It first debates the main political issues and then the financial and economic policies. Shortly after Budget Day, parliament begins to debate the central government budget and the Budget Memorandum. When he presents the documents, the Minister of Finance gives a speech on the state of the Dutch economy. On behalf of the government, the Minister of Finance presents the central government budget and the Budget Memorandum to the House of Representatives on Budget Day, the third Tuesday in September. Budget Day: presentation of the budget and the Budget Memorandum The budget is then ready to be presented on Budget Day. Any amendments necessitated by the Council of State’s advice and the latest figures are made in the printer’s proofs. The central government budget and the Budget Memorandum are then printed so that they will be ready on time. The ministers respond to the advice in writing. Like other Bills, the central government budget and the Budget Memorandum are forwarded to the Council of State for advice, which is received in the first week of September. Together, they form the central government budget.
In August, all the ministries present their final budgets to the Ministry of Finance. In August, the latest economic data published by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) in the Macro Economic Outlook (MEV) are incorporated into the final decisions on the central government budget. The ministers work with provisional figures until the summer. It summarises the main policy frameworks set out in the individual budgets and discusses the financial and economic position of the Netherlands. The Budget Memorandum is prepared at the same time as the draft budgets. The Ministry of Finance decides whether the initial draft budgets are consistent with the coalition agreement, the budget notice and the aggregates letter. In June, every ministry prepares a initial draft budget, which is finalised in the summer months.In the aggregates letter in April/May, the Minister of Finance informs the ministries how much can be spent in the coming year.In the spring, the Minister of Finance sends a framework letter, asking what setbacks and windfalls there have been, what additional funding is being requested, whether spending in one or more of the three sectors (central government, social security and care) must be reduced or whether spending can be increased (for example to cut taxes or improve public finances).The ministers then inform the Minister of Finance of their plans for the coming period by means of policy letters. The government presents its central government budget on Budget Day, the third Tuesday in September, but preparations commence in October of the previous year when the Minister of Finance sends budget instructions to the ministries.
The entire process takes about 2,5 years.
There are a number of fixed elements in the budget calendar, such as the Budget Memorandum and the National Financial Annual Report.