Thursday brings higher healthcare costs, a cooling housing market, and a police operation against illegal online pharmacies. In the regions, a court challenge over Schiphol is coming and a fallen branch hit cars in The Hague.
House prices still rising, but the pace is slowing
Prices for owner-occupied homes in the Netherlands were 2.9% higher in September than a year earlier, with the average reaching €504,658. Compared with August, prices dipped slightly, and annual growth has slowed again. If you are buying, the market is still expensive, but the pressure that pushed prices up quickly may be easing.
Source: NL Times
Health insurance premiums set for steep rise
Health insurance premiums are heading for their biggest increase in 15 years after insurer DSW announced its 2027 rates, and policyholders could pay up to €177 more over the year. Everyone living or working in the Netherlands must have basic health insurance, so this affects almost every household. Compare policies before the year-end switching deadline.
Source: DutchNews
Police shut down 30 sites selling fake medicines
Police have taken thirty websites offline that sold illegal medicines and drugs, and three suspects were arrested this week. Police say the same people ran Slaappillen.net, a webshop linked to several deaths. It was closed last year after a woman from Voorburg died having ordered the strong painkiller oxycodone there. Investigators believe the suspects kept selling sedatives, sleeping pills and painkillers afterwards, which is a clear reminder to get medication only through a pharmacy or your GP.
Source: NOS
Schiphol plans face legal challenge
Environmental groups and local residents in the Amsterdam area are taking the cabinet to court over its plans for Schiphol airport. The outcome could affect how the airport develops, which matters to people living under its flight paths.
Source: Het Parool
A Hoeksche Waard man on living with a stutter
Henk Storm, 68, from the Hoeksche Waard in the Rotterdam region, has stuttered since childhood and spent years feeling insecure about it before coming to accept it. On World Stuttering Day he is calling for more attention to the condition: “There are 180,000 people who stutter in the Netherlands and many prefer to stay in a corner.”
Source: Rijnmond
Falling branch damages cars in The Hague
On Wednesday evening a large tree branch broke off on the Benschoplaan in The Hague and fell across the road. It struck homes and landed on two parked cars.
Source: Omroep West
Netherlands Today is a curated digest: we summarise and link, the reporting belongs to the publications named. Something wrong or missing? Tell us.
Sources
- NL Times: Home prices climbed 2.9% in September to €504,658; Slight month-on-month decrease, accessed 22 October 2026
- DutchNews: Health insurance could cost you €177 more next year, accessed 22 October 2026
- NOS: Politie haalt webshops uit de lucht die gevaarlijke namaakmedicijnen verkochten, accessed 22 October 2026
- Het Parool: Milieubeweging en bewoners stappen naar de rechter tegen Schipholplannen kabinet, accessed 22 October 2026
- Rijnmond: Henk was jarenlang onzeker om zijn gestotter, maar heeft angst overwonnen: '30 jaar over gedaan', accessed 22 October 2026
- Omroep West: Afgebroken tak beschadigt twee auto's, accessed 22 October 2026
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