Reports NETHERLANDS
around 8m sq.m of shopping mall space and has the highest amount of shopping space per inhabitant than any other European country. However the next few years is showing low level growth as development is expected to focus on extensions and upgrades.
In 2007 the shopping centre Leesten opened with 3,000 sq.m of space for shops plus a Super de Boer supermarket. The centre is part of a housing development which is expected to be finally completed in 2015.
The Dutch housing market is seeing some decline as are most in the current economic crisis. Between 1995 and 2001 there was a period of strong growth as house prices increased by 15-20 per cent in the Netherlands.
However at the end of 2008 the average price for property in the centre of
Amsterdam had dropped by 5.8 per cent although in some more affordable areas prices are slightly increasing. The average price of a house is now around €244,000.
Expatriates have in the past always seen benefits of buying property in the Netherlands as it is often cheaper than renting and the country has a flexible mortgage system and tax reimbursement which makes it attractive for those who plan to live there for a few years. Tax relief on mortgage interest is also encouraging buyers.
GAMINGINDUSTRY Slot machines first began to enter the Dutch market back in the 1930s. However in 1964 the Gambling Act came into effect which banned all types of gaming machines.
Things began to change in the late 1980s
Slotmachines first began to enter the
Dutchmarket back in the 1930s.
However in 1964 the Gambling Act came into effectwhich
banned all types of gamingmachines.
and 1990s. In 1986 a new law permitted payout machines whilst the legal number of casinos was increased to 13 locations. The Postcode Lottery was introduced in 1989 and the denationalisation of the State Lottery occurred in 1992.
As the gaming market grew so did the problem with gambling addiction and in 1995 an effort was made to curb gambling markets which resulted in the Nijpels Commission which saw new standards for machines. This legislation came into force in 2002.
It is estimated that each Dutchman spends around €125 per year on gambling – a total of around €1.75bn. But with a casino monopoly situation in place the freedoms of operators are restricted and market expansion is often kept to a minimum.
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