of additional aid for companies active in the agricultural sector.

  • On 29 June 2021, the Commission approved a €20 million scheme to support producers active in the primary agricultural and horticultural sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak and by the restrictive measures implemented in order to limit the spread of the virus. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the assistance, in the form of direct grants, aims to help beneficiaries continue their activities during and after the outbreak.

  • On 22 June 2021, modifications to an existing scheme aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak were in line with the state aid Temporary Framework. The scheme was previously modified in November 2020 and February 2021 to accommodate the additional needs of the beneficiaries. The latest amendments include an overall budget increase of €3.5 billion, an extension of the eligible period, an increase in the aid amount per beneficiary and a prolongation of additional aid for companies active in the agricultural sector.

  • On 14 June 2021, a €385 million scheme to support event organisers in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The measure, open to event organisers of all sizes active in the Netherlands, aims to compensate the beneficiaries for the costs of organising events planned by the end of 2021, that may be cancelled because of the restrictive measures imposed by the government to limit the spread of the virus.

  • On 31 May 2021,an amended scheme worth €31 million to support mink-fur animal farmers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework and the 2014 EU Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas the public support, in the form of direct grants, aims to help the beneficiaries address their liquidity needs and continue their economic activities during and after the outbreak.

  • On 21 May 2021, a €90 million scheme to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the scheme is open to businesses active in all sectors, except the financial one. The support, in the form of direct grants, aims to address the liquidity shortages faced by the beneficiaries due to the coronavirus outbreak.

  • On 30 April, a €40 million scheme providing loans with subsidised interest rates to start-ups affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the measure is open to small and medium-sized start-ups active in all sectors, except the financial one, primarily in the agricultural production, fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The scheme complements previous measures by specifically addressing liquidity constraints of young start-ups affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with the aim to preserve the continuity of economic activities during and after the outbreak.

  • On 30 March, a €400 million loan scheme to support companies providing travel packages and services in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the support, in the form of a loan, aims to enable the beneficiaries to provide consumers with a cash refund equal to the value of previously issued vouchers, at the consumers’ request.

  • On 12 February 2021, under EU state aid rules, a €38.7 million scheme to support zoos in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme consists of two measures covering the periods from 18 March to 14 May 2020, and from 15 May to 30 September 2020, respectively.

  • on 10 February, under EU state aid rules, a €122.5 million scheme to support companies offering special transport services for groups such as children and the elderly, who are unable to take regular public transport, go to school or to certain social activities. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the scheme consists of two direct grants measures, aimed to cover fixed costs such as depreciation and to support the uncovered fixed costs linked to employees.

  • on 13 November, a loan of €6.5 million to support the production of generic medicines in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. On the background of liquidity shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic, the Netherlands will grant a loan to the InnoGenerics company, to ensure sufficient liquidity for the resumption, maintenance and expansion of generic drug production activities at the Apotex Leiden plant.

  • on 4 November, under EU State aid rules, a €1.5 billion scheme to compensate regional, long-distance public transport companies for the damage suffered due to the emergency containment measures introduced in the Netherlands to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Under the scheme, transport companies will be entitled to compensation in the form of direct grants for damages incurred between 15 March and 31 August 2020.

  • a €165 million measure to support the five Dutch Travel Guarantee Funds that operate package travel guarantee schemes in the Netherlands. The support will take the form of subsidised loans to ensure sufficient liquidity to guarantee all payments made by travellers for package tours that had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

  • on 16 July 2020, a €77 million scheme to support providers of general practitioner care, district nursing, mental health care and social support services in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The measure aims to support the health care service providers focused on providing home services to patients that are considered the most affected by the necessary social distancing rules imposed by the Dutch government to limit the spread of the coronavirus (e.g. the elderly, people with frail health, patients with disabilities). The support , in the form of direct grants for the purchase, leasing, licensing and implementation of e-health applications, aims to contribute to the continuity of remote care.

