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Speech from the Throne

The Queen gives the Speech from the Throne on behalf of the government on the third Tuesday in September. This day is called Prinsjesdag. The members of the Upper and Lower House, including members of the government, assemble in the Ridderzaal at the Binnenhof in The Hague to hear it. The Speech from the Throne sets out the governments plans for the coming year.

A few hours later the Minister of Finance presents the national budget to the Lower House. This combines the budgets for all the ministries, the High Councils of State, the Royal House and various funds, such as the Provinces Fund, the Municipalities Fund, the General Old Age Pension Savings Fund and the Infrastructure Fund. The presentation by the Minister of Finance gives a general explanation of the national budget and a description of the overall economic situation. 

What happens after Prinsjesdag?

On Prinsjesdag the government presented the Budget Memorandum and the national budget for 2004 to parliament. Ministers cannot begin to implement the plans until both houses of parliament have approved them.

The national budget is made up of the budgets of the various ministries. They all take the form of bills that have to be debated and approved by both houses of parliament. It is therefore parliament that ultimately decides how the money is spent.

The House of Representatives begins its consideration of the national budget and the Budget Memorandum on the day after Prinsjesdag. The 'debate on the speech from the throne' deals with general matters. The parliamentary parties express their opinions and ask questions about the budget. The Prime Minister then replies and defends the plans on the government's behalf.

The debate on the budget takes place in October, when parliament's financial specialists discuss the Budget Memorandum with the Minister of Finance. Parliament deals with the budgets of the individual ministries in November and December. The House of Representatives can make amendments to the Budget Bills, as is the case with all acts of parliament. A vote is then held on the Bills and any amendments - first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate. Efforts are made to ensure that both houses of parliament have approved all budgets by the end of the year. The ministers can then implement the plans.