On January 1, like every year, all kinds of new laws and rules will apply. And some you will immediately notice. We list the most striking ones for you.
Minimum wage higher and becomes hourly wage
Like every six months, the minimum wage will increase, now by 3.75 percent to 13.27 euros gross per hour. And: instead of a minimum monthly wage, it will now be a minimum hourly wage. Until now, there was a minimum monthly amount for someone who works full-time. But what constitutes full-time varies by sector. As a result, the minimum hourly wage for someone who works 36 hours was higher than for someone who works 40 hours.
Many benefits are linked to the minimum wage and will therefore increase.
End of price ceiling
The price ceiling for gas and electricity will end. It is no longer really necessary, because most providers’ energy rates are now around or below the price ceiling.
Hanny’s story made a big impression, she had lived in energy poverty for years. Now she got solar panels and an electric heater:
Benefits go up, health care benefits go down, energy benefits stop
The childcare allowance, the child-related budget and the housing allowance will increase. More people are also eligible for these benefits. The health care allowance is actually going down.
The special energy allowance for people on or just above the social minimum will disappear.
Taxes on soft drinks, juice, oat milk and non-alcoholic beer will increase
The so-called consumption tax on all kinds of drinks will increase, from almost 9 to more than 26 cents per liter. The government says it will make drinks such as soft drinks more expensive, so that people are more likely to choose healthier drinks, such as water.
Excise duty on alcohol increased
Alcoholic drinks are becoming slightly more expensive. The excise duty on this will increase by 8.4 percent. A case of beer costs about 50 cents more on average, a bottle of wine 13 cents.
Flavored e-cigarette prohibited
Retailers and online shops are no longer allowed to sell e-cigarettes with flavors such as mint, banana or rum. Only tobacco flavor remains permitted. The flavor ban should make vaping less attractive to young people.
This vape shop moved to Belgium, because flavors are banned in the Netherlands from the new year:
Disposable cups are still possible
Disposable plastic cups and containers in offices, schools and sports clubs would be banned from January 1. But the outgoing cabinet has determined that this rule will be introduced, but not enforced. A new cabinet must make a final choice on this matter.
Higher traffic fines
The fine amounts are going up again. For example, you pay 300 euros instead of 280 euros for driving through a red light. And using your phone as a cyclist can cost you 160 euros, compared to 150 euros until now.
Animal abuse is being tackled harder
The maximum penalties for animal abuse and animal neglect will increase from three to five years in prison. It will also become easier to close farms or dog breeding farms, for example, if animal welfare is threatened. And it becomes easier to forbid someone from having animals.
The NVWA took action this year at a controversial dog breeder in Eersel at the insistence of animal welfare organization House of Animals. Finally the animals were removed:
Double surname for children
From now on, children can receive the surname of both parents in an order of their choice. The child of Tineke Jansen and Hugo Rodriguez can therefore have the surname Jansen Rodriguez, Rodriguez Jansen, Jansen or Rodriguez. Multiple children of the same couple must all have the same surname.
If you already have a double surname, you have to choose. There is a maximum of two name parts.
Basic package adjusted
The basic health insurance package will be slightly adjusted. Help to prevent falls is now included in the basic package for some elderly people. And maternity care will become more flexible.