The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management wants to keep the Netherlands accessible, safe and liveable. € 2023 billion is available for this purpose before 12,9, with which they are doing important things. Because whether it concerns a safe and fast route to work, the transport of goods by land, sea and air, or making new residential areas accessible, IenW is working on it. And that's not all. They provide healthy air and clean our soil. They protect the land from water by maintaining our dikes. They are working on making our road traffic cleaner by encouraging electric driving and cycling.
Below are four eye-catching investments for 2023.
Solid investment in maintenance
Our roads, waterways and railways need maintenance. They spend a lot of money for that. Minister Harbers and State Secretary Heijnen will invest € 4 billion in this in the coming year. € 2 billion will go to rail, € 1 billion to roads, € 500 million to waterways and € 500 million to water management such as dykes.
“Our roads, our railways, our waterways, they are used intensively every day. We use them for our trip to work, study, family and friends and for a day out. The goods we use every day are also transported by rail, road and water. They are of great importance to every Dutch person and that is why we must ensure that they are well maintained and safe. This way we keep the Netherlands easily accessible.”
Accessibility of homes
The housing shortage is high. In the coming years, the cabinet therefore wants to build many new homes, so that starters have a chance again and young families can move up the housing market. New residential areas must be easily accessible. Harbers and Heijnen will make €2023 million available for this in 900, with additional money being added in the autumn as a result of the MIRT consultations. That money goes to improving existing roads or public transport connections, but also to smart ideas from municipalities. Such as an extra bicycle tunnel or a roundabout.
“A residential area is more than rows of houses one after the other. Residents make the neighbourhood, they meet and help each other. Good connections to and from your residential area are of great importance. Everyone wants to be able to go to work, sports, school or family easily. That is why I think it is very important that we invest very specifically in this together with municipalities.”
Even after 2023, IenW will continue to work on the new homes. Of the €7,5 billion agreed in the coalition agreement for the accessibility of new homes, part has been spent and approximately €2023 billion will still be available after 6. In addition, it is important to take into account where the houses are built. The ministry is currently working out how our water and soil system should guide the choices we make about where to build in the coming years.
Road safety
Minister Harbers will invest 25 million in more safety on Rijks-N-roads next year. Relatively many road casualties occur on N-roads. By tackling the verge, for example, road safety can be improved. Harbers will also earmark money for this after 2023, the total investment amounts to € 200 million over the period 2023 to 2026.
Better environmental surveillance
State Secretary Heijnen is investing 18 million euros to strengthen the licensing, supervision and enforcement (VTH) system. In the Netherlands, permits and environmental supervision are mainly carried out by provinces and municipalities that deploy environmental services for this purpose. Research by the Van Aartsen Committee has shown that environmental supervision at companies can and must be improved. Heijnen wants to better protect our environment and our health with strengthened, more independent and better environmental supervision, and prevent damage instead of having to repair it afterwards. They are working hard on that. Also in the years after 2023, € 18 million is reserved for this purpose every year, according to the National government.
