The Dutch government said it would stop funding the country’s Jewish broadcasting network in 2016, possibly leading to its closure.

The announcement came earlier this week in a letter from Dutch Culture Minister Sander Dekker and drew angry reactions from Dutch Jewish well-known figures.

Willem Koster, chairman of the Central Jewish Board (CJO) said in a statement the decision “makes religious minorities voiceless and undermines their position in society in a serious manner.”

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Awraham Soetendorp, a Reform rabbi, said the impending closure “shakes the feeling of inner safety” of the Dutch Jewish community.

The minister’s letter said “small faith and philosophy broadcasters” would no longer be eligible for subsidies, a decision that would affect the Jewish broadcaster, the Roman-Catholic network and possibly a few others.

The Dutch government has funded the Jewish network with subsidies of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

Christian networks may be able register with the government as corporations, which would allow them to charge membership fees and apply for separate arts and culture subsidires.

The Jewish station, however, may lack the necessary 50,000 members to do so.

The Netherlands has a Jewish population of 40,000-50,000.

The Jewish broadcaster, de Joodse Omroep, was established is 1973, and broadcasts on both television and radio. It is one of Europe’s only state-funded, national Jewish media.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount