Monster coalition stunts against VAT increase during Royal Parade

- 20-metre-long 'receipt for society' rolled out on Budget Day
- many experts and experience experts present including Splinter Chabot and Marit Bouwmeester.

A broad alliance of organisations from culture, sports, events, media, books and accommodation will campaign against the VAT increase on 17 September. At two locations affected by the VAT increase, on and near the royal procession, a ''receipt for society' hung out. From the roof of museum Escher in the Palace and House of the Book in the presence of experience experts and politicians, a 20-metre-long banner will be rolled out on which everyone can see the financial impact of the VAT increase.

On the early morning of Budget Day, a broad representation of experts and experts by experience will make a statement in the presence of press and politicians as they roll out the receipt: stop the VAT increase. Present during this moment at 08:15 in front of the House of the Book are, among others, Splinter Chabot (writer), Marit Bouwmeester (sailor), Jefferson (artist), Natascha van Grinsven-Admiraal (director ADO Den Haag), Jan Akkermans (hotelier), Thomas Bruning (general secretary NVJ) and Willem Westermann (Vereniging Van Evenementenmakers VVEM). Politicians Rob Jetten, Mohammed Mohandis and Ines Kostić will also be present. In the afternoon, the same receipt will be rolled out from the roof of museum Escher in het Paleis during the carriage ride along.

Negative consequences for all Dutch citizens

The proposed VAT increase will have a major negative impact on welfare, prosperity, literacy and employment of the Dutch, warn the initiators of the action. Astrid Weij, director of Kunsten '92 and one of the initiators of the alliance #no higherbtw, states, "Every Dutch person will feel the VAT increase in their wallet. Whether you enjoy museums, go to concerts, play sports, read books or subscribe to a newspaper: everything will become more expensive. This will lead to people being forced to drop out, while these things contribute to our well-being." Weij stressed that the VAT increase undermines the financial position of many sectors. "In the long run, this will cost society much more than it brings in. With this action, we want to show how big the impact of this measure can be for all of us."

People are forced to drop out

The measures in general and the VAT increase in particular will mainly affect the middle class and people with small wallets. An economic analysis shows that the VAT increase will lead to 1.5 million fewer visits to festivals and 900,000 fewer visits to performing arts. 4 million fewer books will be sold each year and 150,000 people will cancel their library subscriptions. The central government assumes that the increase in the VAT rate on sports practice will result in at least 500,000 Dutch people quitting sports. In addition, 82% of self-employed people in the culture and media sector expect the VAT measure to hit them in their income. News organisations expect hundreds of thousands of Dutch people to say goodbye to their subscriptions. The government itself assumes that the VAT increase on lodging will lead to a decrease in lodging by 6.75%, this then concerns 4.2 million fewer overnight stays in the Netherlands. The price increase will lead to large groups being forced to drop out, with all the social consequences that this entails, such as declining health and reading skills.