Already 1,000 signatories from Mollie, Picnic, Bird, Dott, Coolblue, Crisp, and more.
On March 21, 2025, this petition was presented to the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Secretary of Finance.
Dear Minister, State Secretary,
As the startup sector, we're on the frontline of technological innovation. We're building the companies that envision and shape our digital future. That's beneficial for the whole of the Netherlands. Dutch startups have created 151,000 jobs in more than 50 cities. Not only do startups generate a lot of revenue for the economy, but we also actively invest in the next generation of Dutch top talent.
As a sector, we have to compete with companies from all over the world—from Silicon Valley to London. However, recent research from the government has shown that this battle is becoming increasingly tough, especially due to a lack of employee participation. Our country ranks 22 out of a list of 25 countries. In the United States, a company that goes public is 19% owned by employees, while in the Netherlands it's only 4%.
It's now way too difficult to issue shares to employees. That's bad for startups since shares are a crucial way to attract talent when capital is scarce. It's also bad for employees because when a startup grows, they don't benefit. As a result, they can't invest in new startups themselves, or start one with initial capital. Thus, the startup ecosystem doesn't grow. This is partly why in the US, €803 per resident per year goes to investments in startups, while in the Netherlands it's only €111.
We have the talent. We just lack this so-called flywheel effect, where successful startups lead to more startups.
Complex regulations are thus holding back the economy and the innovative capacity of the Netherlands. We're rapidly losing promising companies to countries like the US, UK, Israel, and others where this is well-regulated. To secure future earning power, the Netherlands must take a different course.
We therefore call on you to:
Reduce the administrative burden of participation schemes and make them feasible for young, non-listed startups.
Only impose tax on stock options at the time of sale when the tax can actually be paid.
Implement an internationally comparable tax rate for stock options and enable Dutch companies to compete globally.
We are also committed to continuing to support entrepreneurs, employees, and investors in our sector. With these new measures, we can move forward.
Improved legislation on employee participation will directly lead to more prosperity and innovation in the Netherlands.
We count on your support.