Economy

Dutch growers expect a smaller apple harvest this year, while pear production is set to rise. Apple acreage continues to shrink, but pear cultivation remains stable. Growers say the final weeks of the season will determine the quality of the new harvest.

Picnic saw strong revenue growth in 2025 as more customers joined and its electric fleet expanded. However, the company’s continued investments in automation and international expansion led to a higher net loss. The supermarket says these costs are necessary to support long‑term growth.

IEA chief Fatih Birol warns that the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger global economic problems within weeks. The blockade has already pushed oil prices higher, and escalating tensions threaten key shipments to vulnerable countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Insurers warn that the Netherlands needs stronger national rules to reduce flood damage as extreme rainfall becomes more common. They also say residents and businesses need clearer information and better preparation before the next major disaster. A new European report shows that flood‑related economic losses continue to rise.

Dutch corporate bankruptcies fell by 4 per cent year-on-year in June to 302, representing 12 fewer failures than the same period last year but an increase of 15 from May. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the overall bankruptcy rate per 100,000 companies dropped to 8.1 from 8.6 a year earlier, though the transport and storage sector suffered a severe spike, jumping to 39.2 per 100,000 firms. This latest data follows a broader historical trend that peaked in 2015, hit a record low in 2021, and has been on a slight downward trajectory since late 2024.

Dutch industrial output rose by 4.9 per cent year-on-year in May, matching April's growth rate and marking three consecutive months of expansion for the sector. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), nearly 40 per cent of manufacturing sectors saw an uptick in activity—led primarily by the machinery and food industries—even as the chemical and transport equipment sectors contracted. This stabilizing trend triggered a sharp bounce in manufacturer confidence for June, with the sentiment index climbing to a near four-year high of plus 1.3 as firms grew increasingly optimistic about upcoming business activity.

Private sector rents rose by nearly 5 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, outpacing both inflation and house prices, according to housing platforms Huurwoningen.nl and Pararius. Driven by a persistent property shortage, new tenants faced higher costs—particularly for flats—with average prices reaching €20.94 per square metre. However, despite the annual increase, rents fell slightly compared to the first quarter of the year, marking the first quarterly decline in over two years as buy-to-let investors increasingly sell off vacant properties due to less profitable legislative changes.

The Netherlands saw fewer stolen cars, vans, and motorcycles in the first half of 2026. Mopeds were the only category to increase, according to new figures from the Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau Foundation (VbV). This effect has also positively eased the burden on insurance companies. However, there is still a popular target catergory, with criminals adapting rapidly.