Monthly yield on ten-year Benelux government bonds in 2017-2021, by country

In September 2021, the long-term interest rate of the Netherlands reached a value of approximately -0.34, compared to 0.01 percent in Belgium. A ten-year government bond, or treasury note, is a debt obligation issued by a government which matures in ten years. They are considered to be a low-risk investment as they are backed by the government and their ability to raise taxes to cover its obligations. Investors track them, however, for several reasons. First, these bonds are the benchmark that guides other financial interest rates, such as fixed mortgage rates. Second, their yield will tell how investors feel about the economy. The higher the yield on a ten-year government bond, the better the economic outlook.