The Netherlands: Black Friday, "American Consumerism on Steroids", has hit the Netherlands: what the media say

The sales mania of Black Friday is everywhere – in the high street, on the internet and in the junk emails in your mailbox.

Now the Dutch media have turned their attention to the latest American craze to hit the Netherlands.

The Volkskrant calls Black Friday ‘unescapable’ and has published a list of tips for would-be bargain hunters. ‘If you can’t beat them join them but at least don’t fall for the retail trick of imaginary discounts,’ the list states.

It also recommends checking the prices of electronic goods, at sites such as Tweakers and Hardware Info which monitor prices throughout the year. The Volkskrant’s top tip: ask yourself do I really need another blender?
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The sales mania of Black Friday is everywhere – in the high street, on the internet and in the junk emails in your mailbox. Now the Dutch media have turned their attention to the latest American craze to hit the Netherlands. The Volkskrant calls Black Friday ‘unescapable’ and has published a list of tips for would-be bargain hunters. ‘If you can’t beat them join them but at least don’t fall for the retail trick of imaginary discounts,’ the list states. It also recommends checking the prices of electronic goods, at sites such as Tweakers and Hardware Info which monitor prices throughout the year. The Volkskrant’s top tip: ask yourself do I really need another blender?

Read more at DutchNews.nl:

Black Friday has hit the Netherlands: what the media say - DutchNews.nl

The Netherlands: Banking Industry - ING Bank reported a sharp rise in second-quarter net profit

NG NV reported a sharp rise in second-quarter net profit, boosted by one-time gains and lower provisions for bad loans, as the Dutch bank edges closer to fully rid itself from Dutch government support.

The Netherlands' largest bank by assets on March 3 said net profit for the quarter came in at €1.07 billion ($1.43 billion), compared with €895 million in the same period last year as profit at its insurance business more than quadrupled to €245 million despite lower operational results. 
 
The insurance business benefited from revaluations on a private equity portfolio and a €79 million gain on a closed book of Japanese variable annuities.

Net profit at its banking business dropped by 1.6% to €806 million, despite a 34% drop in loan loss provisions to €405 million, which was offset by higher taxes, a payment for its contribution to the nationalization of Dutch peer SNS Reaal in 2013 and restructuring costs at its Dutch Retail bank.

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