Dutch economy grows 0.2% in first quarter, more than previously expected
The Dutch economy grew 0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from the previous three months, according to a second estimate released Wednesday by the Dutch statistics agency CBS. The figure was revised up from an initial estimate of 0.1 percent.
CBS said the stronger result was mainly due to a smaller-than-expected decline in exports and stronger household consumption.
The revised data show that first-quarter growth was driven by government spending, household consumption, and investment.
Compared with a year earlier, the economy expanded 1.4 percent in the first quarter, up from the initial estimate of 1.2 percent.
CBS said the higher annual growth rate was primarily the result of an upward revision to the trade balance. Government consumption made the largest contribution to year-on-year growth, while investment and household consumption also contributed positively.
Based on the updated figures, CBS revised economic growth for all of 2025 to 1.6 from 1.8 percent. Economic growth for 2024 was finalized at 1.1 percent.
In the meantime, CBS also reported that retail turnover rose 2.9 percent compared with May 2025. Sales volume, adjusted for price effects, increased 2.3 percent.
CBS said growth was driven by both food and non-food retail, with non-food posting the strongest gains. Online turnover also increased year-on-year.
Non-food retail, including non-store retail, rose 3.9 percent in turnover. Volume increased 3.1 percent. Drugstores recorded the largest increase at 6.5 percent. Furniture and home furnishings stores rose 3.8 percent, while clothing stores increased 3.7 percent. Shoe and leather goods stores saw the smallest gain at 0.7 percent.
Food retail turnover rose 1.2 percent. Sales volume increased 0.7 percent. Specialty stores increased 1.6 percent, while supermarkets rose 1.1 percent.
Online retail turnover increased 4.8 percent compared with a year earlier. Multi-channel retailers, where online sales are a secondary activity, rose 6.7 percent. Web-only retailers increased 3.5 percent.
Within online sales, clothing and fashion retailers recorded a 14.0 percent increase. Online sales of food and drugstore-related products rose 5.5 percent, while other non-food online sales increased 4.1 percent. Consumer electronics was the only category to decline, falling 3.1 percent, marking the first drop in a year
