It seems that Radio Netherlands were expecting to have to make government-imposed cuts of 4.5 to 6.5 million euros over the next five years, plus the 2.5 million euros that RNW had been planning for. Accustomed as all state-funded international stations are to having savage cuts imposed, this seemed to be breaking all bounds.
So there was some relief, when it all turned out to be a misunderstanding. But even so, a cut of 4.5 to 6.5 million euros is no small burden for a relatively small station. Maybe negotiation can bring this huge demand down a little.