Politics · Netherlands · 12 hrs ago
Dutch municipalities seek help as extreme youth care costs rise
Dutch municipalities are struggling to pay for very costly youth care, and their association is asking the national government for more money.
In some cases, young people need one-to-one specialist care, sometimes arranged in holiday homes because local services cannot provide it.
In Son en Breugel, youth care costs about €7 million a year, and the four most expensive cases account for €1.5 million.
The municipality plans to raise property tax by 48%, while its reserves are running low.
National figures show 2% of young people account for 23% of youth care spending.
The need for costly individual placements has grown as the Netherlands plans to end closed youth care by 2030, leaving some young people with serious behavioural problems needing other specialist support.
The municipalities association wants the national government to take the lead and contribute funding so local authorities can help these young people.
Dutch municipalities are asking the national government for urgent extra funding to cover extreme youth-care costs.
Some municipalities say they can no longer afford highly expensive, tailored care for young people.
Son en Breugel says youth-care costs have risen so much that it plans to increase property tax by 48 percent.
The Dutch Association of Municipalities says local governments also lack the staff and expertise needed to provide this care.
- Who
- Dutch municipalities, represented by the Association of Dutch Municipalities, are seeking help from the national government.
- What
- They want extra funding and national direction to address extreme youth-care costs.
- When
- The NOS article was published on 8 November 2026.
- Where
- The Netherlands, including Son en Breugel, in North Brabant.
- Why
- Some municipalities cannot afford expensive tailored care for young people and lack the capacity and expertise to provide it.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The government decided that closed youth care would end by 2030.
Minister Mirjam Sterk wrote that more than 760 young people in the Netherlands receive one-to-one guidance.
- Son en Breugel property tax
- Planned increase of 48 percent
- Son en Breugel annual youth-care costs
- About €7 million
- Four most expensive clients in Son en Breugel
- €1.5 million combined
- Share of young people and spending
- 2 percent of young people account for 23 percent of total youth-care spending
- Young people receiving one-to-one guidance
- More than 760 in the Netherlands, according to the minister
What people are saying
Our reserves are beginning to run out. It is becoming uncertain how long we can keep going like this.
One-to-one placements of young people in holiday parks are excesses that you obviously do not want.