WILLEMSTAD - The sales tax is increased to 9 percent. This is now 6 percent on some goods and services. The zero rate on, for example, healthy products remains and will not be increased.
The measure is to raise an additional 162 million guilders on an annual basis and the government hopes to balance the budget.
Excise duties on alcoholic beverages and tobacco will also increase, as is the tax on waste. That should yield another 237 million guilders next year.