[techcode]

Expat/kennismigrant here - it's same "ends up late and over budget" for literally every country (and private businesses).

What Dutch government/politicians seems to be "ahead" compared to other countries - is combination of narrow or short sightedness and (over)correction trough rules, laws and regulations.

Like giving subsidies and tax breaks for electrical cars, rooftop solar panels and mandating household switch from gas (LPG and such) to electric heating and cooking. And ignoring industry professionals for decades saying the distribution network won't scale.

More of the same with stuff like 30% tax rule for expats, which was originally introduced as cost saving measures because actually doing bookkeeping for expatriate expenses was costing government more money. But then more recently expat tax breaks have been reduced and phased out "because cost saving". Meanwhile employers have trouble finding highly skilled workers. And we're limiting numbers of foreign students in universities (by forcing them to do it in Dutch instead of English).

Some Bulgarians cheated/defrauded Dutch tax returns or such - and "solution" was ML/AI reviewing things - but it turned out to be broken/biased and (ab)used for other things - leading to the whole toeslag scandal and government resigning.

Same for nitrogen vs lack of housing... And many more.

[ninalanyon]

> ignoring industry professionals for decades saying the distribution network won't scale.

Who says that? The British National Grid says the opposite. Or is it specifically the Dutch network that would not handle the changing requirements? If so what makes it special?

[Aaargh20318]

The Dutch electric grid is owned and operated by a few companies that are heavily regulated by the ACM (Authority for Consumer and Markets). Those companies have been wanting to invest in upgrading the grid for many years, but the ACM refused them permission as they considered it unnecessary investments that would drive up the costs for consumers.

Now we’re fucked because the government has been stimulating electric cars, heat pumps, etc. to meet climate goals, which increases the load on the electric grid which is now unable to keep up with demand. Something everyone saw coming except for the ACM.

[ninalanyon]

Are your heat pumps replacing gas? Because if not then replacing resistive heating with a heat pump results in less load on the grid not more. My heat pump outputs 7 kW for an input of less than 3 kW.