JobsThe Netherlands will cut 25,000 civil-service jobs — 'you can ask a chatbot 24 hours a day,' minister says
The Dutch government plans to eliminate 25,000 full-time central-government jobs by 2035.
According to NL Times, State Secretary Eric van der Burg told Het Parool that cutting about 16% of 160,000 civil servants would save €3.5 billion, with some departments shrinking 20% and others as much as 60%. Bloomberg described it as an AI-led overhaul.
"In the past, you had to call a helpline during office hours: today… you can ask a chatbot a question 24 hours a day," van der Burg said. There will be no hiring freeze; instead each departure will be weighed for replacement. Office space will also shrink to one workstation per two civil servants.
