Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Near-record number of applications for home sustainability loans
The National Heat Fund reported a 73% increase in loan applications for home sustainability in March compared to the same month last year. This surge brings the number of requests close to record leve...
Employers call for calm in collective bargaining: 'High wage demands not wise'
Dutch employers are calling for moderation in wage demands during collective bargaining negotiations as inflation continues to rise. They warn that high labor costs and geopolitical tensions are alrea...
Architect Van Bergen on Bergen building plans: Add quality, not just bricks
Architect Michael van Bergen, winner of the 2025 Amsterdam prize for best housing project, shared his insights on housing developments in his hometown of Bergen. He emphasized that construction projec...
Priority mail price hike: funeral card doubles in price
Starting in July, PostNL will significantly increase rates for 24-hour delivery services, including bereavement cards and medical mail. These items will cost several euros per piece as the postal serv...
PostNL to deliver letters within two days from July 12
Starting July 12, PostNL will shift its standard letter delivery from next-day to within two days to ensure service reliability and manage high operational costs. This change follows a government deci...
Amsterdam restaurant closure due to rats is no exception: 'Owners let the infestation get out of hand'
Chocolate company De Bonte Koe looks beyond the holidays: ‘Chocolate connects’
The Schiedam-based family business De Bonte Koe has been nominated for the National Entrepreneur Prize for its innovative approach to chocolate making. The company focuses on year-round customer engag...
Yet another energy crisis, now we’re finally buying that heat pump
A second energy crisis in five years has triggered a significant surge in demand for heat pumps in the Netherlands. The high volume of interest has led some companies to scale back their advertising e...
KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX and WNL to collaborate in new broadcasting house
Broadcasters KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, and WNL have announced plans to collaborate and share a new broadcasting house. While discussions are ongoing and the facility's name is yet to be determined, the or...
KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX and WNL want to form joint broadcasting house
Dutch broadcasters KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, and WNL have announced plans to establish a joint broadcasting house. The organizations shared their intention for this collaboration on Wednesday.
iDeal successor protects consumers, but businesses fear high costs
Wero, the successor to the iDeal payment system, aims to enhance consumer protection, but businesses and payment providers express concern over potential cost increases. In response to these developme...
Cabinet accommodates startups in new Box 3 system after fierce criticism
The Dutch cabinet is planning to introduce tax benefits for startups and scale-ups following criticism of the new box 3 tax system. The proposal includes redefining early-stage companies and easing ta...
Enkhuizer Almanac begins new chapter with Arend van den Berg and Bert Wiggers after death of publisher Fransje Jongert: ‘Surprising within predictability’
Following the death of publisher Fransje Jongert, Arend van den Berg and Bert Wiggers have taken over the centuries-old Enkhuizer Almanak. The new successors intend to maintain the traditional content...
Mega data centers near Haarlemmermeer villages to be operational in three years
Plans for four large data centers in Haarlemmermeer are moving forward, with the facilities in Rozenburg and Schiphol-Rijk expected to be operational within three years. The projects have sparked loca...
Record number of hospitality businesses forced to close immediately due to pests
A record number of catering establishments in the Netherlands were forced to close due to pest infestations during the first quarter of 2026. Inspectors expressed concern after a video of rats in an A...
Netherlands' largest pension fund exits tech firm doing business with ICE
The Netherlands' largest pension fund, ABP, has announced its decision to divest from the American technology firm Palantir. The move follows concerns regarding Palantir's contracts with the U.S. Immi...
Trump's remarks on ending the war have immediate impact: oil and gas prices fall, stocks surge
Donald Trump's prediction that the war against Iran could end within two to three weeks has triggered a significant reaction in global markets. Following his statements, international oil and gas pric...
Police: No link between two dead ABN Amro employees
IT providers unite against Big Tech to reduce Dutch dependence on US
Seven Dutch IT providers have formed an alliance to offer a local cloud alternative to American technology firms, aiming to reduce the Netherlands' dependency on US providers. By collaborating on larg...
Former SBS6 boss Tina Nijkamp: 'TV world has always been a snake pit'
Former SBS6 director Tina Nijkamp described the television industry as a "snake pit" in a recent interview with Nouveau. She noted that the competitive and challenging nature of the TV world has remai...
North Holland investigates regional heating company and fund
The province of Noord-Holland is exploring the creation of a regional heating company and a dedicated fund to support the development of heating networks. The initiative aims to address the shortage o...
Douwe Egberts parent company JDE Peet's falls into American hands
Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired a 96 percent stake in JDE Peet's, the parent company of Douwe Egberts. This move brings the coffee giant almost entirely under the ownership of the American beverage comp...
TommyTomato declared bankrupt after failed investment: 'We made a lot of profit, just not in our bank account'
TommyTomato, a Haarlem-based delivery service providing healthy school lunches, has been declared bankrupt after a multi-million euro investment deal fell through in mid-March. Director Bas Turk attri...
Brussels proposes first relaxation of key climate measure
The European Commission has announced a proposal to relax the Emissions Trading System (ETS), which serves as the European Union's primary mechanism for regulating corporate CO2 emissions. This develo...
Stricter holiday rental rules from today: what changes in the city center and De Pijp
Amsterdam has halved the maximum number of nights allowed for vacation rentals in the city center and De Pijp neighborhood from 30 to 15 per year. Effective immediately, the measure aims to reduce tou...
British PM seeks to further strengthen ties with EU
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to further strengthen ties with the European Union through a cooperation summit scheduled for later this year. The initiative focuses on enhanci...
The Hague tunnel to remain closed for months, city fines builder Strukton
The Hubertustunnel in The Hague will remain closed for an additional two months because contractor Strukton failed to complete construction work on time. Consequently, the municipality of The Hague is...
Terrorism investigation into explosive at Bank of America in Paris
French anti-terrorism prosecutors have launched an investigation into a suspected terrorist conspiracy following an attempted attack in Paris. An explosive device was discovered over the weekend at a ...
Company behind ChatGPT worth $852 billion after mega-investment, ‘superapp’ on the way
OpenAI has raised $122 billion in a new investment round, bringing the company's total valuation to $852 billion. This funding round marks the first time the ChatGPT creator has accepted investments f...
Van der Valk Haarlem fears guests will be blown off benches and sit in dark rooms due to housing project
The Van der Valk hotel in Haarlem has appeared before the country's highest administrative court to challenge a proposed housing project on the site of a former government office. The hotel management...