Dutch government has been unreliable towards farmers, ombudsman says

The Dutch government has been unreliable towards farmers in recent years, the National Ombudsman says, pointing to repeatedly changed or delayed plans, prolonged uncertainty and unclear rules that have left many without confidence about the future.

In a report based on interviews with 32 farmers and other stakeholders, Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen says government bodies failed to act together and provide the long-term direction farmers need. Some farmers told researchers they had been unsure where they stood since 2019, when a court struck down the government’s nitrogen policy.

Farmers want clear rules and room to decide how to meet their targets, the report says. Van Zutphen argues that the government should set long-term goals firmly in law, while recognising that any outcome will disappoint some groups.

The findings come as Agriculture Minister Jaimi van Essen works on new rules intended to address the nitrogen crisis. The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has said the demands on farmers may be substantial, and that in some areas it may not be realistic for farms to continue operating.

Dutch agriculture will change, Van Zutphen says. Some farmers may adapt their businesses, keep fewer animals or stop altogether. He says greater recognition of the effect on farmers’ identity would help the transition to a more sustainable agricultural system.