This situation will change on January 1st: hotels will become more expensive, bringing hairless cats will be prohibited, rent allowances will increase, and more.
As the Netherlands approaches January 1, 2026, a large number of new laws, taxes, and price adjustments will come into effect. These annual changes will affect the daily lives of families, businesses, travelers, pet owners, and the self-employed. These changes were reviewed by economic affairs editor Leen Kraniotis and confirmed by the NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting - Dutch Broadcasting Foundation).
Travel and leisure will become significantly more expensive. The value-added tax (VAT) on hotel and resort stays will increase from 9% to 21%, making overnight stays more costly. Train travel prices with NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen - Dutch Railways) will also rise by 6.5%. Fuel prices will increase due to higher taxes on gasoline, diesel, and LPG gas. At the same time, large consumers of tap water will pay higher taxes to encourage water conservation.
On the income front, there is some positive news. The minimum wage will increase from €14.40 to €14.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and older. Benefits associated with it, including AOW (Algemene Ouderdomswet - government pension), social assistance, and WIA and Wajong benefits, will also rise. A larger number of people will qualify for housing allowance (huurtoeslag), even in higher-rent accommodations, provided that income and assets do not exceed the specified limits. Additionally, the full housing allowance will be granted starting at age 21 instead of 23.
Housing regulations will witness significant changes. Rents in the free sector may rise by up to 4.4%, while the increase in medium rents may reach 6.1%. The property transfer tax for homes purchased by investors will decrease from 10.4% to 8%, while the rates remain the same for buyers who will reside in the homes and for first-time home buyers. At the same time, the installation of digital or smart energy meters will become mandatory, meaning the end of the use of old analog meters.
On the other hand, social and environmental regulations will be tightened. The sale of electronic cigarettes (vapes) will be limited to specialized stores only. Additionally, the ownership of hairless cats and cats with folded ears, such as Sphynx and Scottish Fold, will be prohibited due to serious health issues associated with genetic defects; current cats may be kept but cannot be shown in exhibitions or competitions. Furthermore, cash payments of 3000 euros or more will be banned in stores to combat money laundering, and stricter rules will be imposed on employers who use what are known as fictitious self-employed workers (schijnzelfstandigen).
Finally, changes will occur in the fields of healthcare, pensions, justice, and copyright. Basic health insurance will expand to include greater support for smoking cessation, physical therapy for certain rheumatic diseases, and initial counseling sessions in mental health without a deductible. Major pension funds will continue to transition to the new pension system (pensioenstelsel), making pensions more linked to the performance of financial markets. Bulgaria will also adopt the euro, becoming the twenty-first country in the Eurozone. At the same time, creators such as writers, musicians, and filmmakers will receive stronger protection for copyright, alongside stricter penalties for organized crime.
These measures together represent one of the widest packages of changes coming into effect on January 1st in years, affecting almost every aspect of life in the Netherlands.