Business News in English

How prestige show RTL Tonight became a ratings disaster: ‘This was doomed to fail’

New bins still stay open sometimes – but less often

The city of Amsterdam is testing a new self-closing trash can design intended to prevent litter caused by people searching for deposit bottles. While early observations on the Damrak show the new bins...

Older unemployed hit hard by increase in retirement age

The Dutch government's plan to raise the state pension age is creating significant difficulties for older unemployed individuals who struggle to find new work. Despite the requirement to work longer, ...

Anita's free lifetime gym membership at SportCity is not for life

Anita Flendrig, who received a lifetime free gym membership as a retirement gift from Sportschool Vlietlijn sixteen years ago, is now facing a cancellation of the perk by the new management at SportCi...

This potato grower has no surplus, but 'next year it’s your turn'

Potato farmer Jan-Willem Buitenhuis is currently avoiding the impact of the European potato surplus due to a fixed-price contract, while other regional farmers face significant losses. To prepare for ...

Search for where my father worked: Hillegom printing company Velthuys-Hamberg went bankrupt 50 years ago

This article reflects on the history of the Velthuys-Hamberg printing house in Hillegom, which went bankrupt fifty years ago. It provides a nostalgic look at the facility's atmosphere and daily operat...

From mold to snack: Breda startup in the running for national entrepreneur award

Breda-based startup The Protein Brewery is developing sustainable protein alternatives by cultivating fungi in large fermentation tanks. The company is currently competing for a national entrepreneur ...

Chocolate thieves steal over 400,000 KitKat bars during transport in Italy

Thieves in Italy stole over 400,000 KitKat bars from a transport truck earlier this week. The theft of the large shipment was confirmed by the Swiss chocolate manufacturer.

Roy’s Poultry moves to Ruysdaelstraat in Heemskerk for more space: ‘It’s becoming a nice food street’

Poultry shop Roy’s has moved to a larger location on Ruysdaelstraat in Heemskerk to accommodate the business's need for more space. The move strengthens the street's reputation as a specialty food d...

Can gas storage be filled in time? ‘Government only steps in if commercial parties fail’

The Netherlands is facing nearly empty gas storage facilities during a global shortage, raising concerns about supply for the upcoming winter. The government plans to step in only if commercial entiti...

Family business Toko Exotica faces new future in Parkwijk: 'I don't need to get rich from the shop'

Family business Toko Exotica is relocating from its original 1991 location at Beatrixplein to a temporary site in Reinaldapark this summer. Once the new neighborhood shopping center in Parkwijk is com...

IJmuiden marks 25 years on the cruise map; terminal owner KVSA celebrates with modest party on board

IJmuiden is celebrating 25 years as a cruise destination, with terminal owner KVSA marking the milestone aboard a cruise ship. The town and the North Sea Canal are also preparing for their 150th anniv...

A7 towards Lyon largely blocked by driver action

Approximately 25 trucks and a bus have blocked most of the A7 motorway towards Lyon, France, to protest against rising fuel prices. Drivers are distributing pamphlets to motorists who are currently re...

Telstar investigates passport issue; player eligibility unclear

Dutch football club Telstar is investigating potential player eligibility issues following a warning from the KNVB regarding work permits. The national football association has advised all professiona...

Italy investigates beauty companies for encouraging obsession in young girls

Italy has launched an investigation into beauty companies Sephora Italia and Benefit Cosmetics for allegedly using deceptive marketing strategies to target young girls with skincare products. Authorit...

Millions of Douwe Egberts points exchanged for books as savers can spend them again

The Bruna bookstore chain has experienced record-high website traffic following the announcement that customers can now redeem Douwe Egberts loyalty points for books. This new partnership allows long-...

Your bank account gets more expensive every year, but can it be explained?

The cost of maintaining a bank account continues to rise annually, with additional fees being introduced for cash withdrawals and deposits. Despite these increasing charges for essential services, ban...

Pope receives 40th Dutch floral display for Easter service in Rome: 'Ideal promotion for the trade'

For the 40th year, the Pope's Easter Mass in Vatican City will be decorated with a Dutch floral display consisting of 7,000 flowers. The tradition serves as a significant global promotion for the Dutc...

A mindfulness course, a personal trainer, and an e-bike: but Ralph's dog wasn't allowed on the flexible budget

Ralph's request to use his flexible employee benefits budget to purchase a dog was rejected and met with ridicule from his HR department. Career expert Anne-Marije Buckens notes that employers typical...

Bank of America settles for tens of millions with Epstein victims

Bank of America has agreed to a $72.5 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by victims of Jeffrey Epstein. The victims alleged that the bank facilitated the financier's sexual exploitation act...

Unrest in Middle East disrupts May holiday: Extra flights to other destinations to meet demand

Geopolitical unrest in the Middle East is causing a significant shift in booking patterns for the upcoming May holidays among Dutch travelers. Major travel organizations are responding by scheduling e...

Screen Time | As lawsuits pile up, Mark Zuckerberg turns his focus to AI

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is shifting the company's focus toward artificial intelligence as legal challenges against social media platforms continue to increase. Tech reporter Rutger Otto discusses how...

Energy crisis much more severe in the Netherlands than cabinet thinks: looming diesel shortage

The energy crisis in the Netherlands is more severe than the government realizes, with potential shortages of diesel and kerosene looming. While gasoline supplies remain sufficient, experts warn that ...

Evers tobacco shop closes after nearly a century: 'Fireworks ban was the final straw'

Frank Evers is closing his 98-year-old independent tobacco shop in Hillegom on March 28, marking the end of the town's last standalone cigar shop. Evers noted that the fireworks ban provided the final...

Thailand: Agreement with Iran on oil tanker passage

Thailand and Iran have reached an agreement regarding the passage of Thai oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The deal was announced by the Thai Prime Minister on Saturday morning.

Master swindler or benefactor? The Canadian who promised Zandvoort the world

In 1981, Canadian businessman Michael Hordo arrived in Zandvoort with grand plans to transform the coastal town into a major tourist hub, including proposals for a theme park and international golf ch...

Why cheap meat deals are here to stay: ‘Supermarkets are not charities’

The Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo has resumed meat discounts after a two-year trial led to losses of tens of millions in revenue. The initiative failed because competitors did not follow suit, causing...

Bonaire asks Netherlands for urgent help with rising prices

The Executive Council of Bonaire has requested urgent assistance from the Dutch government to combat rising prices for food and fuel. Increased shipping costs driven by international instability are m...

Electric scooter battery safety questioned again after latest fire at Felyx

Suspicious stock trades point to the White House

Democrats in the U.S. Congress are raising concerns about potential corruption following suspicious stock market transactions linked to President Trump’s market-moving actions. There are allegations...