The Netherlands is gearing up for the traditional Prinsjesdag ceremonies on Tuesday, even though the current government is acting in a caretaker capacity and cannot introduce any controversial new policies.

Prinsjesdag – the third Tuesday in September – is the day the government outlines its spending plans for the following year, and launches new policy initiatives.
As every year, queen Beatrix will travel through The Hague in her gilded coach to parliament where she will read a speech looking at the state of the nation and outlining government’s plans for the coming year.
New government
But the Netherlands is likely to have a new, right-wing government in a matter of weeks and this year’s queen’s speech, which has been written by the outgoing government, will be devoid of new policy initiatives.
After the queen’s speech, finance minister Kees Jan de Jager will brief MPs on the latest economic forecasts – which were leaked to the media last week. These show the economy is set to grow slightly less than earlier forecast but that the budget deficit will fall to 3.9%.
Nevertheless, the outgoing government has agreed a €3.2bn package of spending cuts because some ministries have overspent their budgets.
Leaks

Some of those measures have already been leaked, such as plans to cut in social security benefits and childcare subsidies. Fines are also to go up by some 15%.
This year there will be no traditional debate with the prime minister on Wednesday and Thursday as Jan Peter Balkenende is on his way to the UN general assembly in New York. MPs decided debate was pointless seeing as the government will soon be out of office.
DutchNews.nl will publish a summary of the queen’s speech, the economic forecasts, the spending plans and the finance minister’s proposed tax changes on Tuesday afternoon.