OECD Economic Surveys: Netherlands 2025

The Dutch economy kept outperforming peers as it weathered global crises, but interrelated supply constraints and persistent structural challenges require continued policy action. Safeguarding strong public finances without undermining growth requires fiscal prudence and adjustments, including by reallocating spending towards productivity-enhancing investments, and containing long-term spending pressures through a balanced mix of revenue-raising measures and targeted spending cuts. As global dynamics shift, preserving trade-driven prosperity will require reforms that strengthen supply chains, expand digitalisation in trade, and create a more dynamic business environment to boost innovation and investment. Accelerating emission reduction efforts, addressing electricity grid congestion, and ensuring long-term policy consistency are critical to achieving the 2030 emission targets and the net-zero goal by 2050, while also enhancing energy security and allowing business expansion. Increasing housing supply through streamlining land use and permitting policies, in complement to long-term housing market reforms, can ease affordability concerns and support labour mobility.