Posted on 07/01/2008 1:38:03 PM PDT by knighthawk
THE HAGUE, 02/07/08 - Yesterday, on 1 July, a series of tax measures came into effect that will make the Dutch population's life more expensive. Additionally, they are no longer allowed to smoke in hotels, bars and restaurants.
The cabinet introduced its new flying tax yesterday. For a flight of up to 2,500 kilometres, an extra 11.25 euros will have to be paid, and for longer flights, as much as 45 euros.
Despite high fuel prices, the government also raised excise duties on diesel by 3 cents and on LPG by 1.5 cents a litre from yesterday. Smokers also have to absorb an excise duty hike, which will cost a person smoking a packet a day nearly 8 euros a month extra.
Smokers will however have to make efforts to light up a cigarette, as smoking became illegal in hotels, bars and restaurants yesterday. Incidentally, in the infamous Dutch cannabis bars - 'coffee shops' - tobacco is also banned, but cannabis will still be tolerated.
Electricity and particularly gas prices also went up sharply yesterday. The average family's energy bill will go up by 10 to 12 euros as a result.
Finally, rent for subsidised housing (around 2.4 million homes) goes up every year on 1 July. This statutory rental increase is low this year, at a maximum 1.6 percent, but still makes further inroads on purchasing power.
The air tax will raise 350 million euros annually for the government. The excise duty increase for diesel and LPG (240 million) and tobacco (250 million) will also boost the state coffers. For the average family, the extra taxes that came into effect yesterday can run up to around 50 euros a month.
Employers organisation VNO-NCW has no good word for the cabinet's tax drive. "The cabinet is partly responsible for the extra inflation that is descending on citizens and companies," grumbled chairman Bernard Wientjes, who says cabinet measures will add an extra 1.0 percent to the inflation rate in 2009.
Ping
Yikes! For the Dutch, it looks like it is BOHICA time.
Replace ‘EUROS’ with ‘DOLLARS’ and it doesn’t look much different from what Democrats want to implement in this country.
People are going to fly into a neigboring country rather than pay the extra tax. The Dutch are simply hurting themselves.
And you can smoke pot but not cigarettes...lol! Typical leftist logic for ya.
Yep, but by all means let’s do it to ourselves too. The time has come for socialism to invade America. It’s been a good run.
Lot of those new taxes will go to support Muslim welfare bums, their two wives and their ten children
What's the answer to the Econ 101 question: How much revenue will the govt. raise if the average family decides to discontinue those activities which cost them more?
(then Atlas Shrugged...)
Another country taxing itself into properity
I liked to know how much of that happiness is do to the people being on psychotropic drugs. Its a Brave New World out there.
I see I'm not the only person on here who's been to Rotterdam .....(which is now a largely muslim ghetto..)
Whata shame. I’m glad I visited Holland before the Muslim immigration invasion
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