The European Commission published its Spring 2026 economic forecast on 21 May 2026. For an export- and logistics-driven economy like the Netherlands, the headline numbers set the backdrop for trade volumes in the year ahead.
The numbers for the Netherlands
- GDP growth: 1.8% (2025) → 1.0% (2026) → 1.1% (2027).
- Inflation (HICP): 3.0% (2025) → 3.2% (2026) → 2.5% (2027).
- Unemployment: 3.9% → 4.2% → 4.4%.
- Current account surplus: around 7.8% of GDP.
What is driving it
Export growth is expected to soften in 2026, weighed down by US trade tariffs and competitiveness challenges.
How Nexportal helps
Nexportal brings sea, air, road, customs and warehousing into one platform with the rates built in — from factory to front door.
Source: European Commission — Economic forecast for the Netherlands.