Amsterdam Times

Rabobank’s wellbeing research found worsening perceptions of job security and personal safety, particularly among younger adults, despite broadly stable measures of national prosperity.

Heavy Rain and Local Flooding Put Dutch Drainage and Emergency Systems Under Pressure

Increasingly severe rainfall is overwhelming municipal drainage systems in parts of the Netherlands, prompting authorities and regional water boards to reassess infrastructure designed to manage inland flooding.

Netherlands Moves to Implement Stricter EU Air Quality Standards

The Dutch cabinet has submitted legislation incorporating tougher European Union air-quality requirements into national law, with new compliance obligations expected for agriculture, logistics and industry.

End of Dutch Solar Net-Metering Scheme Drives Growth in Home Battery Demand

Dutch households are increasing investment in residential batteries ahead of the planned abolition of the solar net-metering scheme in 2027, creating a larger market for decentralised energy storage.

Dutch Public Trust in Political Institutions Declines as Protest Participation Rises

Statistics agency CBS reported falling confidence in institutional politics alongside increased participation in organised protests amid concerns over housing, climate policy and living costs.

Four in 10 Dutch 15-Year-Olds Face High Risk of Functional Illiteracy, PISA Data Shows

International PISA research indicates a continuing decline in Dutch reading proficiency, with four in 10 15-year-olds now assessed as being at high risk of functional illiteracy.

Dutch Health System Steps Up Long-Covid Research as More Than 400,000 People Remain Affected

An estimated 400,000 people in the Netherlands are living with debilitating Long-Covid symptoms, prompting new research initiatives from health authorities and private foundations seeking effective treatments.

Rotterdam’s APM and ECT Terminals Face Severe Container Delays After Strike

APM Terminals MVII and the ECT Delta terminal remain heavily congested following industrial action, with trucking companies reporting long waits to retrieve containers.

Schiphol Caps Daily Flights at 1,400 During Major Runway Maintenance

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is limiting operations to an average of 1,400 flights a day while the Buitenveldertbaan runway undergoes essential maintenance.

Nitrogen Permit Restrictions Continue to Delay Dutch Construction and Infrastructure

Environmental permitting constraints linked to nitrogen deposition are blocking major private construction and infrastructure projects, adding pressure to housing supply and slowing energy-transition investments.

Dutch Housing Market Shows Early Signs of Cooling as Supply Edges Higher

Rabobank says housing supply has increased slightly and the market is beginning to cool, although persistent shortages continue to support modest price growth.

EU Affordable Housing Act Gives Dutch Cities New Powers but Sets Strict Thresholds

The European Commission’s Affordable Housing Act introduces a housing-stress test and provides municipalities with a legal basis to restrict some commercial short-term rentals and second-home purchases.

Amsterdam Fails to Win EU Support for Broader Restrictions on Airbnb-Style Rentals

Mayor Femke Halsema did not secure European Commission backing for greater powers to restrict short-term rentals of primary residences, complicating Amsterdam’s efforts to address overtourism and housing shortages.

Italy and Spain Overtake US as Dutch Export Destinations

Growing trade with European partners has pushed Italy and Spain ahead of the United States as destinations for Dutch goods, accelerating a shift toward intra-European shipping and rail freight.

AI Adoption Supports Dutch Services Growth as Manufacturing Remains Weak

Rabobank forecasts that information, communications and specialised business services will continue expanding as Dutch companies deploy artificial intelligence to improve operations and address persistent labour shortages.

ASML Invests Another €400 Million in French AI Developer Mistral

ASML has committed an additional €400 million to Mistral AI as European companies seek to strengthen the region’s capacity to develop large artificial intelligence models.

Dutch Budget Plans Higher Tax Burden on Private Equity and Box 3 Assets

The Finance Ministry is preparing changes that would raise the effective tax rate on lucrative interests from 24.5% to 28.45% and increase the deemed return on other Box 3 assets to 7.78%.

Netherlands to End Transitional Expat Tax Benefit on Jan. 1, 2026

The transitional arrangement linked to the Dutch 30% tax ruling will expire at the start of 2026, ending the partial non-resident tax option for international workers and affecting compensation and recruitment planning at multinational e...

Dutch Companies Prepare to Reclaim More Than €1 Billion in US Import Duties

Major Dutch companies are preparing claims for more than €1 billion in previously collected US duties following a US Supreme Court ruling on general import tariffs, with Philips already securing €186 million.

Port of Rotterdam Battles Cargo Backlogs After Nationwide Port Strike

Europe’s largest port remains congested after industrial action halted loading, towing and cargo inspections across major Dutch ports, leaving transport companies facing restricted truck slots and extended terminal delays.

Dutch Inflation Forecast to Rise to 3.2% in 2026 as Energy Costs Increase

Inflation in the Netherlands is projected to accelerate to 3.2% in 2026, driven largely by higher petrol, natural gas and electricity costs feeding through to households.

Dutch Economic Growth Forecast to Slow to 1% in 2026

The European Commission and CPB have cut the Netherlands’ 2026 growth outlook to 1%, citing trade uncertainty, electricity-grid congestion, nitrogen-related construction limits and weak consumer confidence.

