News

The Dutch tax authority has defended its continued use of algorithms while promising to improve its ethical standards. The organisation recently received the infamous "privacy prize" for its digital practices, leading to a public discussion on how to balance efficiency with legal rights.

Unemployment benefits in the Netherlands have risen above 200,000 for the first time in more than four years, with West Brabant among the regions showing a clear increase. At the same time, employers in Northeast Brabant continue to face major staff shortages, prompting calls to focus more on skills than diplomas. Despite these pressures, the labour market remains tight and unemployment is still historically low.

Outgoing State Secretary for Youth Judith Tielen is advising parents and organisations to stop children from using play sand, craft sand, and squeeze toys for the time being due to potential asbestos contamination. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is currently testing approximately 100 samples to determine if they exceed the legal limit of 0.1 per cent asbestos, with results expected in approximately two weeks. While a total ban cannot be issued until the specific health risks are confirmed by the RIVM, the advisory remains in place as a precaution for schools, nurseries, and households.

Caroline van der Plas is stepping down as leader of the BBB to focus on representing the countryside as a Member of Parliament. She will be succeeded by party co-founder Henk Vermeer, who aims to lead with a focus on common sense and socially conservative values. While the party has seen its popularity decline since joining the cabinet, it continues to transition from its original focus on agricultural policy to broader issues such as asylum and culture ahead of the upcoming local elections.

A new bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Uithuizermeeden, Groningen, where approximately 39,000 laying hens are being culled. This latest case brings the total number of birds lost since October to over 2 million across 45 different locations.

The D66, VVD, and CDA coalition plans to raise an additional €5 billion by increasing income tax rates, offsetting a shortfall in healthcare funding. While households and businesses will save a combined €7.3 billion on health insurance premiums, the government will recover these costs by raising the first two income tax brackets by 0.93 percentage points by 2030.

The incoming Jetten cabinet's policies are expected to slightly increase poverty in the Netherlands, according to the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. While poverty was projected to reach 2.5 per cent by 2030 under existing policies, the new coalition's plans will push that figure to 2.7 per cent.

Dutch business investment fell by 2.6 per cent in December 2025, marking a third consecutive monthly decline driven largely by a slump in the aviation and road transport sectors. Despite reduced spending on lorries and vans, growth was recorded in passenger cars, buildings, and defence equipment. Looking ahead, the CBS "investment radar" suggests a less unfavourable climate for early 2026, bolstered by rising industrial capacity and stronger goods exports.