The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) has announced that applications for the government’s STAP budget scheme will reopen at 10am on March 17, after a major technical glitch meant prospective applicants were unable to apply via the online portal on February 28. 

Dutch government's STAP scheme off to a rocky start in 2023

The STAP budget has proven immensely successful since its launch last spring; according to figures from the UWV, over 200.000 people successfully submitted applications in 2022, with each receiving up to 1.000 euros to help cover the costs of a course or training programme. 

Ahead of the 2023 re-launch of the scheme, the cabinet announced at the end of last year that the first round of applications would be postponed from January 2 to February 28 in order to give the Dutch government time to ensure the scheme was properly implemented and regulated, and to prevent trainers and course operators from abusing the system. 

People in the Netherlands can apply for STAP on March 17

However, hundreds of thousands of prospective applicants were left disappointed on February 28, when technical issues over at the UWV meant the online portal whereby people can submit their requests remained inaccessible. Applications were meant to open at 10am, but by midday the UWV confirmed that the next round would have to be postponed. 

The UWV has explained that the site was unable to handle the high traffic on February 28, and has since announced a new date for the relaunch: Friday, March 17. 

For more information or to apply for the STAP budget, visit stapuwv.nl.

Thumb: Kateryna Onyshchuk via Shutterstock.com.