A wide range of organizations in the culture, sports, catering and media sectors have expressed their opposition to the VAT increase that the four parties want to implement. Together they will publish an advertisement in all national and regional newspapers this morning calling on readers to take action.

“There is no higher VAT, you are taxing the whole Netherlands,” says a bright orange newspaper page. “It is an additional burden on your precious free time, on your curiosity, on cheering for your favorite football team, on the book you want to read, on your painting on the wall, on your neighborhood band, on staying in a hotel. In the countryside, in the magazine on the train. , at the neighborhood kickboxing school, and in the newspaper that keeps you informed about the world around you.”

Organizers invite people to cut the ad and hang it wherever they want. The Dutch Football Association, Royal Horeca Netherlands, the Dutch Association of Journalists and many partnerships from the cultural sector are participating in the campaign.

Since the announcement of the formation agreement, numerous petitions have been filed in an attempt to stop the VAT increase. For example, a petition from the book industry has so far been signed more than 230,000 times.

The new alliance between PVV, VVD, NSC and BBB wants to increase VAT on most cultural goods. This means that the tax on books and performing arts, for example, will rise from 9 to 21 percent. The previously reduced rate for the hotel sector will also reach 21 percent.