Brabant’s nitrogen permitting freeze had continued for three and a half years, with 1,713 applications awaiting a decision in September 2026. Nearly all concerned farmers, while infrastructure and industrial projects were also affected. The freeze began in March 2023 after studies reportedly found that protected Natura 2000 sites in the province were in such poor condition that new nitrogen permits might not withstand legal challenges. It applied within 25 kilometres of Natura 2000 sites and effectively covered almost the entire province. There had been virtually no permits since the freeze began, although applications were still being processed; the number of new applications fell from 286 in 2023 to 69 in 2025. ASML was identified as a rare exception that received a nitrogen permit.

The province expanded its own nitrogen measures, including withdrawing unused permitted nitrogen capacity, restricting fertilisation on provincial land and requiring farmers to maintain outdated stables. It said emissions were falling but not quickly enough and continued to call on the national government for plans and funding. A national package was expected to target a 42 to 46 percent reduction in emissions by 2035, but the permitting crisis was not yet resolved. If permits were able to resume by the end of 2027, Brabant could face a further restriction on discharge permits because it was reportedly not meeting the European Water Framework Directive’s requirements for water availability and quality.