News

PRO will submit a new proposal to remove abortion from the Criminal Code, arguing that it should be treated as healthcare rather than a criminal matter. The plan revives a debate that has divided political parties in recent years while leaving existing quality standards for abortion care unchanged.

Former FNV trade union vice-chair Kitty Jong has been elected as the new chair of Progressive Netherlands (PRO), emerging victorious in a party-wide online ballot involving around 39,000 members. Jong defeated former PvdA MP and Oxfam Novib chief Michiel Servaes, as well as RoodGroen founder Frank van de Wolde, to take up the leadership post. The appointment comes alongside the formal confirmation of Mariëtte Hamer, former chair of the Social and Economic Council (SER), as PRO’s lead candidate for the Senate following an uncontested member vote.

Members of Progressive Netherlands (PRO) have voted overwhelmingly to affiliate with the Party of European Social Democrats (PES) in the European Parliament, with over 65 per cent backing the choice following the merger of GroenLinks and the Labour Party (PvdA). Driven by tactical support from parliamentary leader Jesse Klaver—who favoured the influence of the parliament's second-largest bloc—the decision resolves the party's split European identity, though its eight MEPs will remain across both the Greens and S&D groups until 2029. Newly elected chair Kitty Jong acknowledged the mixed reaction among the 38,700 voting members, committing to unify the party behind the new direction.

The AEX index closed 0.5 per cent higher at 1,112.09 points on Friday, buoyed by a dip in crude prices that improved broader sentiment on the Damrak. Energy stocks bucked the upward trend following reports of diplomatic proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Shell slipping 0.9 per cent and SBM Offshore falling 1.9 per cent as Brent crude eased to $106.12 a barrel. Mid-cap shares lagged the main index with the MidKap dropping 0.3 per cent, mirroring a mixed session across major European bourses.

Tourist spending in the Netherlands climbed to nearly €118 billion last year—a €6 billion increase on 2024—driven primarily by an influx of foreign visitors whose expenditure jumped by over 7 per cent in real terms to €42 billion, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). While domestic travellers generated the bulk of total revenue at €70 billion, real domestic growth remained subdued at under 1 per cent. Meanwhile, tourism workforce levels saw modest overall recovery to represent 5.4 per cent of national employment, though head counts in the hospitality sector dipped slightly and total industry employment remains below pre-pandemic benchmarks.

The recommended price of petrol in the Netherlands reached a new record high of €2.727 per litre on Friday, driven by Middle East tension and surging oil markets. While diesel eased slightly to €2.794 per litre, analysts warn EU prices could face further strain if the US introduces a reported diesel export ban. Meanwhile, Germany’s decision to launch a 17-cent fuel subsidy threatens to trigger new cross-border losses for Dutch petrol station owners near the border.

Trade association Energie-Nederland has welcomed Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven’s plans to transfer responsibility for the Dutch gas supply from the state to market suppliers, while lobbying Brussels to scrap mandatory EU filling targets. Energie-Nederland Chair Femke Brenninkmeijer noted that the shift—complemented by a proposed 5 TWh emergency buffer—strikes a better balance between security of supply and affordability. Despite national storage sitting at a below-average 58 per cent capacity following a harsh winter and geopolitical price spikes, the industry group does not anticipate an acute supply shortage this coming winter.

Extreme heatwaves across Europe are expected to cost the region €113 billion this year, with Italy, Germany, and France suffering the biggest economic losses due to reduced productivity and workplace disruptions.