Netherlands bets €120M on European AI to cut Big Tech reliance

The Netherlands is putting real money behind its AI ambitions. The Dutch cabinet signed off on November 6, 2026, on a national strategy that funnels €120 million into European AI infrastructure and responsible AI development. State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts, whose portfolio covers the digital economy and sovereignty, is steering the effort.

The plan carries a name that spells out the intent: Choosing AI for Everyone, or Kiezen voor AI voor iedereen. It is a cross-ministry project, not a single-department push, and it sits on three pillars — responsible deployment, economic opportunity and benefits for society. Small and medium-sized businesses are singled out as a group that needs dedicated support.

The €120 million is earmarked for Dutch participation in an Important Project of Common European Interest, or IPCEI, focused on AI. Funding kicks in starting in 2027. The broader goal is blunt: stop handing the country's AI future to foreign tech giants.

That sovereignty talk comes with a twist. The Netherlands is simultaneously working on Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at strengthening chip and AI infrastructure, according to Crypto Briefing. So the Dutch are hedging — building European capacity while keeping a seat at the American table.

Plenty is still up in the air. How the €120 million gets divided between infrastructure, safety work and SME support will decide what the strategy actually delivers, not what it promises.

Mark Q1 2027 on the calendar. That is when the government says it will reveal specifics on new datacenters and computing infrastructure — and when the balancing act between European sovereignty and Pax Silica gets a lot more concrete.