In the Netherlands, Budget Day is known as Prinsjesdag or ‘Prince’s Day’, and is held on the third Tuesday in September. On this day, the King delivers the Speech from the Throne, officially opening the parliamentary year. The King’s speech contains the government’s key plans for the year ahead.
History of the date
Formerly, Budget Day (Prince’s day) was on the first Monday in November, and later on the third Monday in October. But this didn’t leave Parliament enough time to finalise the national budget before 1 January. So in 1848 Budget Day (Prince’s Day) was brought forward to the third Monday in September. But this created problems. To arrive on time, members of parliament living outside The Hague had to set out on Sunday. Protestant politicians, especially, objected to travelling on a Sunday. So, in 1887 Budget Day was moved to the third Tuesday in September.
Location
Since 1904, the head of state (the King or Queen) has delivered the Speech from the Throne in the Hall of Knights, announcing the government’s main plans for the year ahead.
In 2020 and 2021, the King delivered the Speech from the Throne in the Grote Kerk in The Hague, due to measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
From 2022, the King has delivered the Speech from the Throne in the Royal Theatre in The Hague, owing to renovations of the Binnenhof. Afterwards, the Minister of Finance gives the House of Representatives an overview of the cost of the plans announced in the Speech from the Throne.
More information:
https://www.government.nl/topics/budget-day/princes-day
https://denhaag.com/en/calendar/princes-day
https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/09/pomp-and-ceremony-as-dutch-caretaker-cabinet-presents-budget
Image: The Hague Online – the Hall of Knights.