The party advocates more attention to international train connections and wants to break the monopoly on ticket sales by national carriers.
Wybren van Haga's political party, Belang van Nederland (BVNL), strives for a classical liberal agenda combined with culturally conservative values. In light of population growth that it says has overloaded infrastructure in the Netherlands, the party is calling for drastic changes, ranging from tax cuts to major investments in public transport and roads.
One of BVNL's most striking proposals is a complete stop on granting asylum, a move that fits within a larger vision of a smaller, less interfering government. The party argues that a strong focus on national interests is essential to maintain and improve the quality of life in the Netherlands.
In the economic field, BVNL is committed to a remarkable combination of tax cuts and investments. For example, they want to reduce motor vehicle tax, but introduce it for all cars, including electric ones. In addition, the party advocates reducing excise duties on fuels to at least the EU average. Plans for road pricing and a ban on combustion engines are also being swept off the table.
The party advocates more attention to international train connections and wants to break the monopoly on ticket sales by national carriers. In addition, ProRail is identified as a bottleneck for new infrastructure, an indication that BVNL is not only eyeing large-scale, but also more strategic investments. Transforming ProRail could therefore be a crucial part of their overall vision on infrastructure development.
While the party wants to reduce the tax burden for motorists, BVNL also advocates increasing the capacity of the road network to reduce traffic jams. They propose specific projects such as the construction of the A3 between Amsterdam and Rotterdam and increasing the maximum speed to 130 km/h. This planning are combined with a promise to maintain bus connections in the province and the transformation of the A58 through Roosendaal into a tunnel.
Wybren van Haga's party is focusing on tax cuts and extensive infrastructure projects in an attempt to get the Netherlands moving again
BVNL is equally ambitious in the field of public transport. Not only do they want to invest in high-quality public transport, but they also advocate free public transport seven days a week for students and people over 65. This plan, the party claims, should ultimately lead to free public transport for everyone, to 'get the Netherlands moving again'. According to BVNL, this would not only reduce traffic congestion, but also increase labor mobility and reduce loneliness among the elderly.
As far as aviation is concerned, the party views Schiphol as a crucial economic engine that can grow, provided there is a focus on energy-efficient and quiet aircraft. The Lely Line must be built as soon as possible, and Lelystad Airport must be opened soon to relieve the pressure on Schiphol. BVNL sees a role for other airports such as Rotterdam/The Hague Airport, Eindhoven and Eelde.
The party also makes an institutional proposal: Rijkswaterstaat must again become a 'special ministry' with sufficient expertise to independently assess and supervise projects.
It is an extensive and ambitious agenda that outlines the contours of a Netherlands in which both government and taxes shrink, but investments in infrastructure increase. The contradictions in this view will undoubtedly provoke debate and controversy in future political discussions.
