adOct 27, 2026, 04:18

'Unknown' crypto billionaire dethrones Heineken heiress as richest person in the Netherlands

Crypto entrepreneur Jean-Louis van der Velde has replaced Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken as the wealthiest person in the Netherlands according to the annual Quote 500 list. The report reveals a general increase in wealth among the 500 richest Dutch individuals, with new leaders emerging in the fields of technology and artificial intelligence.

Jean-Louis van der Velde, a crypto entrepreneur behind Tether and Bitfinex, has topped the annual Quote 500 list as the wealthiest person in the Netherlands with an estimated fortune of 26 billion euros. He succeeds longtime leader Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, marking the first time in fourteen years that the Heineken heiress has been unseated. The list highlights a growth in the total wealth of the 500 richest Dutch citizens, which has risen by 10 percent to over 300 billion euros.

Other notable figures on the list include 31-year-old AI entrepreneur Pim de Witte, the youngest billionaire in the country, and Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, whose wealth grew by 19 percent this year. The list continues to feature prominent retail families, such as the Van Eerd family behind Jumbo, alongside various Dutch celebrities and entrepreneurs. The report notes that the current number of billionaires in the Netherlands has increased to 56.

Economy Business Netherlands

Read original ↗

Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Crypto billionaire is new richest person in the Netherlands on list of high-net-worth individuals

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Jean-Louis van der Velde has topped the latest Quote 500 list as the wealthiest person in the Netherlands with a fortune of 26 billion euros. He leads a list of 56 billionaires that also features 31-year-old newcomer Pim de Witte as the youngest billionaire in the country.

Centraal Beheer: over 200,000 insurance claims due to extreme weather in the past decade

Between 2016 and 2025, Centraal Beheer received over 200,000 property damage claims attributed to extreme weather, with 60 percent resulting in payouts totaling 180.3 million euros. Rising public concern over climate change reflects the increased frequency of weather-related incidents, prompting experts to call for structural housing adaptations to mitigate future risks.

Dutch bitcoin company Bitonic hacked, bitcoins from three customers stolen

The Dutch bitcoin company Bitonic suffered a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of funds from three customers and the unauthorized alteration of account login information. The platform has since resolved the vulnerability, fully compensated the affected users, and is now advising all clients to update their passwords while an investigation continues.

KLM suspends flights to Dubai until late March due to unrest in the Middle East

KLM has suspended flights to Dubai until late March and cancelled services to Riyadh and Dammam until November 2026 citing regional instability. The airline is responding to ongoing threats and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia.

Media companies send urgent letter about 'TV boxes': 'This has grown into a cross-border business model'

Major Dutch media companies have called on government ministers to address the widespread and growing issue of illegal streaming devices and services. They argue that these illicit platforms threaten legal media revenues, endanger consumer data through malware and fraud, and require urgent, coordinated governmental action.