A growing sense of unease is spreading across the Netherlands. New research shows that 40 percent of people in the country are deeply concerned about immigration levels and the ongoing housing shortage, while more than half say the rising cost of living is weighing heavily on their minds. Around 2 percent of the population — amounting to hundreds of thousands of people — are consistently unable to cover their basic expenses, and one in four is having to watch every euro just to get through the month.
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Economic Anxiety Running High
The mood around the Dutch economy is far from optimistic. A clear majority of 57 percent expect economic conditions to worsen over the coming year. Inflation stood at 2.
7 percent in March 2026, pushed up largely by energy and fuel costs, with the ongoing conflict playing a notable role. Wage growth under collective agreements is projected to land between 3.7 and 4.
2 percent, which technically keeps purchasing power from falling, but the actual gain for most people works out to just 0.9 to 1.3 percent, well below earlier forecasts.
That is a modest cushion at best. As many as 70 percent of Dutch residents say they are worried about the conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. More than half have already made lifestyle changes to cope with rising energy bills — driving less, turning down the heating, and cutting back where they can.
That said, nearly half saw no need to change their habits at all, suggesting the financial pressure is not being felt equally across society. Businesses are also growing more cautious. Geopolitical uncertainty — and unpredictable energy prices have pushed some companies to delay or scale back investments they had previously planned.
The Housing Crisis Adding to the Pressure
The housing shortage is not a new problem in the Netherlands, but it remains an urgent one. Estimates from housing market research bodies, including ABF Researc.
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