The Dutch central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), is set to cut 290 full-time positions as part of a strategic reorganisation designed to slash costs. This move is expected to impact mainly the IT, Finance, HR, and communications departments, with most reductions anticipated through the expiration of current contracts. The bank has indicated that forced layoffs may not be entirely unavoidable, though they are striving to minimise such actions.
DNB’s objective is to trim its workforce to about 2,090 full-time employees by the year 2030. The organisational changes, alongside a reduction in external hires and other cost-saving measures, are projected to save the bank over €70 million. Despite facing escalating wages and prices, DNB intends to maintain its 2030 budget at approximately the same level as in 2025.
Since 2020, DNB’s budget has seen a substantial increase, reaching €576 million. This rise has been attributed to several factors, including new legal responsibilities, an uptick in wages due to inflation, necessary IT infrastructure investments, and the temporary relocation of staff while the bank’s headquarters undergo renovations.
Employees at DNB have been briefed on how the reorganisation will affect them as the bank moves forward with executing the final plans. This follows a period of consultation with its works council, which is part of the bank’s efforts to navigate the reorganisation process as smoothly as possible.