The annual inflation rate in the Netherlands rose to 3.5% in May 2026, up from 2.8% in April, confirming the preliminary estimate and marking the highest level since April of the previous year. The increase was driven mainly by a sharp rise in transport costs (9.9% vs 6.9% in April), largely due to higher international airfares, with airline tickets 12.3% more expensive than a year earlier.
Price growth also strengthened in several other categories, including housing and utilities (3.5% vs 3.3%), recreation and culture (2.8% vs 1.6%), and restaurants and accommodation (6.5% vs 3.9%). By contrast, inflation slowed markedly for food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.1% vs 1.4%), while prices for household goods and services continued to decline (-0.3% vs -0.4%).
On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.1% in May, following a 1.1% surge in April, the strongest monthly increase in nine months. Meanwhile, annual HICP inflation, which excludes owner-occupied housing, accelerated to 3.4% in May from 2.5% in April.