Country Profile: Netherlands
Dedicated design policy status
No
Design in other policy agendas
- CCI Strategy – Creative Industries Fund NL serves as the national cultural fund for design, architecture and digital culture. Its Policy Plan 2025–2028: Changes in Our Work includes actions for design, such as the Spatial Design Action Programme and the Design Sector Internationalisation Programme. Previous plans (2017–2020 and 2021–2024) also featured design prominently. Design is also featured in the Dutch International Cultural Policy 2021–2024. [Championed]
- Circular Economy Strategy – Circular Dutch Economy by 2050 sets the goal for a fully circular economy by 2050. The National Programme on Circular Economy 2023–2030 includes goals for circular economy and design. [Integrated]
- Digital Strategy – Central Government’s I-Strategy 2021–2025 mentions design thinking as a method to be used.
- Innovation, industrial/development, architecture strategies – No dedicated strategy or inclusions identified.
Observations
The Netherlands demonstrates strong institutional support for design through cultural policy and funding mechanisms, particularly via the Creative Industries Fund NL. While there is no dedicated national design policy, design is deeply embedded in cultural strategies and increasingly linked to sustainability through circular economy goals. The inclusion of design thinking in digital governance further signals recognition of design as a strategic tool. However, its absence from innovation and industrial strategies suggests room for broader integration, especially to leverage design for competitiveness and systemic transformation.
Sources
- Gus, o. J.
- Dutch International Cultural Policy 2021-2024, o. J.
- NL SCI Policy Plan 2017-2020 – Design culture, o. J.
- NL SCI Policy Plan 2021-2024 – Scope for Connection, o. J.
- NL SCI Programme Plan Spatial Design Action Programma 2021-2024, o. J.