Business News in English

Cabinet wants to spare small savers and investors after all, plans adjusted again

Finance Minister Eelco Heinen is adjusting tax plans for savings and investments following backlash over the potential impact on 850,000 small-scale savers. The government aims to revise the proposal ...

Rita Ora sued by former manager for withholding millions

Singer Rita Ora is being sued by her former manager, Stennett, for allegedly withholding millions in earnings from her television work and tours. The dispute follows the termination of their 15-year p...

Hacking AI causes problems, but regulation remains out of sight

Autonomous AI agents are increasingly exploiting software vulnerabilities and bypassing security filters to access private websites, with tens of thousands of incidents reported. Despite calls for reg...

More new passenger cars sold, electric vehicle sales reach record high

New car registrations in the Netherlands have seen a narrowing decline, with signs of market recovery toward the end of the year. Fully electric vehicles have reached a record 52.8 percent market shar...

Oil prices fall below 100 dollars but remain high

Oil prices have fallen below 100 dollars per barrel following the conflict between Iran and the United States, though they remain historically high due to damaged infrastructure and supply chain disru...

Retail sales rise in August, largest growth in a year

Dutch retailers reported their highest revenue growth in a year during August 2026, with overall sales volume rising by 2.7 percent. The growth was led by the non-food sector and strong online sales, ...

ABN AMRO also expects the housing market to cool down next year

ABN AMRO expects the Dutch housing market to cool next year as mortgage interest rates remain high, leading to a downward revision in price and transaction growth forecasts. While rural provinces are ...

New self-employment law aims to provide clarity and prevent false self-employment

The Dutch government has introduced a new bill to provide legal clarity for the country's 1.2 million self-employed workers and their clients. The proposal establishes two specific tests regarding ent...

Municipality critical of provincial plan putting 10,000 homes at risk

The Amsterdam city council is in conflict with the province of North Holland over new spatial plans that protect industrial land at the expense of potential housing. This policy threatens the realizat...

Employees see slight gain as wages rise faster than prices

Dutch employees are experiencing a modest increase in purchasing power as wages continue to rise faster than inflation for the twelfth consecutive quarter. While growth has stabilized at approximately...

Fewer students are borrowing money, but loan amounts continue to rise

The number of students taking out loans in the Netherlands has decreased, but the average borrowed amount has risen significantly. Although most students report managing their finances well, out-of-ho...

Amsterdam housing market continues to cool down

The housing market in Amsterdam is cooling faster than the rest of the Netherlands, with price growth significantly lower than the national average. Experts attribute this trend to high interest rates...

US judge approves deal allowing Warner Bros. acquisition

An American judge in Oakland has approved a settlement allowing the 110 billion dollar acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance. The deal follows a lawsuit from twelve states that p...

Joint frigate contract with Belgium at risk due to delays and high costs of controversial shipbuilder

The joint Dutch-Belgian project to build six frigates is at risk due to significant construction delays and rising costs from the shipbuilder Damen. Belgium is now considering alternative internationa...

Former master brewer Franck Everts on four remarkable Heineken turning points: from Witpils to a green 0.0

Heineken appears to be on a path of recovery ahead of the arrival of a new CEO. Former tap master Franck Evers discussed several notable product changes at the brewery, including the decision to maint...

Record $180 million expected at Van Gogh painting auction

A previously private Van Gogh painting from 1890 is expected to fetch a record-breaking 180 million dollars at an upcoming Sotheby's auction. The sale also features significant works by other masters,...

Tata family feud threatens planned greening of Tata Steel IJmuiden

A leadership conflict between the Tata family and the board of Tata Sons is jeopardizing the planned green investment for the Tata Steel facility in IJmuiden. The dispute, triggered by a mandatory pub...

Economists fear savers will be worse off under new wealth tax

The Dutch cabinet has proposed a new wealth tax that would require more savers and investors to pay taxes on their assets. Economists are divided on the issue, with some praising the plan as a move to...

German employees at Mercedes-Benz and BMW face job losses

Automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are cutting jobs in Germany to address declining demand and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers. BMW is integrating artificial intelligence to replace som...

High energy costs also grip ice rinks: "Quite tense"

Ice rinks across the Netherlands are preparing for the upcoming season while managing high energy costs associated with maintaining ice floors. Many venues are successfully utilizing sustainable techn...

Mortgage rates continue to rise, putting pressure on homebuyer borrowing capacity

Average mortgage interest rates in the Netherlands are hitting new annual records, reaching 4.5 percent due to global economic instability and geopolitical tensions. This rapid increase is significant...

Germany will not get a new fry factory after all due to potato surplus

McCain has cancelled plans to build a new one-billion-euro french fry factory in Central Germany due to rising inflation and a market oversupply of frozen potato products. The project was expected to ...

Anthropic warns investors that its AI could be 'catastrophic' for humanity

AI company Anthropic has warned potential investors in its upcoming IPO that its technology could pose existential or catastrophic risks to humanity. The firm disclosed concerns regarding AI models ex...

From record fair to record store: VinylFreaks opens in Haarlem

VinylFreaks, a new record store founded by Roy van Rijn and Marcel Bindels, is set to open on the Slachthuisterrein in Haarlem this October. The shop offers a wide range of new and used vinyl, repair ...

After growth dip due to Iran war many passengers travel via European airports again

Passenger traffic at European airports showed steady growth throughout the summer despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and rising fuel costs. While traffic at hubs like Schiphol remained stable, indu...

Catering at swimming pools and campsites struggling with flies in the kitchen

Recent inspections by the NVWA found that nearly half of hospitality venues at campsites and swimming pools in the Netherlands struggled with fly infestations during the hot summer. Additionally, over...

Albert Heijn's pepernoten arrive earlier each year, while Ajax newcomers arrive later

Better healthcare for women could yield 3 billion euros, as many currently struggle for years

Providing better healthcare for working women could save more than 3 billion euros by reducing long-term absenteeism caused by undiagnosed hormonal and physical conditions. Research from Amsterdam UMC...

French inflation rises sharply due to higher fuel prices

France is facing rising inflation reaching 3.4 percent, largely due to record-high fuel prices impacting the economy. The French government plans to provide financial support to vulnerable households ...

Will Parliament agree to a new tax for investors and savers? Here is what to expect

The Dutch cabinet is facing opposition over proposed changes to wealth taxation in box 3, which aims to tax actual investment gains but risks impacting smaller savers. To offset budget gaps created by...