The Dutch government's budget deficit rose to 8 billion euros in the first half of this year, Statistics Netherlands reported. That marks the largest deficit for the first six months of a year since 2021, when the country was dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. The deficit stood at 5 billion euros during the same period last year.The government spent 273 billion euros in the first six months of the year, a 5 percent increase from the same period last year. Spending on social benefits, which accounted for nearly half of the total, rose by 8 billion euros.