Beleidsintenties

Beleidsintenties are statements by a government body, municipality, or organization about the intended policy directions and priorities for a future period. They describe aims, underlying problem perceptions, and approaches to be pursued, without creating legally binding obligations. The purpose is to inform planning, decision-making, and dialogue with stakeholders.

Typical features include the context and goals, key policy measures or instruments, responsible actors, time frame, and criteria for evaluation. They function as steering documents within strategic planning cycles, budget processes, or as part of broader beleidsvorming. They are usually prepared by policy teams or management, sometimes in consultation with affected groups, and published as a policy note or section within a larger beleidsdocument.

Legal status and use are important to understand: beleidsintenties are not legally binding, and decisions based on them can still be revised as circumstances change. They are intended to guide subsequent policy choices and communications, and they may lay the groundwork for later formal policy instruments or regulations. Where significant commitments become binding, the term often shifts from intent to official policy.

Relation to other concepts is common in Dutch public administration. Beleidsintenties resemble a policy vision (beleidsvisie), a policy framework (beleidskader), or policy notes (beleidsnota). They may be used across sectors, such as housing, mobility, or climate policy, and can appear in both public and private sector planning to articulate aspirational directions and monitoring indicators.