economic recovery

The Dutch economy will grow by 2.5 percent this year - the highest growth in a decade, Dutch central bank DNB expects. The economy is doing better in all aspects, but wages are still lagging behind, the bank said in its latest estimate on Monday, NOS reports.

DNB's expectations are rosier than the central planning office CPB's estimates in March. The CPB then predicted economic growth of 2.1 percent. The office is releasing its latest estimates on Wednesday. The Dutch government uses CPB estimates to make its policy.

The Dutch cabinet wants to repair the purchasing power of elderly people and people living on welfare benefits, Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Friday. "We want the elderly and people depending on benefits to also come out above zero and not lag behind the rest of the Netherlands, Dijsselbloem said

Benefits agency UWV expects that the economic recovery will continue to mean an increase in the demand for labor this year and next year. UWV expects the number of jobs to grow by 1.1 percent this year and 0.9 percent in 2017, totalling in 200 thousand new jobs, according to the agency's latest forecast

In 2015 the Netherlands' national debt decreased for the first time since 2006. Last year the national debt was 10 billion euros lower than in 2014. And the country's budget deficit is at its lowest rate since 2009, according to the accountability documents sent to parliament on Wednesday

Despite the fact that cities are the engine behind the Dutch economy, the wealth gap in cities only increased in Dutch cities over the past years, according to the Netherlands' environmental assessment agency PBL in a report titled "The divided triumph of cities'.

Credit raiting agency Moody's believes that home prices in the Netherlands will shoot up 5 percent this year, according to a report published on Wednesday. The agency attributes the price increase to both the recovering economy and a shortage in housing supply in certain parts of the market.

Eurogroup chairman and Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem crossed swords with Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of the American private equity firm Blackstone, about bank regulations in a live discussion organized by Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Affairs Lodewijk Asscher is facing criticism from the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament. The VVD, who is leading the attack, accused him of selling tall tales, with too little results, especially on unemployment.

Dutch bank ING has benefited from the recovery of the Dutch economy, showing a 14 percent increase in its profits over the past year. On Wednesday ING reported pofits of 1.06 billion euros for the third quarter, this being up from 928 million euros last year. Profits were aided by the 25.8 percent interest still held in former insurance subsidiary NN.

Prinsjesdag 2015 kicked off in the Netherlands on Tuesday with the Golden Carriage taking off from Palace Noordeinde at 1:00 p.m., bringing the Royal couple to the Ridderzaal so that King Willem-Alexander can give his third budget day throne speech. The increasing tensions on the borders of Europe and its impact on the continent and the Netherlands formed an important part of the King's speech. He emphasized the need of a "fair asylum policy" to combat human trafficking.

The improving economy has led to better access to credit and financing for entrepreneurs. Last year 78 percent of credit applications were granted, either completely or partially, compared to 62 percent in 2013.