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Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure NL-2020-12/827 Updated – measures in Netherlands

SME credit guarantee scheme (BMKB)

Borgstelling MKB-kredieten (BMKB)

Country Netherlands , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 16 March 2020 – 30 June 2027
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Access to finance
Author Amber van der Graaf (Panteia)
Measure added 07 May 2020 (updated 12 June 2023)

Background information

The SME credit guarantee scheme (BMKB) was created to support SMEs affected by more stringent environmental legislation.

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the scheme has been temporarily expanded to SMEs grappling with the economic consequences of the outbreak. The aim is to keep businesses afloat by providing more government guaranteed credit.

The scheme was introduced and expanded by the national government, which informed the Parliament on 12 March 2020.

Content of measure

The measure ensures access to finances for SMEs through government credit guarantees. It is available for companies that are self-employed without employees, have up to 250 employees, are at least three years old, and have an annual turnover of up to €50 million or assets up to €43 million.

Previously, up to 50% of credit was guaranteed by the government and now it has been increased to 75%. Also, the duration of the credit has been increased to four years and the test for eligibility has been relaxed. Finally, the interest rate has been decreased from 3.9% to 2%.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

17 April 2023

The BMKB has been extended until 30 June 2027.

03 February 2022

The BMKB has been extended until 30 June 2022. Companies with a credit need up to €266,667 can finance three quarters with BMKB credit, otherwise the limit is a maximum of half of the credit. Furthermore, the maximum of the BMKB credit has temporarily been increased from €1 million to €1.5 million. A government guarantee of 90% applies to the BMKB credit.

Use of measure

Based on Central Statistics Office data, 4,110 companies used this measure as of 31 May 2021, with a total of €524 million pledged (CBS, 2021).

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Solo-self-employed
SMEs
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Consulted Consulted
Form Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Social partners jointly
  • Main level of involvement: Sectoral or branch level

Involvement

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has had regular and close consultation with the social partners. Together the national level social partners and the government arrived at the first and second packages of emergency measures, announced on 17 March and on 20 May respectively.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), SME credit guarantee scheme (BMKB), measure NL-2020-12/827 (measures in Netherlands), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/NL-2020-12_827.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.