Production Budgeting Services

Here is how this works in practice. We build shoot budgets that give producers and financiers an accurate, defensible picture of what a project will cost in the Netherlands. Our team prices each department — crew, cast, gear, locations, transport, lodging, permits, insurance, post and backup — against today's Dutch market rates, and structures the budget so it can be tracked and reported through production. Budgets are denominated in euros, the national currency, and account for 21% VAT (BTW). This affects both cash flow and recovery.

Here is the breakdown. Crew costs reflect the Dutch film-industry collective labour agreement (the CAO). This sets minimum terms and turnaround entitlements that feed directly into day rates. We model the budget realistically rather than optimistically. This includes a genuine backup line that reflects the country's variable maritime weather and the practical risks of location shooting.

Here is the short of it. The decisive factor in many Dutch budgets is the Netherlands Film Production Rebates — a 35% cash rebates on qualifying Dutch production spend, administered by the Netherlands Film Fund. We structure budgets to identify eligible spend and model the net cost after the rebates. This materially changes how a project is funded and where it shoots.

Here is what that looks like on the ground. We also align budgets with the conditions of other financiers. NPO, the CoBO co-production fund, regional funds such as the Rotterdam Media Fund — each of which has its own eligibility and reporting needs. The country' compact, well-connected geography keeps travel and logistics lines leaner than in larger countries, and gear moving freely within the EU single market avoids import costs. By combining accurate pricing, the rebates calculation and tight backup, our budgets give shoots a financial plan they can fund, deliver and account for.