How the Netherlands Bent Bureaucracy Into Something Beautiful

How the Netherlands Bent Bureaucracy Into Something Beautiful

When Harry Kruiter first met Eric, the man could barely sit still. Tax bills were scattered across the kitchen table. His hands were shaking. Two years earlier, Eric’s wife had died unexpectedly, leaving him alone with their two young daughters and a pile of modest but mounting debt. By then, Eric had already seen more than 20 social workers. Each one had followed procedure. Each one had come to the same conclusion: Before Eric could qualify for…