Economy News in English

Grid operators demand down payments from municipalities for construction projects, Amsterdam sounds alarm with G40

Mobile internet usage is declining, except at hacked Odido, which also seems to be gaining customers again

Recent research shows that smartphone data usage in the Netherlands slightly declined during the beginning of the year. However, Odido experienced an increase in data usage and a recovery in customer ...

European Parliament introduces stricter social security rules

The European Parliament has adopted new regulations aimed at combating social security fraud and improving cross-border cooperation among EU member states. These measures also focus on ensuring that w...

From Waalre and Deurne to Barneveld: towns outside the Randstad to see fastest growth by 2050

The Netherlands is projected to reach 19.6 million inhabitants by 2050, requiring significant housing expansion. While cities in the Randstad will grow, rural areas and towns outside this region are e...

New forecast: 4,320 new homes in Haarlem over the next five years, thousands more needed by 2050

A new report from research firm ABF forecasts that 4,320 new homes will be completed in Haarlem over the next five years. To accommodate continued population growth, thousands of additional residentia...

Permit granted for new data center in Amsterdam Southeast

A building permit has been issued for the first tower of a major Equinix data center in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, as the application preceded a local construction moratorium. While the facility is slated fo...

Small business owner stops sustainability efforts: Investments often cannot even be recouped

Data from Statistics Netherlands indicates a decline in sustainability investments among Dutch businesses, falling to 61 percent this year. Small and medium-sized enterprises are primarily responsible...

From webshop to lender: bol launches its own buy now, pay later service

Bol has established a separate credit company to manage its 'pay later' payment option. The e-commerce retailer intends to offer this service to other online stores in the future to expand consumer pa...

German brewers produce record amount of non-alcoholic beer

German breweries produced a record amount of non-alcoholic beer last year according to data from Destatis. While overall production of alcoholic beer remains higher, its output experienced a decline.

Young people no longer prefer working in hospitality during the summer

As the summer holidays begin in Northern Netherlands, student seasonal jobs remain a popular solution to labor shortages. However, there is a noticeable shift in preferences as young people are increa...

Malaise in our shopping basket due to soaring prices: we are buying less and are forced to choose cheaper brands

Dutch consumers are purchasing fewer groceries and opting for cheaper brands due to persistent high inflation over the past three years. Retail revenue growth is currently being driven by price increa...

Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global gas market

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global gas markets, leading to tighter supplies and higher prices. These conditions have resulted in decreased demand for gas, particularly...

ECB wants banks to create action plans against AI cyber threats

The European Central Bank is urging financial institutions to develop strategic action plans to counter the increasing cybersecurity risks posed by advanced AI systems. The regulator specifically high...

Cash remains widely accepted, but card-only is on the rise in major cities

While cash remains widely accepted for daily transactions in the Netherlands, the number of businesses transitioning to card-only payments is increasing in larger cities. Despite this trend, physical ...

NATO countries invest tens of billions in drone defense

NATO countries are investing 40 billion dollars over the next five years to improve drone defense systems. Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced the initiative in Ankara, citing the increasing freque...

How Nike suddenly lost its cool: ‘It has become your parents’ shoe’

Nike is currently facing a significant decline in popularity and financial performance as younger consumers shift their preferences toward rival brands like Adidas and New Balance. The once-dominant s...

Bali tightens visa rules: influencers risk fines or even deportation

Bali is implementing stricter enforcement against foreign influencers and content creators who produce commercial work while traveling on a tourist visa. Individuals who generate income through online...

Heat puts agriculture under pressure, but Dutch harvest holds up for now

Despite an approaching heatwave, the Dutch agricultural sector reports that crops such as potatoes, onions, and wheat are currently holding up well. While similar extreme heat has caused visible damag...

Dutch petrol prices rise by another cent, refuelling across the border can save twenty euros

Gasoline prices in the Netherlands have slightly increased again, reversing a recent downward trend. Motorists are advised that filling up their tanks across the border could result in savings of up t...

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs in major Xbox reorganization

Microsoft is cutting approximately 4,800 jobs globally as the company shifts its investment focus toward artificial intelligence. The Xbox gaming division will be most significantly impacted, with rou...

Low incomes hit hardest by high energy prices: 'Paying much more tax'

New research from TNO indicates that government compensation for high energy bills is significantly less effective than investing in home insulation and sustainable energy alternatives. The study high...

Netherlands recruits 29 top scientists who left the US under Trump

Twenty-nine top scientists have moved to the Netherlands from the United States following political tensions in the academic sector under Donald Trump. The move was facilitated by a specialized fund d...

Renovation of Rustenburgerlaan becomes costly affair due to steel slag foundation

The renovation of the Rustenburgerlaan in Haarlem has become significantly more expensive because the existing foundation contains steel slag. As a result, the entire foundation must be replaced durin...

Tanker attacked near Strait of Hormuz

An oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, causing a fire to break out on board. The incident was reported by the British maritime organiza...

Monique Koorn (63) earns 2441 euros a month with three jobs, her adult children still live at home: 'They have nowhere to go'

Southeast Amsterdam to get mega data center: heavy user of power and drinking water, but with space for local startups

Majority of Dutch people support higher inheritance tax on large estates

A study by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis indicates that a majority of Dutch citizens support higher inheritance taxes on large estates. The research highlights growing public bac...

WEF founder Schwab files police report after discovery of listening device

World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has filed a police report in Geneva after discovering a listening device in his home office. The investigation into the security breach is currently underway.

Living small, dreaming big: 4 properties you can get for under 300k in Amsterdam

Finding an affordable home in Amsterdam is often challenging due to high property prices. This article highlights four available properties priced under three hundred thousand euros, offering tips on ...

Rutte: arms industry cannot handle even higher defense budgets

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the European defense industry has reached its capacity to process orders due to the rapid increase in defense spending by member states. He noted that the...