Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Ditch the phone, at Mooie Boules you learn to talk to others again: ‘We’ve forgotten how’
Mooie Boules, a company nominated for the National Entrepreneur Prize, offers nine locations where people can play jeu de boules without using their phones. Founded after spontaneous games at Amsterda...
Which company wins our Entrepreneurship Award this year? Vote for one of these nine candidates!
The public is invited to vote for one of nine small and medium-sized enterprise nominees for the National Entrepreneurship Award. The winner of this year's competition will be decided by the votes cas...
Oil price rises by more than 10 percent due to Middle East war
The price of Brent crude oil rose by more than 10 percent on Thursday morning following conflict in the Middle East. This price hike is attributed to the ongoing war and recent Iranian attacks on ener...
Charities chase trillion-euro inheritance
Dutch elderly are expected to leave behind a record 1,000 billion euros in inheritances, marking the largest wealth transfer in history. Charities are increasingly targeting these funds, though some e...
New Jumbo CEO saw in first 75 days that Jumbo has lost its luster: 'We spend hours in meetings'
Jumbo's new CEO, Jesper Højer, observed during his first 75 days that the supermarket chain has become overly complex and lost its competitive edge. He aims to revitalize the company by improving pro...
European gas price jumps 35% after attack on massive Middle East gas fields
European gas prices surged by 35% on Thursday morning following attacks on gas installations in the Middle East. The price spike was recorded at the Amsterdam gas exchange, which serves as the benchma...
Arie 'completely done' with fiets.com over lack of goodwill after premature electric motor failure
A customer named Arie is seeking compensation after the Bosch motor on his €3,000 e-bike failed after only three years and 6,500 kilometers. Despite the bike being well-maintained, the retailer, fie...
Oil prices continue to rise: petrol and diesel more expensive again in the Netherlands
Oil prices have increased following attacks on major energy facilities in the Middle East, including a key gas production site in Qatar. This has led to a subsequent rise in the recommended prices for...
Philip Morris tobacco shops illegally promote heated tobacco as healthier alternative to cigarettes
An undercover investigation by the journalistic platform Pointer revealed that tobacco shops supported by Philip Morris are illegally promoting heated tobacco as a healthier alternative to traditional...
Fishermen caught between hope and fear: High fuel prices make fishing barely profitable
High fuel prices have made fishing activities barely profitable, leaving Dutch fishermen facing significant financial uncertainty. Jan Visser, working on his shrimp cutter in the IJmuiden harbor, exem...
Iran shells Qatar gas facilities again
Iranian missiles struck Qatar's primary gas production hub, Ras Laffan Industrial City, during the night between Wednesday and Thursday. This marks the second consecutive day of attacks by Iran on the...
Jumbo brings back meat promotions two years after stopping them
Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo is reintroducing temporary discounts on fresh meat, reversing a decision made earlier to stop such promotions. The company stated it is bringing back the deals because th...
Gas supply to Iraq halted after attack on Iran's largest gas field
Iranian gas supplies to Iraq have been completely halted following an attack on the South Pars gas field in southern Iran. The field is the world's largest and is vital to Iraq's infrastructure, provi...
Electric cars save 2.3 million barrels of oil per day worldwide
According to a report by Bloomberg, the global use of electric vehicles resulted in a saving of 2.3 million barrels of oil per day in 2025. This reduction is particularly driven by the increasing popu...
Belgian prosecution demands five years in prison in Funcaps appeal
The Belgian Public Prosecutor's Office has demanded five-year prison sentences on appeal for the owners of the website Funcaps for trafficking illegal medicines. This follows a previous ruling in Mech...
Schiphol uses WiFi and AI against intruders and activists: recognizing people through walls
Schiphol Airport is launching a pilot program to detect intruders and activists using WiFi and artificial intelligence technology. Developed by the Amsterdam-based startup Waving, which recently raise...
New EU Inc. legal form to help startups cross European borders
The European Commission has introduced a new legal entity form called 'EU Inc.' to help startups expand more easily across borders within the European Union. This initiative aims to reduce administrat...
Supermarkets won't be sky-high tomorrow due to Iran war, nor the day after
Despite rising oil prices affecting transportation and packaging costs, supermarkets are not expected to introduce an immediate 'Iran surcharge' on food products. Consumers will likely not see a sudde...
What do entrepreneurs in Velsen hope for from a new city council? ‘Some wonder if they can even stay in Velsen’
Entrepreneurs in Velsen are reflecting on the local business climate and their expectations for the incoming municipal council following recent elections. A survey reveals significant concerns among b...
Simon Pennings nominated as Agricultural Entrepreneur 2026, first bulb grower in 23 years
Flower bulb grower Simon Pennings from Noordwijkerhout has been nominated for the Agricultural Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 award. He is the first bulb grower to receive a nomination in 23 years and ...
History Café on Haarlem’s vanished shops: Grote Houtstraat and Barteljorisstraat in focus
The Noord-Hollands Archief is hosting a Historisch Café event on Monday, March 30, focused on the history of disappeared shops in Haarlem's city center. The presentation will specifically examine the...
Pregnant dairy cows often sent to slaughter, NVWA investigating
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is investigating why dairy farmers continue to transport heavily pregnant cows to slaughterhouses despite a legal ban. Since January 2...
Beverwijk grants permit for Ankie’s Hoeve: 210 homes surrounded by industry and busy roads
The municipality of Beverwijk has granted an environmental permit for the construction of 210 apartments on the site of the former Ankie’s Hoeve children's farm. Due to the project's proximity to in...
Cabinet faces multi-billion shortfall, wants motorists and businesses to help pay for infrastructure
The Dutch cabinet is exploring ways to have motorists and businesses contribute to infrastructure funding to address a multi-billion euro deficit. Proposed measures include bridge tolls and tax increa...
Minister: Canceling American VAT system contract will cost money
State Secretary Eelco Eerenberg warned that terminating the contract with the American firm Fast Enterprises for the new Dutch VAT IT system would result in legal and financial repercussions. The gove...
Shipowners cautious about military mission in Strait of Hormuz
The Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR) has expressed opposition to a Dutch military mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The organization warns that participating in such a mission ...
What it’s like to be the face of a supermarket: ‘Lammers would have to make twenty films for that kind of money’
After thirteen years, Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo is replacing its long-time brand ambassador Frank Lammers with entertainer Rob Kemps. Reporter Jurriaan Nolles provides insight into the role and fi...
Bad news for homebuyers: Middle East war leads to more expensive mortgages
Rising oil and gas prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East are causing interest rates to rise. This shift reverses previous expectations of lower rates and is expected to make mortgages mo...
Man uses deepfakes to open 46 accounts at ABN AMRO
A Dutch man used deepfake technology to forge identity documents and open 46 bank accounts at ABN AMRO last year. These accounts were subsequently used to commit fraud by placing orders under other pe...
European trade committee to vote on US trade deal this Thursday after all
The European Parliament's trade committee decided on Tuesday to proceed with a vote this Thursday on a portion of a trade agreement with the United States. The announcement was made by committee membe...