Miljoenennota

The miljoenennota, short for miljoennnota but commonly referred to as the Miljoenennota, is the Dutch government’s annual budget memorandum. It is published on Prinsjesdag (Budget Day) as part of the Prinsjesdag package and presented by the Ministry of Finance to the States General. The name refers to the presentation of numerical budget figures and projections.

Contents and purpose: The Miljoenennota provides an overview of the state of public finances for the coming year and the medium-term financial framework. It includes projected revenues and expenditures, the costs of current and proposed government policies, and the financial implications of major programmes across ministries. The document also outlines the government’s policy priorities and the affordability of those priorities, often in conjunction with the Belastingplan, which contains proposed tax measures. In addition, it presents multi-year budgetary ceilings and risks to the fiscal outlook.

Relation to the budget process: The Miljoenennota is not itself a legally binding budget; rather, it informs the budget process. It serves as the basis for parliamentary scrutiny, debates in the House of Representatives, and the eventual adoption of the national budget (begroting) and accompanying tax laws. The information in the Miljoenennota guides policymakers, stakeholders, and the public in understanding the government’s fiscal strategy and policy investments for the coming year.

Historical and official context: Introduced as a key element of the Dutch budget procedure, the Miljoenennota remains the primary instrument for communicating fiscal policy and budgetary priorities to lawmakers and the public each year.