From more relaxed coronavirus measures, to higher rent rates, to Airbnb restrictions, July 1 brings a lot of changes for the Netherlands. Here are 10 things that are changing from today.

1. Birth leave for parents

This is an extension of a law brought in in January last year. Now partners of women who have given birth will receive a total of six weeks leave. This leave can be taken either in one go or can be spread across the first six months of the child’s life. For the duration of the leave, the partner will be paid 70 percent of their wages by the Employee Insurance Agency (UVW). 

2. Cigarette sales and e-cigarettes

All cigarettes and tobacco must be out of sight from customers in all supermarkets across the country from today. The Dutch government has also extended the existing legislation in regards to smoking indoors. The law now also covers all electronic cigarettes. 

3. Subsidies for electric cars

Everyone who buys an electric car is now eligible to apply for a subsidy for their purchase. The payment can also be applied retroactively to all purchases since June 4. A subsidy of 2.000 euros is available for a used car, and 4.000 euros for a new model.

To be eligible to apply, the car must have a driving range of at least 120 kilometres, and an original or purchase price between 12.000 and 45.000 euros.

4. Minimum wage and pensions

The minimum wage has been adjusted, and now every employee over the age of 21 in full-time employment must earn at least 1.680 euros gross per month. This is an increase of 27 euros per month. For younger employees, the minimum wage has gone up to 504 euros a month for 15-year-olds, and 1.344 for 20-year-olds.

This also affects the rate of pensions. Pensioners living alone will now receive a net amount of 1.201,42 euros a month.

A variety of other benefits are also impacted by the rise of the minimum wage, including unemployment benefits (WW), and sickness benefits (ZW).

5. New donor registration act

The introduction of this new law means all people living in the Netherlands over the age of 18 are automatically included on the donor register. Permissions can be changed online at any time, and if left unchanged, the family of the deceased will still have a final say on the matter.

6. Rent increase

Despite attempts to stop this coming into effect, rent prices will be going up from today. Rent can be increased by up to 6,6 percent. However, if your 2018 income was below 43.574 euros, your rent can only be increased by a maximum of 5,1 percent.

These rates only apply to social housing, and if you rent privately, there is no restriction to rent increase.

7. Coronavirus 

As of today, emergency childcare provided for all parents because of the coronavirus lockdown will come to a stop.

With July also comes a change in national coronavirus restrictions, as announced by Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a press conference on June 24. Click here for a full outline of these new restrictions. 

8. Airbnb in Amsterdam

The Amsterdam City Council has introduced new regulations for holiday rentals within the city centre, including an all-out ban in certain areas. Furthermore, anyone who wishes to rent out a property outside of these zones must have a permit, and faces fines of up to 20.000 euros if they rent out without one.

The parts of Amsterdam covered by the ban are the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and a part of the canal belt, roughly between Amstel and Leidsegracht. 

9. Cultural diversity barometer

Employers can now use the cultural diversity barometer to gain insight into the diversity of their company. Companies can ask Statistics Netherlands (CBS) to analyse an anonymised report of their workforce, and CBS will provide statistics about the cultural diversity of the organisation. The service is available to all organisations with more than 250 employees.

10. Minimum age for delivery drivers 

From today, it is illegal to deliver food on a self-employed or commercial basis under the age of 16. The law has been introduced due to concerns about the safety of people under 16 in busy or unsafe traffic conditions.