THINK Economic and financial analysis
Article | 3 September 2026 2 to pick up.
Stronger exports push up the 2026 forecast
By contrast, the outlook for 2026 has improved on balance, with GDP growth now forecast at 1.4%. The improvement is mainly driven by stronger export expectations, as the Netherlands continues to benefit from the global AI-related investment cycle. This is reflected in more optimistic production expectations in industry. More specifically, semiconductor machinery manufacturer ASML has raised its turnover forecast from €36-40bn to €43-45bn. On a mechanical basis, and depending on the timing of deliveries, ASML’s higher turnover alone could raise the Dutch GDP growth forecast for 2026 by around 0.2-0.3 percentage points, because the domestic value-added content of these sales is significant.
Slightly stronger-than-expected second-quarter GDP data also lifted the annual forecast, while persistently low consumer confidence has been trending upwards in recent months. This was only partially offset by our minor downward revision for the second half of the year, driven by higher inflation and interest rate expectations.
Stable growth masks a changing economic mix
On balance, the economic outlook has changed marginally. Despite the upward revision, GDP growth in 2026 is still expected to be slightly slower than in 2025, while growth in 2027 should proceed at a similar pace. That apparent stability masks a shift in composition: exports and investment are becoming more important growth drivers, while the contributions from household consumption and public spending are gradually diminishing.
That said, all expenditure categories are expected to contribute positively to economic growth in both years, apart from inventory investment. Steady as she goes!
Author
Marcel Klok Senior Economist, Netherlands marcel.klok@ing.com