The maritime sector is crucial for the Netherlands. What does the government do to support the sector?

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Dutch government spent huge sums to keep the country’s shipbuilding industry afloat. In all, some three billion guilders – the equivalent of a billion and a half euros. This was less to aid the shipyards, than to prevent thousands of people losing their jobs. The proviso being that the shipyards would join forces. Which they did not; in those days, the different shipyards were like chalk and cheese. They were not interested in collaborating. The money was wasted. What is more, governments became increasingly reluctant to help companies financially. Attitudes have changed since then, and the sector agenda now operates under the motto: No guts, no Dutch glory. All eyes are once again on the maritime sector. That agenda has three core principles: our country needs to be ready to deal with rising sea levels; we need to accelerate our transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy; and, we want to be less dependent economically and militarily on the rest of the world.