ASML and TSMC Deepen High-NA EUV Partnership for Next-Generation AI Chips

Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML is working with Taiwan’s TSMC to advance High-NA extreme ultraviolet lithography for the development and mass production of more complex artificial intelligence processors.

ASML Begins Major Eindhoven Campus Expansion for Up to 20,000 Employees

ASML has started construction of a new Eindhoven campus designed to accommodate as many as 20,000 workers as demand for advanced lithography equipment grows alongside the artificial intelligence boom.

Dutch Exports to US Fall 25% as New Tariffs Hit Machinery and Transport Equipment

Dutch goods exports to the United States dropped 25% in the first half of the year after Washington imposed a 15% general import tariff, pushing the US out of the Netherlands’ five largest export markets.

Jetten Cabinet Struggles to Finalise Dutch Budget Ahead of Prinsjesdag

Prime Minister Rob Jetten’s D66-VVD-CDA minority government is locked in negotiations over purchasing power, asylum policy and structural reforms before the Sept. 15 budget presentation, with the 2026 deficit projected at 2.7% of GDP.

Dutch Political Trust Declines as Participation in Protests Rises

Statistics Netherlands data showed declining public confidence in Dutch political institutions alongside increased participation in organized protests amid continuing disputes over housing, climate policy and inflation.

Limburg Biotech Companies Develop Animal-Free Leather and Petroleum-Free Plastics

Biotechnology startups in the Dutch province of Limburg have commercialized processes for producing leather alternatives without animal products and plastics without petroleum, expanding the region’s role in circular manufacturing.

Dutch Police Begin Early Crackdown on Illegal New Year Fireworks Trade

Police across the Netherlands launched an unusually early enforcement campaign against illegal fireworks trafficking, seeking to reduce injuries, property damage and cross-border smuggling ahead of New Year celebrations.

McDonald’s Faces Up to €3.75 Million in Dutch Fines Over Disposable Dine-In Cups

McDonald’s could face cumulative penalties of €3.75 million if it does not eliminate disposable cups for dine-in customers in the Netherlands by early January under the country’s single-use plastics rules.

Younger Dutch Generations Accumulate Wealth Faster Than Their Parents Did

Statistics Netherlands found that younger generations are building wealth faster than their parents did at the same age, supported by equity-market gains and intergenerational transfers despite continuing housing affordability problems.

Dutch Education Council Warns Parent-School Conflicts Are Increasing

The Dutch Education Council said a growing tendency for parents to treat schools as service providers is contributing to more aggressive disputes with teachers and adding to staff burnout.

Foreign Doctors Face Testing Fees of Up to €7,000 to Practice in Netherlands

Doctors trained outside the European Union face mandatory Dutch medical assessment fees reaching €7,000, prompting healthcare advocates to warn that the costs may deter overseas professionals during a period of staffing shortages.

Dutch Literacy Levels Fall Further Below European Average

National education monitors reported a continued decline in reading comprehension among Dutch children, with literacy performance now significantly below the European Union average.

Dutch Food Safety Authority Investigates Calf Shipments After Animals Went Without Milk for More Than 50 Hours

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority opened an investigation after Irish calves transported to Dutch veal farms were deprived of milk for more than 50 hours, increasing scrutiny of livestock transport standards.

Dutch Regulators Confirm Four Long Covid Patients Received Euthanasia

Medical regulators said four people suffering from severe and intractable physical effects of Long Covid accessed euthanasia under Dutch law during the past year, prompting debate among medical professionals over its application to post-...

Europol-Led Raids Target Network Accused of Putting Horse Meat Into European Food Chain

Europol coordinated 24 raids, including seven in the Netherlands, against a criminal network accused of fraudulently processing sports horses for the regulated human food market.

Amsterdam Fails to Secure EU Support for Tighter Airbnb Restrictions

Amsterdam did not obtain the European Union legal backing it sought for stricter limits on Airbnb rentals, complicating city efforts to curb mass tourism and ease pressure on the local housing market.

Dutch Student Housing Shortage Exceeds 20,000 Units

More than 20,000 students remain unable to find accommodation in the Netherlands despite new construction, while market data indicates that many available rooms are being rented above statutory price limits.

Netherlands Identifies Sites for 30,000 New Homes by 2035

The Dutch housing minister designated locations for 30,000 new homes over the next decade, while nitrogen permits, construction capacity and infrastructure remain obstacles to increasing housing supply.

Dutch Rents Rise 4.4% as Rotterdam Records Sharpest Increase

Average residential rents in the Netherlands rose 4.4%, with Rotterdam recording the strongest increase as housing costs continue to pressure middle-income households.

PAL-V Wins Dutch Regulatory Clearance to Begin Commercial Flying-Car Production

Dutch mobility company PAL-V received regulatory approval to start commercial production of its flying car, with initial customer deliveries expected within 18 months.

Dutch Government Support for Tata Steel Green Transition Could Reach €11 Billion, Environmental Group Says

Milieudefensie estimated that government support for decarbonizing Tata Steel’s IJmuiden plant could cost taxpayers as much as €11 billion, a calculation disputed by both the Economy Ministry and the company as negotiations continue.