The Netherlands: a tax haven

The undisputed European champion in facilitating corporate tax avoidance

Publication date: 23 May 2016
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The Netherlands is a top EU tax haven for corporations, an Oxfam analysis of European Commission data shows. Of 33 harmful tax practices listed by the EU executive, 17 were identified in the country currently holding the EU presidency.

With its tax policy, the Netherlands perpetuates poverty and extreme inequality in the world - a world in which the richest 62 people now own as much as the poorest half of the global population. It is also thanks to Dutch regulation that multinationals are able to avoid at least USD 100 billion in taxes in developing countries every year.

This English translation is a summary of an Oxfam Novib report in Dutch. Read the full report in Dutch.