This paper on the Netherlands is one of a series on the poverty reduction policies and experience of European development co-operation agencies. It is the product of a major research programme involving ten European development research institutes. This programme breaks new ground in its intention to compare and learn from the collective and comparative experience of European aid agencies.

The objective of the first stage of this research programme is to describe and assess each donor’s goals as they relate to bringing the benefits of aid to poor people, and to review each donor’s organisation and management to implement this objective. The ten donor agencies covered are those of Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. This report on the poverty reduction policies and practices of the Netherlands by Paul Hoebink and Lau Schulpen forms part of this series.