Tulips Spared, Votes Still Missing: The Revised Tax Plan

The cabinet's revised tax plan pushes back the new box 3 tax, puts the flower VAT rise on hold and drops a planned labour tax, but it still doesn't have a majority. We also cover the new nitrogen law, Democrats taking the US House, big pension rises for two million retirees, a shrinking rental market, two Amsterdam restaurants shut over suspected exploitation, and the Amsterdam Museum turning 100.

Revised tax plan: box 3 delayed, flower VAT on hold, but no majority yet: The cabinet now aims for box 3 by 2029 and has shelved a flower VAT rise to 21 percent, costing €76 million. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
Nitrogen law gives provinces more say: The law sets 2035 emission cuts of 42 to 46 percent for farming, with €9 billion for affected farmers. (NOS, NU.nl)
US midterms: Democrats take the House, Senate still open: Projections give Democrats at least 244 House seats; they’ve flipped two Senate seats but need a net gain of four. (NOS, NU.nl)
Pension rises of 12 to 25 percent for two million retirees: Aon says 37 funds switching systems on 1 January are healthy, with retirees at the ten largest gaining 17 percent on average. (DutchNews.nl, NOS)
Private rentals shrink as starter loans run dry: Private rentals fell by 22,000 to 1.16 million in 2025, while rising house prices drain councils’ starter-loan budgets. (NL Times, NU.nl)
Parliament majority wants a year-round off-peak pass: The motion would follow the €49-a-month summer pass, which about 365,000 people bought; D66 and CDA back it. (NL Times, NU.nl)
Two Amsterdam restaurants closed over suspected exploitation: Mayor Halsema shut Kailash Parbat and Anjappar for three months; some staff reportedly worked 60 to 80 hours a week. (Het Parool)
Rico Verhoeven’s fight with Wilder is off: The planned 11 December Cardiff bout fell through after talks stalled, and Verhoeven won’t fight again this year. (NU.nl)
The Amsterdam Museum turns 100, with walks to match: A new book links 100 museum objects to twelve city walks, part of a 100-day festival running until 11 December. (Het Parool)

What’s on in Amsterdam (Wednesday 4 November 2026)

Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane: It’s a one-night tribute in the Main Hall, where Coltrane played three times in the 1960s. (Wednesday 4 November, 20:15–21:45, The Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Oud-Zuid)
We Refuse to Be Broken: film and panel on Sudan: It’s a free English-language screening of Hassan Kamil’s documentary 10 Times 74, followed by a panel on resilience. (Wednesday 4 November, 19:30–22:15, Pakhuis de Zwijger, Oostelijke Eilanden)
PAN Amsterdam art, antiques and design fair: The 39th edition shows established and new talent, has talks on the PAN Podium, and runs only a few more days. (Runs until Sunday 8 November; check opening hours for Wednesday, PAN Amsterdam (RAI Hall 8), Rivierenbuurt)

Also in the news

Maastricht University cancels Jewish student event over security: The university called off an IJAR and StandWithUs lecture, saying online calls from both sides made safety impossible to guarantee. (NOS)
Inspectorate warns against recalled condoms: The IGJ says some recalled French condoms carry a higher risk of tearing, and people shouldn’t buy them online. (NL Times, DutchNews.nl)
Fewer women invited for breast cancer screening due to staff shortages: An RIVM monitor says a shortage of screening staff meant fewer women were invited last year, which may delay diagnoses. (NOS)
National Ombudsman: government was unreliable for farmers: Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen spoke to 32 farmers and found changing rules and contradictory policy caused a decade of uncertainty. (NOS)

Tulips Spared, Votes Still Missing: The Revised Tax Plan

Read more

What’s on in Amsterdam (Wednesday 4 November 2026)

More on in Amsterdam

Also in the news