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AT LEAST 4,791 CHILDREN FROM 2,888 FAMILIES PLACED OUT OF HOME - MOST DID NOT RETURN
"The accumulation of government interventions—first through unjustified recovery demands and subsequently through out-of-home placements—has caused additional suffering for young people. Conversations with these young people have made it clear that the consequences are still felt on a daily basis." This is stated in the parliamentary letter sent to the House of Representatives on September 25, 2026, by State Secretary for Justice and Security Claudia van Bruggen, State Secretary for Benefits Restoration Sandra Palmen, and State Secretary for Long-term Care, Youth and Sport Mirjam Sterk.
Cabinet acknowledges institutional racism at the tax authorities: 'Unacceptable, extremely painful'
The big word is out: the tax authorities had institutional racism, says Secretary of State Marnix van Rij. Previously, the cabinet did not want to use that term. But that is still happening, accompanied by the words that this is “unacceptable” and “extremely painful”. Everything revolves around the so-called “black lists” that the tax authorities used to detect fraud. In doing so, a distinction was made by nationality (e.g. Bulgarian), population group (such as Antillean) and sometimes by appearance. People with a non-Western appearance were assessed more strictly, as it turned out. For example, e-mails read: “Another fraudulent asylum seeker”. That was unacceptable, according to the Data Protection Authority.
Entrepreneurs lost everything due to the benefits affair but get nothing in return: 'Purposely destroyed'
On a blacklist, according to Paula Bouwer of the Advocacy Group, Duped Entrepreneurs Dutch Tax Department many entrepreneurs are victims of the same method. Various government agencies also blacklisted entrepreneurs and wrongly called them fraudsters. As a result, entrepreneurs lost their business and income and received large debts. Relationships were under pressure or fizzled. The stress caused them to have health problems. The consequences did not only affect entrepreneurs and their families, Bouwer emphasizes. Family members, employees and suppliers also suffered damage. “The damage is significant financially and psychologically. I really hear heartbreaking stories from victims. Like that of a Moroccan husband and wife who owned a beauty salon and a courier company. The couple lost their business and each other because of all the stress. Many families are still unable to build a new life after all these years.” “The recovery operations do not take into account the damage suffered by entrepreneurs,” says Bouwer. “They are unable to request their business files and receive no legal assistance. It is a horror. The government acts like we don't exist.”
Hundreds of entrepreneurs are suing the state: 'Tax authorities destroyed us'
The benefits scandal is getting a vicious tail. Hundreds of entrepreneurs are suing the state. They believe that, like allowance parents, they were unfairly branded as fraudsters. Due to an accumulation of errors at government agencies, they then got into serious problems, is the blame.Anne BoerMay 5, 2026, 06:00 Entrepreneurs not only got into major problems privately as a result of the benefits affair, but also lost their companies as a result. They want the state to also compensate for their damage, but first of all they want help to get up and build a future.Thousands of entrepreneurs duped Paula Bouwer from Amersfoort herself is a victim and initiator of the action. She lost her hospitality businesses, assets and health. She estimates that at least 8,000 entrepreneurs were affected. She bases this on conversations with victims and figures in government documents itself. An official number is still missing.
PWC research - Reconstruction of 'Memo Palms' including answers to Parliamentary Committee questions
Reconstruction and timeline Memo Palms: PWC Research September 2021 5.1. Research question concerning the establishment of the timeline and distribution of the 'MemoPalmen' 110 The research question from the Ministry of Finance is: “Create a timeline...