Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Amsterdam environmental organization De Gezonde Stad to shut down: Too difficult to secure funding
Environmental organization De Gezonde Stad is shutting down due to unsustainable financial challenges. The group is well-known for projects like the Verjaardagsbos created for Amsterdam's 750th annive...
International train travel can actually be cheaper: Breda resident raises millions for his railway empire
Entrepreneur Hessel Winkelman has raised millions for his Breda-based rail company, GoVolta, which aims to make international train travel more affordable. Despite the focus on cost, the 34-year-old f...
Transport expert and economist Walther Ploos van Amstel dies at 64
Traffic expert and economist Walther Ploos van Amstel has died at age 64. A lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, he was well-known for his contributions to logistics, mobility, an...
Amsterdam school principal funneled nearly 1 million euros to family businesses since 2023
The director of the Oranje Nassauschool in Amsterdam-Noord is under scrutiny for awarding nearly one million euros in contracts to her daughter and son-in-law's businesses since 2023. Officials are in...
The Trump effect: diesel 0.4 cents cheaper at the pump today
Following threats from Donald Trump to restrict oil exports, the G7 countries have agreed to release 100 million barrels of strategic oil reserves to the market. This move led to a marginal decrease i...
Textbook market not functioning properly, regulator concludes
The Dutch competition authority (ACM) has identified significant issues in the school textbook market, citing rapid price hikes and the controversial practice of forced bundling by dominant publishers...
Total student debt in the Netherlands falls for the first time, yet more people have sky-high debts
The total student debt in the Netherlands has dropped to 28 billion euros, marking the first decline as the number of people with debts also decreases. Despite this overall trend, more individuals are...
Motorcycle sales break record again, Dutch people riding more often
Motorcycle sales in the Netherlands have hit a record high, with over 20,000 new units registered in the first nine months of the year. The increase is attributed to more commuters choosing motorbikes...
Total student debt falls for the first time, but loan system effects persist
Total student debt in the Netherlands has fallen for the first time since 2011, reaching 28 billion euros as fewer students take out loans following the return of the basic grant. While current studen...
New home sales fall for fourth consecutive quarter
New-build home sales in the Netherlands have fallen for the fourth straight quarter due to financing challenges and a mismatch in housing types. Meanwhile, sales of existing homes saw a slight increas...
Business owners frustrated by uneven paving on Reguliersbreestraat: ‘People fall regularly’
Business owners and residents in Amsterdam are reporting frequent accidents caused by uneven paving stones on the Reguliersbreestraat. Despite the high traffic and safety risks, local authorities and ...
Tipping is voluntary, but it doesn't feel that way with a payment screen under your nose
The increasing use of digital tipping screens in the Dutch hospitality sector is raising concerns over consumer manipulation through dark patterns and social pressure. While businesses see them as a c...
Vietnamese turquoise taxis to challenge Uber and Bolt in the Netherlands
Vietnamese taxi company Green SM is launching its electric vehicle service in the Netherlands to compete with established platforms like Uber and Bolt. The company plans to start its operations in Ams...
Cabinet wants to scrap staff discounts, retail sector disappointed: 'It's an important sign of appreciation for our staff'
The Dutch government intends to abolish the tax-free employee discount scheme by 2027 to save 123 million euros annually. Trade organizations and retail unions strongly oppose the plan, warning it wil...
Full trash container? A 'fill-level sensor' may sound the alarm in the future
The municipality of Amsterdam is testing fill-level sensors in waste containers to optimize collection routes and reduce overflow. A trial with glass containers has already shown that smarter monitori...
Waste bin full? Future sensors may sound the alarm
The municipality is testing fill-level sensors in waste containers to optimize collection routes and reduce trash accumulation on streets. A pilot project is currently underway, with plans to potentia...
No trains and no passengers, but what is happening at Central Station today?
Amsterdam Centraal Station closed completely today for extensive infrastructure upgrades intended to modernize the facility for future passenger growth. Work includes widening platforms and replacing ...
A cover letter with your bid? Sellers at Open House Day in Amsterdam don't even read them: 'It's all about the best price'
During the Open Huizen Dag in Amsterdam, sellers are prioritizing the highest financial bids over personal motivation letters from prospective buyers. Despite concerns about a cooling housing market a...
French honey production drops as heatwaves keep bees in hives
Honey production in France has fallen this year as extreme heatwaves forced bees to forage less and damaged floral resources. Estimates suggest a decrease in output from up to 25,000 tons last year to...
FNV and cleaning industry on collision course, new strikes imminent
FNV members have rejected a new collective labor agreement in the cleaning sector, leading to a standoff with employers who refuse to renegotiate. The union is now preparing for escalated strikes acro...
Maybe we’ll soon long for the days when you were rejected for a stain on your sweater
Anne-Marije Buckens, who specializes in helping job seekers over 50, notes that views on AI-driven job interviews are divided among her clients. While some individuals like Laurens appreciate avoiding...
Former Chancellor Schröder back as senior executive at Russian company
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has taken a new senior role at the Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus. This decision follows years of intense criticism regarding his business association...
Ramez Ramzy (33) had to sell half of his hospitality empire: 'Of course I look in the mirror to see what went wrong. But I'm not dwelling on it'
Entrepreneur Ramez Ramzy has sold nearly half of his hospitality businesses following a period of over-expansion after the pandemic. He is now focused on improving the value of his remaining venues ra...
Tesla on track to avoid new sales decline after strong quarter
Tesla is seeing a rebound in global sales due to the release of cheaper Model 3 and Model Y variants, aiming to reach a record 1.8 million vehicles this year. In the Netherlands, the brand is also per...
Halsema: number of tourists must be curbed, even if it costs the hospitality industry visitors
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has stated that the city must actively reduce the number of annual tourists to protect local livability and curb negative issues like waste. Although she acknowledges tha...
Consumers pay more for other products due to high energy prices
Surging energy prices caused by the Iran-US conflict are driving inflation in the Netherlands, leading to higher costs for fuel, food, and various consumer goods. Economists predict that while the imp...
Paramount and Warner Bros. to merge under Skydance name
The merged media company formed by Paramount Global and Skydance Media will officially operate under the name Skydance. Led by David Ellison and former Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz, the organization intends ...
G7 taps 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency reserves following Trump threat
The G7 countries are releasing 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency reserves to counter market instability caused by the war in Iran. The decision comes after pressure from President T...
KLM names first Airbus A350 The Night Watch, but business class seats cannot be used yet
KLM has officially received its first Airbus A350, which has been named De Nachtwacht, following its flight from the factory in Toulouse to Schiphol Airport. Although the aircraft has arrived, the air...
Kenyan herders fight companies offsetting emissions on their land
Kenyan herders are protesting against the Northern Rangelands Trust for allegedly seizing ancestral lands for carbon credit projects used by major corporations. The pastoralists claim the organization...