Red Sea Naval Readiness: Italy says it will only add ships to the EU Aspides escort mission if other European countries step up too, as Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz signals resources are tight and the mission still lacks mine-hunting and air-defence coverage. Smart Glasses Backlash: Dutch retailers Hans Anders and Wehkamp pause sales of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses after privacy fears and reports of covert filming circulating online; the Dutch data watchdog has warned camera glasses may not always be noticeable. Inflation Watch: Dutch inflation rose to 3.4% year-on-year in September, driven mainly by higher energy and fuel prices, though ABN AMRO expects limited broader pass-through. Royal Colonial Reckoning: A Leiden University study commissioned by King Willem-Alexander says the House of Orange-Nassau supported colonialism and helped sustain slavery, sparking debate on reparations as PM Rob Jetten rules them out. Sierra Leone Aid Pressure: The EU halts aid to Sierra Leone over its lack of cooperation in extraditing Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers (“Bolle Jos”), putting planned investments at risk. Housing Outlook: ABN AMRO expects the Dutch housing market to cool more sharply in 2027 as mortgage rates stay higher, with prices broadly stable but fewer transactions. Business & Tech: Avantium completes a spin-out of its plant-based polyesters unit into Parana Materials, while Volantis raises $88m to build photonic AI memory links with a Netherlands-linked pilot line in Eindhoven.