Substantial Boost to Dutch Ocean Shipping Industry

      Firstly, shipowners can henceforth determine their fiscal profit on the basis of the ship's tonnage. This measure will remove the incentive for Dutch companies to set up foreign branches or move their entire business abroad for fiscal reasons. In addition, it will make the Netherlands more attractive as a business location for foreign shipping companies.

      A second alleviating measure for the shipowners is that the 19 percent reduction on wage tax and national insurance premiums payable, a benefit already in existence, will be increased to 38 percent. In political