What works in Netherlands

Box 3 investment account

A wealth-based tax that does not care how often you switch.

Tax cost a year (median)

1.0 pts

Median strategy, before / after tax

9.3% / 8.3%

S&P 500 held, after tax

10.4%

60/40 after tax (worst fall)

7.8% (-20%)

36 of 107 strategies beat a 60/40 after tax in this account with a smaller worst fall; 23 beat the S&P 500 held throughout. Returns a year, in EUR.

The rules

• No tax on realised gains: switching costs nothing in tax.
• 36% on a deemed 6.00% return on the 1 January value above EUR 59,357 (2026), about 2.2% of the taxable value a year.
• If the actual return of the year is lower, tax is on the actual return instead.
• Changes are proposed for 2027 and 2028 (lower allowance, then a different system).

Confidence in these rules: high. Checked 8 October 2026. Sources: SRA: Box 3 percentages, vrijstellingen en bedragen 2026; Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001 (Box 3, art. 5.1-5.8); Eerste Kamer: Wet tegenbewijsregeling box 3 (7 July 2025).