All groups in society in the Netherlands will be better off in the coming years, prime minister Mark Rutte said at the presentation of the new coalition government’s plans on Tuesday.

The agreement, thrashed out over a 4.5 month period between two Liberal and two Christian parties, is ‘ambitious and balanced’, the prime minister told reporters at a press conference within the parliamentary complex.

In particular, take-home pay will rise across the board and there will be more money for the care of the elderly, he said.

‘We have put together a package which will ensure that everyone in the Netherlands will be better off,’ he said. ‘More money for those in work, for the elderly, for neighbourhoods and for children. This is an agreement from which the normal, ordinary Dutch person, will really benefit.’

CDA leader Sybrand Buma said the four parties had begun the negotiations from four different perspectives and that the choices his party have made ‘were not always easy ones’. Nevertheless, Buma, who will not take up a ministerial position, said he is proud of the final result.

In particular, he singled out increased spending on defence and the police for a special mention, as well as the need to pay more structural attention to culture and good citizenship.

Equal opportunities

D66 leader Alexander Pechtold described the agreement as an ‘ambitious’ one which will drive the Netherlands forward. He stressed the €2bn investment in education, research and innovation, and the pledge to ensure equal opportunities for all children.

Many of the cabinet’s plans have already been leaked and DutchNews.nl will publish a round-up of the main points later on Tuesday afternoon.

MPs are likely to debate the agreement with chief negotiator Gerrit Zalm on Thursday.