Goede Doelen Nederland supports campaign against VAT rise

Goede Doelen Nederland (GDN) has joined a diverse coalition of organisations in the Netherlands protesting against the government’s plans to increase VAT on sports, media, books, culture and catering.

The Geen hogere btw (‘No higher VAT’) campaign says that the proposed rise from 9% to 21% would raise around €2.2bn per

Graphic for the No higher VAT campaign

year for the government.

The campaign also dismisses the idea that the tax rise would primarily impact higher earners. Its website notes that the average share of household expenditure on cultural consumption is 1.2%, and that while this does rise slightly in higher income groups, it is still 1% for those with lower incomes.

The campaign had advertisements in major newspapers on 3 June, and has been encouraging supporters to use social media to signal their opposition.

Alongside EFA member GDN, organisations supporting the campaign include the Dutch Olympic Committee, the country’s football governing body (KNVB), and a range of arts, heritage and cultural bodies.

Geen hogere btw’s website says that these organisations oppose the “burden” of this tax change, explaining:

“It places an additional burden on your precious free time, your curiosity and your health. Playing sports keeps you physically fit. Attending a concert or football match contributes to your mental well-being. A newspaper or daily newspaper keeps you informed about world events. Reading a book broadens your world, relaxes, enriches and deepens it, and a pleasant hotel stay is essential for a successful weekend away.”

Meanwhile, GDN is also working in coalition as it fights proposals to reduce the tax deductions applied to charitable donations. At the start of June, GDN director Margreet Plug had a letter published in the newspaper AD, alongside Jurjen de Groot of the Christian group Kerk in Actie and Pieter Grinwis, an MP from the ChristenUnie (Christian Union party). They wrote:

“The new coalition’s intention to drastically reduce the gift deduction testifies to a poor vision of society. Moreover, it is also an unwise austerity policy: the bill will inevitably return if charities and churches are forced to scale back their important work in society. As far as we are concerned, that is a very bad thing.”

Main picture by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels