Business News in English

From carpenter to union chairman: Niels Mans (49) fights for trust at Tata Steel. ‘What we want is pride’

Niels Mans has transitioned from a career as a carpenter to becoming the new FNV union chairman at Tata Steel. Based in Velsen-Noord, he is focused on restoring trust and pride among workers at the in...

Metal and chemical companies find it harder to pass on energy costs

Companies in the chemical and metal sectors are struggling to pass on increased energy costs resulting from the conflict in the Middle East to their customers. This situation is leading to financial d...

Minister Karremans sets date for Lelystad Airport opening, now only needs a permit

Minister Vincent Karremans has set October 2027 as the target date for opening Lelystad Airport to holiday flights. The opening remains contingent on obtaining a nature permit, which is currently unfe...

Gunay Burger in the Bijlmer oddly enough isn't known for its burgers

Fewer aircraft noise complaints around Schiphol despite increase in flights

Oil prices fall 10 percent after Iran statement on opening Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices have dropped by nearly 10 percent following Iran's announcement that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened for commercial shipping. The critical maritime passage had previously seen traffic sta...

Iran opens Strait of Hormuz to all commercial shipping

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial shipping during the current ceasefire. The strategic waterway had previously been closed by Iran...

'We want to bring France to Beverwijk': Martijn Duijn and Kelly Duijn open boulangerie on Breestraat

Martijn and Kelly Duijn are opening a French-style boulangerie on Breestraat in Beverwijk this Saturday following five months of construction. The couple aims to bring the atmosphere of France to the ...

Kim Kötter embraced HIV patients like a reincarnation of Lady Di, but she didn't forget her own webshop

Station Square office giants to be demolished in early 2028; preparations for new square well underway

The office buildings and sports hall at Haarlem's Stationsplein are scheduled for demolition in early 2028 to facilitate a complete redesign of the station area. Preparations for the redevelopment are...

Young people aged 16 and over to receive higher minimum wage in 2027

Starting January 1, 2027, individuals aged 16 to 20 in the Netherlands will receive a higher minimum wage. Social Affairs Minister Hans Vijlbrief is implementing the increase, which follows a plan est...

Time is running out for circular shop MooiZooi in Molenwijk: still no new premises

Sustainable neighborhood shop MooiZooi is still searching for a new location as its current building in Haarlem's Molenwijk district is scheduled for demolition. Founder Alice Taylor expressed the urg...

Tata Steel fined another 8.5 million euros for excessive emissions

Tata Steel has been ordered to pay an additional fine of over 8.5 million euros for exceeding harmful emission limits at one of its plants. The penalty was imposed by the North Sea Canal Area Environm...

Van Weel: we will increasingly see major cybercrime

Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel warns that major cyberattacks, such as those targeting ChipSoft and Odido, will become increasingly common as global cybercrime rises. He stresses the need for mo...

Huge value of Pokémon cards leads to robberies in the UK

The increasing market value of Pokémon cards has triggered a wave of robberies and ram-raids at stores throughout the United Kingdom. Some incidents have resulted in the theft of merchandise valued a...

TommyTomato relaunches in slimmed-down form; 30,000 students may get healthy lunches again after May break

The social enterprise TommyTomato is resuming its operations in a slimmed-down form after securing new financing. While the restart allows 30,000 primary school students to receive healthy lunches aga...

Airport parking prices at an all-time high: 'Consider the bus'

Airport parking prices have reached a record high, with the average weekly cost for an official space rising to 98 euros. Rates at major hubs like Schiphol, Dusseldorf, and Brussels are significantly ...

Netflix reports sharply higher profit with Bridgerton as major draw

Netflix reported a significant increase in first-quarter profits, driven by the success of popular titles like Bridgerton and the second season of One Piece. The streaming service also benefited from ...

Professor: Time to worry about the business climate in Amsterdam

The number of foreign companies establishing themselves in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area has continued to decline, with only 39 new arrivals in 2025. While city officials are prioritizing high-quali...

Cans and bottles can now also be returned at gas stations off the highway

Statiegeld Nederland and Shell have formed a partnership to allow consumers to return deposit cans and bottles at gas stations located off the highway. This initiative aims to make recycling more acce...

Several hospitality businesses no longer have valid permits: enforcement and supervision catch-up in Velsen

The municipality of Velsen is conducting a comprehensive review of hospitality permits to improve oversight and enforcement within the sector. While the goal to inspect all commercial establishments b...

Reader question: Kees Schaap keeps having battery trouble. When does your warranty end?

A reader named Kees Schaap seeks advice on consumer rights regarding car batteries that repeatedly fail within the legal warranty period. The inquiry focuses on whether a consumer is entitled to a new...

New interim board of Hoofddorp Pioniers tries to turn tide in dispute with stadium operator ETO, conflict cautiously fading: ‘The battle between us is unnecessary’

The Hoofddorp Pioniers baseball club and stadium operator ETO are moving toward resolving a long-standing dispute over a new operating agreement. Following the appointment of an interim board at the c...

Enhanced castle feel at renovated Stayokay in Assumburg Castle, new bridge to lure garden visitors: 'They book for the experience'

The Stayokay hostel in Slot Assumburg, Heemskerk, has reopened following an extensive renovation designed to enhance the historic "castle experience" for guests. Manager Michiel Broos noted that while...

Chamber of Commerce: Fewer business closures and more startups for first time in 2.5 years

The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) reports that the number of businesses closing fell in the first quarter of this year for the first time in 2.5 years. Additionally, there was an increase in the num...

ANWB: Different May holiday choices due to global unrest

Dutch travelers are increasingly choosing European destinations for their May holidays due to global instability, with 94% staying within the continent. According to the ANWB holiday monitor, interest...

Amsterdam fails to attract international companies: ‘We are not doing nearly as well as we think’

De Hypotheker: average mortgage rate hits two-year high

The average mortgage interest rate in the Netherlands has reached its highest level in over two years, according to reports from De Hypotheker. This rise is primarily driven by increasing capital mark...

Flight cancellations are just the beginning: ‘Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left’

KLM will cancel 160 flights starting in late April as the International Energy Agency warns that Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel reserves remaining. This fuel shortage is expected to trigger a b...

Majority of Dutch Parliament supports better pay for top athletes, VVD wants business sector to contribute

A majority of the Dutch Parliament supports a proposal by NOC*NSF to increase the income of elite athletes. While there is political backing for the plan, the VVD party advocates for the additional fu...