Booming Holland! Three things about the thriving Dutch economy

The Netherlands took a deep economic plunge in 2008, being a very commercial nation with endless international economic interests, but the tide is turning for the Dutch who’ve patiently waited for ten years to see better times. And things look good!

#1 Biggest Economic Growth of Europe.

Yes, really – the Netherlands has actually managed to outperform countries like Germany in (prospected) economic which is impressive to say the least. As it currently stands, growth expectations have exceeded the initial estimates so much that the “CPB” (Central Bureau for Statistics and Planning) had adjust from a 2,5% growth expectation in 2018 to a 3,1% expectation this December with a mere four months in between.
Holland’s major banks – ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank – always reluctant to be being too optimistic, estimate growth at just a fraction less than 3%.

The economic growth of the country in 2017 has been set on 3,2% by the CPB but an even higher at 3,3% by the Dutch National Bank. Such economic growth has been unseen since the crisis of 2008.

According to the CPB a lot of the growth is stimulated by the government itself, due to the current cabinet’s financial measures the expenses of the government will jump 3,5% which is great news for all the companies looking for government contracts.
And even though extra expenses will made for Education (increased salaries), Defense and an ever-increasing price tag on Healthcare in the Netherlands, there is still an expected budget surplus of 0,5%.

Amsterdam is actively poaching businesses in London with these billboards. Never thought that Amsterdam would be considered cheap right? #brexit #ema @Iamsterdam pic.twitter.com/OiFDODNVZE

— DutchReview (@Dutchreviewing) 20 december 2017

#2 Lowest Unemployment Since 2009.

The number of unemployed came out below 400,000 for the first time since August 2009 – according to the CPB in cooperation with the social services agency “UWV”.
In November nearly 8.7 million people had paid work, the highest number ever, according to the analysts. The number of 15- to 75-year-olds with paid work has increased by an average of 15,000 per month over the past quarter.

Last year almost 500,000 people were still unemployed around this time. But in the most recent estimates, the CPB assumed a further decrease, to an average of 360,000 unemployed people. Minister Wouter Koolmees of Social Affairs and Employment has called them “Great numbers” in a response.

Not in the least because number of necessary unemployment fell by more than 6,000 thousand last month to 337,000, making it the tenth month in a row that there were fewer benefits. Especially in construction there was a notable decrease in benefits. Only in agriculture and fisheries, catering and cultural institutions did figures increase. This however is likely a seasonal problem, as there is less employment in winter months.

#3 On Best Countries for Business in 2018.

The Netherlands has also been awarded third place by business magazine Forbes as part of the “Best Countries for Business 2018”-Index. The sixth economy of Europe is doing particularly well in regards of property rights, innovation, technology, low corruption numbers and high personal freedom. This puts Holland ahead of countries like Sweden, Canada and many others – only the UK and New Zealand managed to stay ahead.