Business News in English

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...

NYT: Musk participated in phone call between Trump and Modi

Tech billionaire Elon Musk reportedly participated in a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The interaction was first reported by The New York Times...

Joint call to politicians: Have the courage to be radically present in neighborhoods

Social and business leaders in Amsterdam have warned that the growing disconnect in vulnerable neighborhoods acts as a 'ticking time bomb' threatening social stability. They urge political and corpora...

From a sporting perspective, NEC shouldn't have boasted about Chery's salary

Henk Spaan provides his weekly ratings for figures in the football world, including Sandro Tonali and NEC director Wilco van Schaik. The column suggests that NEC's public comments regarding Tjaronn Ch...

De Haarlemse Bakker celebrates 25 years: 'It's a beautiful profession, you make something from nothing'

De Haarlemse Bakker is celebrating its 25th anniversary after being established to ensure bread supply continuity following the bankruptcy of another local bakery. Now run by the Van Esdonk family, th...

Nine entrepreneurs locked in Adamas Center Nieuw-Vennep to raise money for cancer patients

Nine local entrepreneurs are participating in a fundraising event called 'The Lock Up' at the Adamas Center in Nieuw-Vennep to support individuals living with cancer. The participants aim to raise don...

Fred’s Coffee is new in Amsterdam: ‘We sell attention, the coffee is extra’

Fred's coffee has recently opened in Amsterdam-West near De Hallen, offering a space that prioritizes personal attention and connection. The coffee shop aims to provide a welcoming atmosphere where cu...

Explosive rise in energy bills looms in 2027 due to new tariff rules

Dutch households and businesses face a potential annual increase in energy bills of 150 to over 200 euros due to new tariff regulations. These changes result from a new method for passing on power gri...

Why the lights are going out at many Haarlem restaurants on Saturday night

On Saturday night, March 28, 2026, numerous restaurants and locations in Haarlem will turn off their lights for one hour as part of a planned event. This is not a power outage, and electricity will be...

Wienen: Haarlem cafes allowed to extend opening hours during World Cup in America

Mayor Wienen has announced that cafes in Haarlem will be permitted to extend their opening hours to broadcast World Cup matches held in America this summer. The mayor clarified that current regulation...