More money for listed buildings, no extra money for sports

In 2005 central, provincial and municipal government spent 5 billion euro on the media, arts, libraries and sports. This is 1.5 percent more than in 2004 and 2.2 percent more than in 2003. In the period 1999–2003 spending on these categories still rose by as much as 6.7 percent per year on average.

Government spending on culture

Spending on the media hardly up since 1999

Total government spending on the media was 972 million euro in 2005, 6 million euro more than in 1999. By far most of this amount was spent on television and radio stations and came from central government coffers. The state finances television channels Nederland 1, 2 and 3 and Radio 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Central government spent 845 million euro in 2005. Provincial and municipal government, which subsidise local stations, spent 127 million euro.

Spending on the media per level of government

More money for museums, buildings and archives

The government earmarked 14 percent more money for museums, listed buildings and archives in 2005 than in 2004. The main reason for this increase was that central government made available extra funding for the restoration of listed buildings. In 2005 central government spent 176 million euro on listed buildings, 67 million euro more than in the previous year. 
Spending on other art forms – especially theatres, drama and music schools - rose by 2 percent to 1.4 billion euro.

Spending on sports remains the same

In 2005 the government spent 1.2 billion euro on sports, the same amount as in 2004. Municipal government spent 94 percent of this amount. They spent it mainly on swimming pools, sports halls, fields and clubs. Government spending on libraries rose by one percent to 559 million euro.

Wouter Jonkers