THE HAGUE, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The Dutch economy grew by 0.4 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the previous quarter, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) announced on Thursday.
On an annual basis, the economy expanded by 1.3 percent in the April-June period, with household and government consumption serving as the main drivers of growth.
According to CBS, household consumption increased by 0.5 percent from the first quarter, as consumers spent more on passenger cars as well as food, beverages and tobacco. Investment in fixed assets also rose by 0.5 percent, mainly driven by higher spending on electrical and electronic equipment. Government consumption increased by 0.4 percent, largely due to higher expenditure on healthcare and public-sector wages.
Net exports, however, made a slightly negative contribution to economic growth, subtracting 0.1 percentage points from quarterly GDP, as imports rose faster than exports. Imports increased by 1.4 percent, reflecting stronger demand for both goods and services, while exports were supported primarily by higher shipments of machinery and food products.
"All in all, the results were slightly better than expected for the second quarter and growth was broad-based," said Marcel Klok, a senior economist at ING Netherlands.
Klok said continued wage growth, higher public spending and sustained demand for semiconductor manufacturing equipment should continue to support the Dutch economy.
However, he warned that persistent uncertainty in the Gulf region and still-elevated energy prices are likely to weigh on growth. At the same time, supply-side constraints, including limited nitrogen emission capacity, electricity grid congestion and a tight labor market, are expected to continue restraining investment in the near term.
"So, there is likely to be more moderate growth ahead." he said. ■
