# Florists warn 21% VAT on flowers could push half below minimum wage

> Trade association VBW says the cabinet's plan to raise VAT on flowers and plants to 21% would put florists' incomes under heavy pressure and threaten thousands of jobs.

Economy · published 2026-10-28 05:32 · https://nlnow.nl/a/florists-warn-21-vat-on-flowers-could-push-half-below-minimum-wage/

VBW, the florists' trade association, warns that the cabinet's plan to raise VAT on flowers and plants to 21% would squeeze incomes so hard that half of all florists risk falling below the minimum wage.

Marco Maasse, director of Koninklijke VBW, said: "This VAT increase hits the local florist in particular, makes flowers and plants less affordable and puts thousands of jobs across the whole chain under pressure. Many entrepreneurs already work with small margins."

## Background

- **VBW**: VBW is the trade association for florists and flower shops in the Netherlands, which represents the interests of the sector towards government and other parties. It matters for policy debates such as tax changes on flowers and plants, because it speaks for the businesses that would be affected.

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