Around 40% of Dutch consider buying fewer American products amid political strains

Rising political and economic tensions between Europe and the United States are leading Dutch consumers to reconsider their purchases of American products. Research by entrepreneur platform Onderneming.nl shows that four out of ten people surveyed in a panel of 1,000 say they may buy fewer American goods.

The survey followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to levy extra import duties on several European countries, including the Netherlands, over their support for Greenland. Since the threat, social media platforms like X have seen a rise in posts encouraging a boycott of American businesses.

Onderneming.nl notes that few consumers are likely to change their buying habits. Only a small minority currently plans to avoid American products, while nearly 30 percent of Dutch people say they will not alter their purchases, and another 30 percent remain neutral.

Dutch consumers show strong support for reducing reliance on American software. Over two-thirds think the country should become less dependent on major U.S. tech firms like Microsoft and Google.

Confidence in these companies is also declining: more than 40 percent of respondents trust American tech less than European alternatives, about a third remain neutral, and a small minority actually trusts U.S. firms more.

Dutch consumers are also shifting their use of American platforms like Amazon. Around a third report purchasing less from the U.S.-based online retailer compared to a year ago, while slightly more than 30 percent say their habits have stayed the same. In supermarkets, over a third deliberately choose European products over American ones, though nearly 40 percent remain neutral.