De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) wants to safeguard a stable financial system. This requires sound financial institutions that operate with integrity. This is necessary to ensure a sustainable economy in the Netherlands. We warn against risks that could affect the system as a whole, and issue advice. We also improve the financial system's resilience by demanding that financial institutions reinforce their buffers.
The financial system is at the heart of the economy. It allows you to save, borrow and invest. It also ensures that you can pay safely and quickly, and that you can cover financial risks that you do not want to or are unable to bear. These things are often taken for granted, but they are essential to the functioning of the economy. That is why it is important that the financial system is robust and that it continues to function under less favourable economic circumstances.
De Nederlandsche Bank monitors the stability of the financial system. Every six months, we publish our Financial Stability Report (FSR). In this report we identify risks to the financial system.
We look at various areas to assess the stability of the financial system. To do this, we use a large number of indicators, such as an increasing amount of loans (credit growth), rapidly rising real estate prices and the amount of cash that banks are holding (liquidity). For example, strong credit growth associated with strongly rising real estate prices is often an indication of (future) instability.
We chair the Financial Stability Committee, which meets at least twice a year. At international level we participate in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB), the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB). Our President Klaas Knot is the Vice-Chair of the FSB. Our participation in consultations in The Hague and Brussels is also important.
Income from foreign direct investment in the Netherlands flowing to low-tax jurisdictions has declined structurally since 2020, new figures from DNB show. Income flows with other countries remained more stable over the same period.
Read more Income flowing to tax havens through the Netherlands structurally down
Dutch mortgage funds received €2 billion in new investments from institutional investors such as pension funds and insurers in the first three quarters of 2024, DNB figures show. This is less than in previous years and can be attributed to market interest rates having risen sharply during 2022.
Read more Investor interest in Dutch mortgage funds continues to decline
The heightened international tensions can have an impact on financial institutions, according to De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in its supervisory strategy for 2025-2028 and in a study on the impact of geopolitical risks on financial institutions.
Read more Growing geopolitical risks impact financial sector
Dutch insurers and pension funds invest not only directly in listed equity and corporate bonds, but also indirectly via investment funds. New DNB figures on CO2 emissions of non-financial corporations relate to both types of investments and provide a more complete..
Read more Carbon footprint of Dutch insurers and pension funds in sharper focus
