In remarks published by the Dutch Central Bank from the King Willem I awards ceremony, Executive Board member Olaf Sleijpen praised Dutch entrepreneurship and said the government should create better conditions for it by addressing key constraints in the economy. He framed this as necessary to safeguard the Netherlands' long-term earning capacity. Sleijpen pointed to the nitrogen crisis, electricity grid constraints, housing shortages, labour market pressures and stagnating labour productivity as the main domestic bottlenecks, set against external risks including trade conflicts, instability, war and climate change. He said tackling these issues is primarily a task for government, working with European Union partners, and added that while the cabinet is showing ambition, a substantial agenda still remains.
De Nederlandsche Bank2026-05-20
Dutch Central Bank's Olaf Sleijpen calls on government to remove economic bottlenecks to support entrepreneurship
De Nederlandsche Bank Executive Board member Olaf Sleijpen urged the Dutch government to improve conditions for entrepreneurship to safeguard the Netherlands’ long-term earning capacity. He highlighted domestic bottlenecks including the nitrogen crisis, electricity grid constraints, housing shortages, labour market pressures and weak productivity, alongside external risks such as trade conflicts, instability, war and climate change, and said a substantial policy agenda remains despite cabinet plans.