Politics

D66, VVD and GroenLinks‑PvdA want laptops or tablets to be included in the law, that currently guarantees free schoolbooks. The parties argue this would support digitalization and reduce inequality, but State Secretary Judith Tielen questions whether the problem is large enough to justify the estimated 221 million‑euro annual cost.

D66 has agreed to open coalition talks with Hart voor Den Haag after weeks of resistance. The move follows an appeal from exploratory negotiator Ahmed Aboutaleb and could clear the way for a majority coalition in The Hague.

US lawmakers have introduced the MATCH Act, a bipartisan bill designed to force allies like the Netherlands to align their export rules with strict American standards. The legislation specifically targets Dutch chipmaker ASML, aiming to block the sale and maintenance of even older "workhorse" DUV (deep ultraviolet) machines to China. By threatening to restrict the supply of vital US-made components, the bill seeks to close perceived loopholes and ensure that international partners move in lockstep with Washington to limit China’s semiconductor and AI capabilities.

Rising mortgage rates, fuelled by the conflict in the Middle East, have led to a cooling of the Dutch housing market, with the average mortgage amount stalling for the first time in three years. Data from De Hypotheker shows that while existing homeowners are staying active by porting their lower interest rates to new properties, first-time buyers are increasingly being squeezed out. The market is also becoming highly fragmented; activity has plummeted in areas like Utrecht, while provinces such as Zeeland and Groningen have seen a surprising surge in interest, highlighting a shift towards a more stabilised yet regionally divided property market.

Diesel prices at Dutch forecourts have surged to record highs, with the recommended price for a litre of diesel jumping by more than 10 cents on Friday to reach €2.793. This sharp increase follows a spike in global oil prices and wholesale diesel costs, which hit $200 a barrel for the first time since 2022 due to the escalating conflict in Iran. With US President Donald Trump warning of a further crackdown on Iran and fuel tankers being forced to take longer, more expensive routes, experts suggest that high demand and supply disruptions will continue to keep pump prices at unprecedented levels for the foreseeable future.

The aviation industry faces potential flight cancellations within six weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, as trade association BARIN warns of an impending kerosene shortage. While major hubs like Schiphol currently have sufficient stocks, long-haul intercontinental flights are expected to be the first cut to conserve fuel if the vital shipping route stays blocked. With Southeast Asian nations already buying up European supplies to offset their own regional shortages, experts suggest that smaller airports across Europe and the UK could soon struggle to secure fuel, even as major carriers like KLM and Ryanair begin drafting contingency plans for disrupted deliveries in May.

The mediator for Eindhoven’s post-election negotiations has recommended that the previous three-party coalition return to power to ensure stability. The report identifies housing, administrative execution, and social cohesion as the most urgent challenges for the city over the next four years.

Following a harsh winter that saw Dutch gas stocks plummet to a ten-year low of 4.5%, grid operator Gasunie has confirmed that replenishment efforts cautiously began this week. Despite concerns that high market prices driven by Middle Eastern conflict might deter energy firms, the first storage refills took place on Thursday. Gasunie is now monitoring progress closely to ensure stocks reach the mandatory 87% target by November, noting that the government can appoint an official filling agent to intervene if the pace of the recovery proves too slow.