  • on 13 July 2020, a €3.4 billion aid measure consisting of a State guarantee on loans and a subordinated State loan to KLM company, to provide urgent liquidity in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. KLM, a major network airline, is part of the Air France-KLM group, in which the Dutch state holds a participation. KLM is the Netherlands' second-largest private employer with over 36,600 employees and very important for the Dutch economy, as it ensures connectivity with many destinations in Europe, the Dutch regions overseas and the rest of the world. Since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, KLM has also played an essential role in the repatriation of citizens and for the transport of medical equipment. KLM has suffered a significant reduction of its services due to the pandemic restrictions, which resulted in high operating losses. The measure, with a total budget of €3.4 billion, was approved in the form ofa state guarantee on loans provided by a consortium of banks, and a subordinated loan to the company by the Dutch state.

  • on 8 July 2020, a €25 million scheme providing subsidised interest rates for loans to small and micro companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The measure aims at ensuring access to liquidity for small and micro companies active in all sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak, thus helping them to preserve the continuity of their economic activity.

  • on 30 June 2020, under EU State aid rules, a €160 million scheme to compensate companies offering special transport services for specific groups such as children and elderly persons who are unable to take regular public transport. Under the scheme, the transport companies will be entitled to compensation in the form of direct grants for a maximum of 80% of the revenues lost due to cancellations. The compensation can be granted until 31 December 2020 for damages suffered between 15 March and 30 June 2020. on 29 May 2020, under EU State aid rules, plans to set up a new development finance institution set up as a joint venture between the Dutch state and the existing Dutch development finance institution FMO. The Dutch State would grant start-up capital of up to €800 million and provide yearly subsidies of €9 million, to support foreign trade and the government’s international cooperation objectives by assisting entrepreneurs and international projects in low-income, lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries.

  • a €713 million aid scheme to support small and medium sized enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The support, in the form of guarantees on loans, aims at providing liquidity to businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak, enabling them to continue their activities, start investments and maintain employment. Companies active in all sectors are eligible for aid under this scheme, with the exception of those in the commercial real estate, financial, publicly funded health care, fishery, aquaculture and agriculture sectors. The measure is expected to support 30,000 enterprises.

  • on 25 May 2020, under EU State aid rules, a guarantee scheme to support the trade credit insurance market in face of the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme ensures that trade credit insurance continues to be available to all companies, avoiding the need for buyers of goods or services to pay in advance, therefore reducing their immediate liquidity needs. on 8 May 2020, under EU State aid rules, a scheme that compensates companies in the floriculture, specialty horticulture and potato sectors for the loss of revenue or additional costs related to the collapse in demand for their products. €600 million were earmarked as aid to farmers and traders in the floricultural sector and companies in the specialty horticultural sector for the food-service market, who have been negatively affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Furthermore, €50 million were allocated to compensate potato growers affected by the outbreak.

  • on 24 April 2020, a State aid scheme to support small and medium-sized companies in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The public support, in the form of subsidised interest rates on loans, will be accessible to those companies whose main source of financing derives from external equity, venture capital or microcredit. The aim of the scheme is to help companies experiencing difficulties in accessing liquidity due to the coronavirus outbreak to cover their immediate working capital and investment needs, thus enabling them to continue their activities during and after the outbreak.

  • on 22 April, a loan guarantee scheme of up to €10 billion to support the national economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Under the state aid Temporary Framework, the loan guarantee scheme aims to support companies meet their liquidity needs in the context of the coronavirus outbreak.

  • on 3 April 2020, a scheme to support certain providers of social support and health care in offering services at home during the coronavirus outbreak. The support, in the form of direct grants, will allow providers to purchase, lease, licence and implement e-health applications. The measure aims at avoiding that social support, health care and youth care providers are faced with liquidity problems due to a significant increase in demand of services at home, requiring investments in e-health applications, without a corresponding increase in financial support.