Government balance sheet; assets and liabilities
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
This table contains information on the balance sheet of the general government sector. The balance sheet shows stock levels of assets and financial liabilities, as well as net worth of the general government sector. Assets are either financial (e.g. loans) or non-financial (e.g. non-residential buildings). The stock of assets equals the sum of the stock of financial liabilities and net worth. Stocks of assets and liabilities in this table are mostly valued at market value. This is the value of the asset or liability as if it were being acquired or sold on the date to which the balance sheet relates. When there are no observable market prices, estimates are made for the market value. Financial assets and liabilities that are not commonly traded on a market, such as cash, deposits, loans and other accounts receivable/payable are valued at nominal value.
The figures in this table are consolidated at the general government level. This means that stocks between units that both belong to the general government sector are eliminated.
The terms and definitions used are in accordance with the framework of the Dutch national accounts. National accounts are based on the international definitions of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). Small temporary differences with publications of the National Accounts may occur due to the fact that the government finance statistics are sometimes more up to date.
Data available from: 1995
Status of the figures:
The figures for the period 1995-2022 are final. The figures for 2023 are provisional.
Changes as of 23 September 2024:
Annual figures for 2023 are available.
The financial assets and liabilities and the net saving and capital transfers of general government for 2022 have been revised due to updated information.
In the context of the revision policy of the National accounts the annual figures from 1995 of the financial accounts of general government have been revised.
The annual figures for 2022 are final.
When will new figures be published?
New provisional data are published in July or August after the end of the reporting year. The previous provisional figures will become final and previous final figures can be revised at the same time. More information on the revision policy of National Accounts can be found under 'relevant articles' under paragraph 3.
Description topics
- Assets
- The assets recorded in the government balance sheet are economic assets. An economic asset is a store of value representing the benefits accruing to the economic owner by holding or using the entity over a period of time. It is a means of carrying forward value from one accounting period to another.
- Non-financial assets
- Non-financial assets are objects that have an economic value, on which property rights can be exerted and which do not have a financial character. In practice, this entails approximately all (non-financial) objects that can be sold. Examples of assets that cannot be sold are the sea and the air. Examples of assets that have a financial character are stocks and pensions. Non-financial assets consist of fixed assets, inventories, land and mineral reserves
- AN1123 Cost ownership transfer on land
- Costs related to the transfer of land.
- AN1131C Trains and trams
- Vehicles operating on railways.
- AN1139+AN114 Machinery, equipment and …
- Machinery, equipment and weapon systems.
Machinery used for production. Also machinery for general use (such as office equipment, audio and telecommunications equipment), machinery and vehicles which occasionally use public roads, such as tractors, shovels and fork trucks. Weapon systems also belong to this category.
- AN1171 Research and development
- R&D consists of expenditure on creative work that is systematically done for the purpose of enlarging the amount of knowledge, including knowledge of mankind, culture and society and the use of this knowledge to develop new applications. The value is determined on the basis of economic revenues which are expected in the future. Unless the value can be reasonably well determined, this value is set by agreement as the sum of costs, including the costs of unsuccessful research and development work. Research and development which will not provide benefits to its owner is classified as intermediate consumption.
- AN1173 Computer software and databases
- Computer programs, program descriptions and supporting materials for both systems and applications software. This item also includes substantial expenses for purchase, development or extension of automated databases for use exceeding the period of one year.
- AN211 Total land
- Total of land underlying dwellings, land underlying non-municipal buildings and land under cultivation. No value is attributed to land underlying infrastructure and nature. The numbers do not include the value of building land.
- AN2111A Land beneath dwellings
- Land beneath buildings that are used entirely or primarily as residences, including any associated structures, such as garages and all permanent fixtures customarily installed in residences. The value of the land underlying dwellings is defined as the difference between the value of the total real estate (land and buildings) and the value of the structures.
- AN2111B Land beneath building non-resi..
- Land beneath building non-residential buildings.
Land underlying buildings not designated as dwellings. The value of the land underlying non-residential buildings is defined as the difference between the value of the real estate (land and buildings) and the value of the structures.
- AN2112 Agricultural land
- Land used for the production of crops and raising of livestock including land under greenhouses and barns. Land under greenhouses and barns used for other purposes than the production of crops, such as storage of caravans, are also categorized as agricultural land.
- AN212 Oil and gas reserves
- The reserves of oil, natural gas and natural gas condensation. Oil and gas already extracted, but not yet sold, is part of the inventories.
- Financial assets
- Financial assets are economic assets comprising financial claims, equity and the gold bullion component of monetary gold. Financial assets are stores of value representing benefits accruing to the economic owner by holding them over a period of time. They are means of carrying forward values from one accounting period to another. Benefits or series of benefits are exchanged by means of payment. Means of payment consist of monetary gold, special drawing rights, currency and transferable deposits. Financial claims, also called financial instruments, are financial assets that have corresponding liabilities.
- AF2 Currency and deposits
- Currency consists of notes and coins that are issued or authorised by monetary authorities. Deposits are standardised, non-negotiable contracts with the public at large, offered by deposit-taking corporations and, in some cases, by central government as debtors, and allowing the placement and the later withdrawal of the principal amount by the creditor. Deposits usually involve the debtor giving back the full principal amount to the investor.
- AF5 Equity and investment
- Equity and investment fund shares or units are claims, which are -fully, or partly- entitled to a share in profits or in the own funds in case of liquidation. Included is the value of capital formation by the government in public enterprises (quasi-corporations) that belong to the government.
Equity and investment fund shares or units are residual claims on the assets of the Equity and investment fund shares or units include:
- listed shares;
- unlisted shares;
- other equity;
- investment fund shares or units.
- Liabilities
- Sum of financial liabilities and net worth. Financial liabilities are established when debtors are obliged to provide payments or series of payments to creditors.
- Financial liabilities
- Financial liabilities are established when debtors are obliged to provide payments or series of payments to creditors.
- AF2 Currency and deposits
- Currency consists of notes and coins that are issued or authorised by monetary authorities. Deposits are standardised, non-negotiable contracts with the public at large, offered by deposit-taking corporations and, in some cases, by central government as debtors, and allowing the placement and the later withdrawal of the principal amount by the creditor. Deposits usually involve the debtor giving back the full principal amount to the investor.
- Net worth
- Net worth is the balancing item of assets and liabilities.
Positive net worth indicates that the assets are larger than the liabilities.- Changes in net worth
- The changes in net worth depict the development of net worth during the year.
Net worth is the balancing item of assets and liabilities. The change in net worth equals the sum of changes of assets and liabilities.- B101 Net saving and capital transfers
- The difference between all transactions that affect net worth during the accounting period is the balancing item: changes in net worth due to saving and capital transfers. This equals the balance of revenue and expenditure of the government (B9), adjusted for the acquisition less disposals of non-financial assets (P5 + NP) and the consumption of fixed capital (P.51c). This represents the resources acquired or consumed in the government's current operations.