In a Financieele Dagblad column published by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, Chair Laura van Geest called for binding, broadly supported commitments to curb regulatory and administrative burdens. She cited a PwC estimate that compliance with laws and regulations costs the Netherlands EUR 16.8 billion, or 1.5% of gross domestic product, and argued that increasingly detailed rules, extensive documentation requirements and a preference for tailored treatment are driving costs higher. Van Geest pointed to the European Commission’s targets to cut administrative burdens by 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises and 25% overall, alongside its one-in, one-out approach. She also referenced the Dutch government’s plan to remove or simplify at least 500 rules annually, but cautioned that this will not reduce the overall burden if new requirements continue to proliferate. The AFM plans to address firms’ experienced burden through clearer expectations, support when new legislation is introduced, more stable questionnaires scheduled outside peak periods and feedback to supervised institutions.
2026-08-28Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets
Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets chair calls for binding commitments to reduce regulatory burden
Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets Chair Laura van Geest called for binding commitments to curb regulatory burdens, citing estimated Dutch compliance costs of EUR 16.8 billion. The AFM plans clearer expectations, support on new legislation, more stable supervisory questionnaires and better feedback to firms.