Number of young people relying on benefits continues to rise

The number of people claiming welfare benefits in the Netherlands has risen for the third year in a row, with the steepest increase among people under 27 years old, according to figures from national statistics agency CBS. At the end of the second quarter of 2026, 413,000 people below the state pension age were receiving welfare, 4,000 more than a year earlier. The total has now risen year-on-year for 12 consecutive quarters, though it remains slightly below its level before...