bestaansrecht

Bestaansrecht is a Dutch term that denotes the right to exist with a minimum level of material well-being. In everyday and policy discourse it refers to the idea that every person should have access to the basic necessities required for a dignified life, such as shelter, food, health care and a social safety net.

In the Dutch welfare state, the concept is closely linked to the systems of social security and social assistance. While not necessarily framed as an explicit constitutional right, bestaansrecht underpins policy goals and legal standards aimed at ensuring a minimum standard of living. The idea is often discussed in relation to the “bestaansminimum” or subsistence level—the income needed to cover basic living costs—and to programs such as social assistance, housing support, and health services.

Bestaansrecht is also used in broader human rights and social policy debates. It is connected to the principle of human dignity and to the expectation that the state actively seeks to prevent poverty and social exclusion. In academic and political contexts, the term is sometimes contrasted with work incentives or with more expansive welfare provisions, highlighting tensions about the scope and generosity of social protection.

Related terms include bestaanszekerheid (certainty of existence), bestaansminimum (subsistence minimum), and the general notion of sociale zekerheid (social security). The concept is primarily ethical and policy-oriented, guiding discussions about the adequacy of social provisions and the state’s obligation to ensure a basic standard of living for all residents.