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 accusation.

Anne Boer

Photo: Cees Wouda

May 5, 2026, 6:00 AM

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 on their feet 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.

“The damage is in the billions,” she fears. “The government's recovery operations do nothing for the problems that entrepreneurs experience after they first ran into problems privately. For example, there is no compensation for loss of reputation, state pension and pension loss.”

Jennieke Dorgelo (39) from Kampen still struggles with the aftermath of the scandal every day. “I've been in and out of hell 36 times through lawsuits and proceedings. It is a process of continuous grief. It's like losing a loved one over and over again.”

With her Interest Group, Paula Bouwer represents a hundred entrepreneurs who lost everything. New victims report almost every day.

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Interview with state secretaries

On May 7, Bouwer will sit down with a delegation of victims with state secretaries Sandra Palmen (Recovery of Allowances) and Eelco Eerenberg (Finance). The victims want to talk about their situation, the lack of information and the slow processing of their files.

Last November, the House of Representatives acknowledged that the benefits affair affects many entrepreneurs. And also that the state does not sufficiently recognize entrepreneurs in their suffering. As a result, they cannot claim help and compensation.

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