Here is a brief overview of the 12 Dutch government ministries, what their functions are and the key agencies under its umbrella. All ministries are headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.

MINISTRY OF GENERAL AFFAIRS (AZ)

• Responsible for the coordination of government policy and matters related to the royal family. Whoever holds the office of Prime Minister automatically assumes the title ‘Minister of General Affairs’
• Key agencies:
  • Public Information and Communications Service (DPC)
  • Government Information Service (RVD)
  • Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR)

MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR & KINGDOM RELATIONS (BZK)

• Responsible  for formulating policy, preparing necessary legislation and regulations, and supervising the policy implementation as well as efficient public administration between the four segments: central government, provinces, municipalities and the water boards. This ministry is the liaison between the country of the Netherlands in Europe and the constituent partners of Sint Maarten, Aruba and Curacao in the Caribbean.
• Key agencies:
  • Netherlands Cadastre, Land Registry and Mapping Agency (Kadaster)
  • Dutch Whistleblowers Authority (DWA)
  • General Intelligence & Security Service (AIVD)
  • Dutch Safety Board (OVV)

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (BZ)

• Responsible for promoting Dutch interests outside the country, which includes embassies and trade missions in approximately 150 countries. This ministry is the primary voice of the Netherlands within international organizations such as NATO and the United Nations.
• Key agency:
  • Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI)

MINISTRY OF FINANCE (FIN)

• Responsible for implementing tax policy, government spending and a financially healthy banking system.
• Key agencies:
  • Dutch Tax Bureau (Belastingdienst)
  • Dutch Customs Administration (Douane)
  • Central Import and Export Service (CDIU)
  • Fiscal Information & Investigative Service (FIOD)
  • Dutch Treasury (DSTA)
  • Dutch National Bank (DNB)
  • Financial Markets Authority (AFM)

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE & SECURITY (J&V)

• Responsible for maintaining the rule of law, punishing those who commit crimes and ensuring the safety of all citizens (including children, minority groups and the elderly).
• Key agencies:
  • Judicial Courts (Rechtspraak)
  • Police Department (Politie)
  • Fire Department (Brandweer)
  • Immigration Office (IND)
  • Department of Prisons (DJI)
  • Department for Anti-Terrorism & Security (NCTV)
  • Office of the Public Prosecutor (OM)
  • Dutch Child Protection Agency (RvdK)
  • Dutch Data Protection Agency (AP)
  • Dutch Gaming Authority (Ksa)
  • Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-Netherlands)

MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS & CLIMATE POLICY (EZK)

• Responsible for promoting the Netherlands welcoming business climate, entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to sustainability and strategic location to foreign entities with investment potential. Introducing policy to improve the competitive position with an eye to the future.
• Key agencies:
  • Department of Statistics (CBS)
  • Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
  • Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA)
  • Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK)
  • Bureau of Economic Policy Analysis (CPB)
  • Netherlands Space Office (NSO)
  • Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM)

More Dutch Government Ministries…

MINISTRY OF DEFENSE (DEF)

• Responsible for peace and security in the Netherlands and elsewhere in the world.
• Key organizations:
  • Dutch Navy (Marine)
  • Dutch Army (Landmacht)
  • Dutch Air Force (Luchtmacht)
  • Dutch Border Police (Marechaussee)

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, WELFARE & SPORT (VWS)

• Responsible for general health matters throughout the country, the quality of  care for the sick, providing assistance and opportunity for the handicapped and promoting the involvement of everyone in community and society.
• Key agencies:
  • Department of Health (RIVM)
  • Medicines Evaluations Board (MEB)
  • Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre (Lareb)
  • CIBG (CIBG)
  • Community Health Centers (GGD)
  • Outbreak Management Team (OMT)
  • National Healthcare Institute (ZIL)
  • Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZA)
  • Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ)
  • Farmatec (Farmatec)

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AFFAIRS & EMPLOYMENT (SZW)

• Responsible for setting and enforcing labor market policy, including migration and the free movement of workers, unemployment benefits and re-integration, income policy, work-life balance and working conditions.
• Key agencies:
  • Dutch Labor Authority (InspectieSZW)
  • Department of Unemployment (UWV)
  • Department of Social Security (SVB)

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE & SCIENCE (OCW)

• Responsible for ensuring a society that is well-educated, cultured and can express creativity.
• Key agencies:
  • Dutch Department of Education (DUO)
  • Board of Tests & Examinations (CvTE)
  • Netherlands National Library (KB)
  • Organization for the Internationalization of Education (NUFFIC)
  • Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)
  • Netherlands Public Broadcasting (NPO)
  • Dutch Media Authority (CvdM)

MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE & WATER MANAGEMENT (I&W)

• Responsible for ensuring efficient public transport, road quality and accessibility, spatial planning, land use, water management and water safety.
• Key agencies:
  • Netherlands National Weather Service (KNMI)
  • Dutch Motor Vehicles Authority (RDW)
  • Dutch Driving License Bureau (CBR)
  • Water & Infrastructure Management (Rijkswaterstaat)
  • Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT)
  • Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)
  • Housing Corporation Authority (Aw)

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, NATURE & FOOD QUALITY (LNV)

• Responsible for ensuring the future success of the agriculture, fishing and horticulture industries, promoting the quality of products and strengthening the relationship between agriculture and nature.
• Key agency:
  • Netherlands Food & Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

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Related information…

NETHERLANDS COUNTRY OVERVIEW

DUTCH WEATHER BUREAU WARNINGS