Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Man allowed to keep 8 million gift after all as tax authorities lose case
A Dutch court has ruled that a company director in the northern Netherlands can keep an €8 million gift received after 24 years of service at a family business. The decision rejects a claim by the D...
Potatoes dirt cheap due to surplus, but not for supermarket shoppers
Potato prices have dropped significantly since the spring of 2025 due to a surplus from favorable harvests, leaving farmers with massive excess stock. However, consumers have yet to see these savings,...
Traffic fines in Haarlem generate more revenue for state treasury than in 2024
Traffic offenders in Haarlem generated more than 8.3 million euros for the state treasury last year. According to figures from the fine collection agency CJIB, this total represents the revenue collec...
Construction plans for 6,500 homes in Hamerkwartier back on track after chemical plant compromise
Construction of 6,500 homes in Amsterdam's Hamerkwartier district is set to begin next year following a compromise between the municipality and the chemical plant Ketjen. The agreement addresses previ...
Who is new State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg? Humorous policy wonk championed sex work and tens of thousands of homes
Eelco Eerenberg, a 41-year-old D66 alderman from Utrecht, has been named as the new Dutch State Secretary of Finance. He replaces Nathalie van Berkel, who withdrew from the position on Monday followin...
HEMA also recalls play and craft sand over possible asbestos
HEMA is recalling play and craft sand from its stores due to the potential presence of asbestos in the products. Customers are urged to return the affected items to the store immediately for safety re...
Half-million euro fine for construction companies that bribed Sint Maarten minister
Two subsidiaries of the construction company VolkerWessels were ordered by a court in Zwolle on Thursday to pay a combined fine of €480,000 for bribing former Sint Maarten minister Theo Heyliger. Th...
Rising numbers of people unable to work costing the treasury billions
Rising disability benefit costs are placing a multi-billion euro burden on the state treasury as the number of people unable to work continues to grow. In response to these skyrocketing expenses, the ...
Dutch want to live more sustainably, but government misses opportunities
Most Dutch citizens are willing to adopt more sustainable and climate-conscious lifestyles, which could potentially save megatons of CO2 emissions. However, the government is currently missing opportu...
Government raises 923 million euros from emission rights auction
The Dutch government raised approximately 923 million euros last year through the auction of carbon emission rights. These rights must be purchased by large industrial companies to legally emit CO2, w...
Philips still plagued by sleep apnea scandal: CEO also sued
Philips continues to face legal repercussions from its 2021 sleep apnea device recall, with American investors filing a lawsuit against CEO Roy Jakobs in December. Investors in the Netherlands are als...
Should Zandvoort circuit make way for housing?
The Zandvoort municipal council is debating the possibility of using the local racing circuit for long-term housing development over the next 30 to 40 years. While some political parties support explo...
After Unilever, Nestlé may also spin off ice cream division including Häagen-Dazs
Nestlé is considering the sale of its ice cream division, which includes the Häagen-Dazs brand, as part of an ongoing corporate reorganization. The Swiss food company aims to focus more on its other...
Netherlands and Belgium want better train connections: 'Of strategic importance'
The Netherlands and Belgium have agreed to strengthen their cooperation to improve cross-border rail connections between the two countries. This initiative is considered of strategic importance to enh...
Zuckerberg gives rare testimony in social media addiction case
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in court on Wednesday for the first time regarding Instagram’s impact on the mental health of young users. During the testimony, he was questioned about how age li...
Eelco Eerenberg to replace Van Berkel as D66 State Secretary for Finance
The D66 party has nominated Utrecht alderman Eelco Eerenberg as the new State Secretary of Finance. He replaces the previously intended candidate, Van Berkel, who recently stepped down from the positi...
Advisory body SER calls for eight weeks of paid leave for informal caregivers
The Dutch advisory body SER is calling for the government to provide eight weeks of paid leave to help informal caregivers balance their jobs with their caregiving responsibilities. This recommendatio...
350-euro washing machines, fresh durian and maybe a Rolex: Chinese giant aims to conquer the Dutch market
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is planning to expand its presence in the Dutch market, posing a significant threat to local retailers like Bol.com and Coolblue. Retail expert John Lin predicts the co...
Larger European power grid good for prices but creates dependency
Expanding the European power grid would lower electricity prices for the Netherlands but increase its dependency on other member states, according to a study by the CPB. The report notes that without ...
Tech billionaires (and Dick Schoof) discuss the future of AI at Indian summit
Leaders from major technology companies, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, are gathering in India to discuss the future and impact of artificial intelligence. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Dick...
KLM concerned about costs but parent company reports record profit
KLM CEO Marjan Rintel has called for improved cost management following a challenging 2025, despite the airline starting and ending the year strongly. In contrast, parent company Air France-KLM report...
Dutch investors fared well in otherwise turbulent year
In 2025, the investment value of Dutch households increased by 7.8 percent, according to data from De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). Despite experiencing a volatile and tense financial year, the central ba...
Few people ill in January for the time of year
Employee absenteeism in January was lower than in previous years, but rates are now rising due to the start of a flu epidemic. The celebration of Carnival is expected to further contribute to this inc...
New cabinet cuts benefits: how the plans hit the long-term sick
The new Dutch cabinet’s proposed budget cuts will reduce benefits for fully incapacitated employees by up to 270 euros per month. Additional austerity measures could potentially increase these losse...
Dozens of flights at Schiphol cancelled as a precaution due to winter weather
Airlines have preemptively cancelled approximately 100 flights at Schiphol Airport due to expected winter weather conditions. These cancellations primarily affect European destinations and were made a...
Billions in profits for Dutch banks, yet checking account fees are rising: why is that?
Major Dutch banks ING, Rabobank, and ABN Amro reported record annual profits last year, drawing public criticism as service fees for checking accounts continue to rise while savings interest remains l...
Meta to equip smart glasses with facial recognition: 'Doomsday scenario for privacy'
A leaked memo indicates that Meta plans to equip its smart camera glasses with facial recognition technology to allow users to identify individuals in public. Privacy advocates have condemned the pote...
Vodafone sells stake in VodafoneZiggo, Ziggo to list in Amsterdam in 2027
British telecom company Vodafone has agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Dutch joint venture VodafoneZiggo to its partner Liberty Global for €1 billion in cash. VodafoneZiggo will be integrated into...
Aegon insurance brand to disappear from the Netherlands in coming months after takeover
The insurance brand Aegon will completely disappear from the Dutch market over the coming months following its acquisition by insurer ASR. All remaining mortgage and pension products will be rebranded...
Box 3 tax continues to spark anger, now landlords bear the brunt: ‘It remains a monstrosity’
Real estate investors in the Netherlands are taking legal action against the government over the Box 3 asset tax system, following previous successful challenges by savers in the Supreme Court. The in...