Business News in English

Iran war leads to even more expensive condoms in China, residents want to hoard

The conflict in Iran has caused condom prices to rise in China due to raw material shortages, according to manufacturer Karex. This price hike follows previous increases aimed at boosting population g...

Family business Ritter Sport cuts jobs for the first time in 114 years

German chocolate maker Ritter Sport is cutting jobs at its Waldenbuch headquarters for the first time in its 114-year history to reduce costs. The family-owned business is responding to significantly ...

Schiphol gives airlines discount due to high fuel prices

Schiphol Airport is offering airlines discounts on landing, parking, and terminal fees to help mitigate the impact of high kerosene prices. This move aims to provide financial relief to carriers strug...

Judge rebukes Cruquius landlord: tenant’s ex-partner must be removed from lease

A court in Haarlem has ordered the landlord Haarlemmermeer Vastgoed Beheer to remove a woman from a rental contract after her relationship with the co-tenant ended. Despite both parties requesting tha...

In the hospital, Will and Hugo decided to change course: from the office to music studios

After experiencing life-threatening health scares, friends Hugo and Will quit their office jobs to build fifteen affordable music studios in Amsterdam's Amstelkwartier. The project aims to address the...

Over 350,000 people join mass claim against Odido after data breach

More than 350,000 individuals have joined a mass claim against telecom provider Odido following a significant data leak. The privacy foundation Consumers United in Court (CUIC) initiated the collectiv...

Lidl to make pig feed from unsellable food waste

Lidl is launching a four-week pilot program in ten stores to convert unsaleable food products into pig feed, becoming the first supermarket in Europe to do so. The initiative aims to reduce food waste...

Strait of Hormuz closure hits consumers in the bedroom: condom prices to rise sharply

The CEO of Karex, the world's largest condom manufacturer, has warned that prices could rise by up to 30 percent due to conflict in the Middle East and potential shipping disruptions. This increase is...

Samsung employees protest for higher wages and threaten long-term strike

Tens of thousands of Samsung employees held a protest on Thursday to demand higher wages and bonuses. Labor unions have threatened an 18-day strike starting next month if the South Korean company does...

Washington Post: Months needed to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz

The US Defense Department estimates it could take up to six months to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz. This prolonged demining process is expected to keep global oil and gas prices high ...

Retirement age rises: the average age Dutch people stop working

The average retirement age in the Netherlands rose to 66 years and 4 months in 2025, an increase of two and a half months compared to the previous year. This shift brings the actual retirement age clo...

Zandvoort grants Bernie’s Beachclub another extension despite previous harsh words: ‘The situation is complex’

The Zandvoort municipal council has granted Bernie's Beachclub another extension despite a previously set ultimatum passing four months ago. This marks the ninth consecutive year that no construction ...

Heineken sells more beer thanks to popular premium brands

Heineken reported an increase in beer sales during the first quarter, marking its first volume growth since late 2024. This positive performance was primarily driven by the success of the brewer's pre...

More than 2,700 vacation homes for sale, the highest number in fifteen years

The number of holiday homes for sale in the Netherlands reached a 15-year high last year, with more than 2,700 properties listed on the market. According to the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents...

Former employee sues MrBeast’s company for sexual harassment

A former employee has filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson's company, Beast Industries, alleging sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation. The company has denied the accus...

Employees on sick leave need more time to recover

Sickness absence in the Netherlands decreased to 5 percent in March, down from 5.4 percent in February. However, the overall quarterly absence rate remains steady because employees who fall ill are ta...

Many women postpone motherhood due to temporary contracts: ‘Financial security first’

A new study reveals that many young adults, particularly women aged 18 to 35, are delaying motherhood due to job insecurity. The prevalence of temporary contracts has led many to prioritize financial ...

EU electric car sales rose nearly 50 percent last month

Sales of fully electric vehicles in the European Union increased by nearly 50 percent in March compared to the same month last year. According to the European automobile manufacturers association (ACE...

Tesla profit rises after slight sales growth, revenue also up

Tesla reported a rise in both profit and revenue for the first quarter of the year compared to the previous year. This financial growth follows a slight increase in the company's vehicle sales during ...

Pension funds have smaller buffers due to war in Middle East

The funding ratios of major Dutch pension funds ABP and PME have declined due to financial market instability linked to the conflict in the Middle East. This decrease could result in less capital bein...

Oil prices rise on uncertain ceasefire prospects

Oil prices have risen for the fourth consecutive day due to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. The struggle for control of the strategic waterway has led to...

Queer Market offers safe space for Amsterdam makers: ‘Some found it too outspoken’

For sale signs appearing more often and staying longer on luxury holiday homes as oversupply drives down prices, especially in coastal areas

The luxury holiday home market in the Netherlands is cooling down, with a record number of properties listed for sale due to stricter tax measures. This oversupply is leading to falling prices after y...

Small sellers feel robbed by Bol.com: ‘I paid almost 3,000 euros too much’

Small sellers using Bol.com's shipping service are reporting significant overcharges due to inconsistent pricing for packages of identical size and weight. Merchant Cee Heeren claims he was overbilled...

Consumer fears war, investor counts on peace

Consumers are growing increasingly pessimistic due to the conflict in the Middle East, while stock markets continue to reach record highs. This contrast raises questions about whether investors are ig...

No trains to or from Amsterdam South for a week after King's Day due to Zuidasdok work; A10 South also partially closed

Heinen open to taxing windfall profits, but not yet

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen has expressed openness to taxing the excess profits of companies benefiting from conflicts in the Middle East, such as those in the oil sector. However, he stated t...

Drop in economic confidence doesn't mean people are spending less yet

Dutch consumer confidence dropped significantly in April, reaching nearly its lowest level ever recorded. Despite this decline, consumer spending remains stable as many individuals report their person...

Lufthansa grounds many aircraft in summer due to high fuel prices

Lufthansa is cancelling 20,000 short-haul flights through October to mitigate rising fuel costs. The German airline reports that aviation fuel prices have doubled since the start of the conflict in Ir...

Ryanair passengers must check in earlier due to airport crowds

Starting this fall, Ryanair passengers checking in luggage must do so 20 minutes earlier to avoid missing flights due to long airport queues. The budget airline introduced this measure because congest...