Wassenaar presents Budget 2026: financial stability and room for investment
The municipality of Wassenaar presents a balanced and future-proof budget 2026. The budget for the upcoming year carefully distributes the available 95 million euros to essential services in Wassenaar. The college has taken early necessary measures to deal with national deficits and financial challenges. This limits the impact of the "ravine year" and keeps the municipality's household finances in order. At the same time, Wassenaar continues to invest in important facilities for residents, such as sports, education, Health the safety and livability of the village.
The college can report that the budgets for 2026 and 2027 are structurally balanced. With this, Wassenaar not only follows the advice of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), but also meets the requirements of the provincial supervisor. This gives confidence in the stability of the financial approach.
Continue to invest in Wassenaar
In 2024, Wassenaar has already begun making sharp choices and spending cuts, making the municipality financially robust. The retrenchments have been implemented mainly in the internal municipal organization. For residents, they will not be taxed extra with property tax (OZB) than in previous years. This gives room for investments in Wassenaar. For example, investments will be made in sports associations, the Integral Housing Plan for schools and in the safety of Wassenaar.
In addition, the college is investing in the renovation of De Warenar and the monumental Raadhuis De Paauw, sustainability and renovation of schools (Adelbert College, SKOW, Kievietschool), a new municipal office and a new municipal yard. Maintenance of roads and public spaces also remains an important priority. Just like the refurbishment of the Wassenaarse Slag and space for entrepreneurs.
Outlook
In addition, we face real challenges toward the future. The contribution from the state remains under pressure, partly because less housing construction is taking place in Wassenaar than in other municipalities. An aging population and the fact that a relatively small group of residents must pay for a high level of services each year are also factors. The college wants to give direction to this in the coming period and have a broad discussion about this.
Alderman Laurens van Doeveren:
"By making timely and sharp choices, we keep our finances in order and create room to continue investing in facilities that are of great importance to our residents. We do this without increasing the burden on residents and stay within the standards set by the UNG and the province. Investing in schools, culture, sports, Health and the livability of our village is investing in the future of Wassenaar. This requires a robust financial basis. In this way we ensure that future generations also benefit from a lively and attractive Wassenaar."
