The Netherlands' labor market is doing fantastically - unemployment continues to fall, just like unemployment benefits, and vacancies are on the rise. But the wages in the country are lagging behind the economic recovery and that must change, Christine Lagarde, director of the International Monetary Fund, said in Luxembourg on Thursday, Metro reports.

The Netherlands is one of the most economically stable countries in the world, according to a report published by consulting and accounting firm KPMG on Friday. KPMG ranks Netherlands in second place, after Switzerland in first place and before Luxembourg in third. Hong Kong and Norway make up the top five, ANP reports.

According to KPMG those are the five countries that are macro-economically the most stable - they have a good infrastructure and a highly educated population. They are above average on involvement in the world economy and have very strong public institutions.

The Netherlands, Germany Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden and Norway are teaming up to research technologies to generate renewable energy in the North Sea and to plan the construction of offshore wind turbines. These "North Sea countries" will ratify their agreements at the Energy Council in Luxembourg on Tuesday

Film lovers in the Benelux region will have to travel to Amsterdam Noord if they want the chance to watch Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, The Hateful Eight, on 70mm film. The EYE film institute is the only theater in the area expected to screen the American director’s movie in that format, according to distributor Entertainment One.

“Countires that do not take back failed asylum seekers should be dealt with harshly” are the sentiments of Justice Secretary Dijkhoff when he spoke to European leaders in Luxemburg on Thursday regarding the maintenance of relations amung European nations, reported NOS. The Justice Secretary has called on economic sanctions against countries who withdraw their aid from the current refugee crisis.

An Austrian politician has accused the German secret service and telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom of intercepting internet traffic to the Netherlands, among others.

The BBC is launching its new drama channel, BBC First, in the Netherlands on May 16. The country is is the first continental European market where the channel will hit television screen

Long-term residents may still be compelled to pass a Dutch integration exam, but the exam's content will have to change, said the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union on Wednesday in Luxembourg. The advocate also said that the fine imposed by the Netherlands for those who fail to comply with integration obligations is disproportionate.

The European Commission has reasonable doubts about the tax deal between US coffee chain Starbucks and the Dutch tax authorities. The commission wants to make its concerns known this week.

Dutch farmers produced 4 percent more milk than allowed last year and must now pay a 132 million euro fine to the European Union.

Greenpeace International have echoed the calls from Greenpeace Netherlands for Executive Director Kumi Naidoo resign from his post and remain on only as 'ambassador' of the headquarters after the direction of the international environmental organization came under criticism.