The Dutch government offers various types of support to entrepreneurs, from funding to making life easier. If your idea fits the criteria of one of the subsidy programs, then you can apply for a grant through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Subsidies are basically government support for certain industries or activities which would not be profitable without it. Subsidies usually are offered to help struggling industries and to encourage new developments or promote specific policies or social good. They could be profitable economically but they are costly to other groups (for example a food subsidy helps farmers, while raising prices for consumers) It is also possible that they fail economically, but achieve cultural and political goals.
Government-provided subsidies can take many forms, including grants or tax breaks, rebates as well as direct cash payments to customers or suppliers, and price controls. They may be indirect as well, such as road tax, which is a payment made by all motorists, not only those who drive, or railway access fees that are not limited to trains for grants for digital technologies passengers.
Subsidy advocates claim that they improve economic efficiency by ensuring protection from international competition, or by promoting domestic production. They can also help in preventing market failures such as externalities or information inequalities. But, critics contend that these policies can have negative effects, ranging from inequality to corruption and that they crowd out more equitable and efficient public spending. They also create perverse incentives. For instance, a firm that benefits from a government-granted subsidy could be enticed to donate to politicians, thus contributing to “regulatory capture” and rent seeking.