Local and central government spend more on sport

Municipalities, provinces and central government in the Netherlands spent nearly 1.5 billion euro on sport in 2008. In the same year they received nearly 0.4 billion euro, for example in rent for sport facilities and centres. Net spending for central and local government thus amounted to 1.1 billion euro. This is 9 percent more than in 2007.

Municipalities pay most

Municipalities pay most for sports provisions and facilities. In 2008 they spent 1 billion euro on sport, accounting for nearly 90 percent of total government spending on sport.

In the period 2004-2008 municipal spending on sport rose every year. Compared with 2004 spending in 2008 was more than 20 percent higher, an increase of 4 percent per year. In 2008 net spending even rose by 9 percent.

The budgets for 2009 and 2010 show that the increase in municipal spending on sport continued after 2008 as well. For 2009 budgeted spending for sport was 4 percent higher than actual spending in 2008 and in 2010 the budgets foresee an increase of 7 percent.

Government spending on sport

5.6 million euro for facilities in Overijssel

Provincial authorities spent 16 million euro on sport, 80 percent more than in 2007. The province Overijssel accounts for nearly all of this increase; it earmarked 5 euro per inhabitant for investment in sports facilities in 2008. This came to a total of 5.6 million euro. As this was a one-off exercise, spending of provinces on sport was lower again after 2008. The budgets of provincial authorities show that in 2009 spending was some 35 percent lower than in 2008.

Systematic incentive for community programme ‘Together with others’

Spending on sport by central government shows large fluctuations in time. In 2006 there was a sudden increase in spending caused by spending on various one-off programmes, but also by the start of a systematic incentive for the ‘Together with others’ community programme (Meedoen door sport). For this reason, spending in 2007 was lower than in 2006, but still much higher than in 2004 and 2005. In 2008 central government spent more than 100 million euro on sport, 7 percent more than in 2007.

Floor van Oers