Farming families have suffered greatly from an unreliable government for a decade

National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen has concluded that farming families in the Netherlands have suffered significantly due to unreliable government policy over the past decade. Frequent changes in regulations concerning nitrogen, animal welfare, and water quality have created a climate of uncertainty, causing stress and financial instability for many agricultural businesses. The ombudsman highlights that contradictory rules and unfulfilled government promises, such as the cancellation of the National Rural Area Program, have made it impossible for farmers to make long-term investment decisions. These issues have deeply impacted family life, often leading to feelings of powerlessness and distrust toward authorities. Van Zutphen emphasizes that although changes in the agricultural sector are necessary due to European regulations and judicial rulings, the government must provide clear, honest, and actionable policies. He urges officials to look at the individual circumstances of each farm rather than relying solely on high-level discussions with organizations, as the cumulative damage of the past years cannot be easily undone by a new policy direction.