Economy News in English

Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

Tipping is voluntary, but it doesn't feel that way with a payment screen under your nose
nu

Tipping is voluntary, but it doesn't feel that way with a payment screen under your nose

The increasing use of digital tipping screens in the Dutch hospitality sector is raising concerns over consumer manipulation through dark patterns and social pressure. While businesses see them as a c...

Minister Vijlbrief increasingly doubts abolishing penalty payments for WIA applications
ad

Minister Vijlbrief increasingly doubts abolishing penalty payments for WIA applications

Minister Hans Vijlbrief is reconsidering a legislative proposal to temporarily scrap penalty payments for delayed WIA disability benefit applications due to concerns regarding citizens' legal rights. ...

Vietnamese turquoise taxis to challenge Uber and Bolt in the Netherlands
ad

Vietnamese turquoise taxis to challenge Uber and Bolt in the Netherlands

Vietnamese taxi company Green SM is launching its electric vehicle service in the Netherlands to compete with established platforms like Uber and Bolt. The company plans to start its operations in Ams...

Rising sea levels threaten future of Delta Works: 'Construction takes forty years'
nu

Rising sea levels threaten future of Delta Works: 'Construction takes forty years'

Rising sea levels threaten the future effectiveness of the Netherlands' Delta Works, prompting experts to call for long-term planning and potential structural overhauls. Since large-scale water defens...

Cabinet wants to scrap staff discounts, retail sector disappointed: 'It's an important sign of appreciation for our staff'
ad

Cabinet wants to scrap staff discounts, retail sector disappointed: 'It's an important sign of appreciation for our staff'

The Dutch government intends to abolish the tax-free employee discount scheme by 2027 to save 123 million euros annually. Trade organizations and retail unions strongly oppose the plan, warning it wil...

Full trash container? A 'fill-level sensor' may sound the alarm in the future
rss

Full trash container? A 'fill-level sensor' may sound the alarm in the future

The municipality of Amsterdam is testing fill-level sensors in waste containers to optimize collection routes and reduce overflow. A trial with glass containers has already shown that smarter monitori...

The Greenhouse | Here is how our energy system was overhauled before
nu

The Greenhouse | Here is how our energy system was overhauled before

Amsterdam is embarking on a significant expansion of its electrical infrastructure to accommodate a projected multi-fold increase in energy demand. The project involves upgrading existing substations,...

Inland vessel stranded by low water on the Rhine is sailing again
nu

Inland vessel stranded by low water on the Rhine is sailing again

The cargo ship Terra 2 has resumed its journey on the Rhine after being stranded for several days on a sandbank caused by record-low water levels. After partially offloading its cargo of Mercedes-Benz...

A cover letter with your bid? Sellers at Open House Day in Amsterdam don't even read them: 'It's all about the best price'
parool

A cover letter with your bid? Sellers at Open House Day in Amsterdam don't even read them: 'It's all about the best price'

During the Open Huizen Dag in Amsterdam, sellers are prioritizing the highest financial bids over personal motivation letters from prospective buyers. Despite concerns about a cooling housing market a...

French honey production drops as heatwaves keep bees in hives
nu

French honey production drops as heatwaves keep bees in hives

Honey production in France has fallen this year as extreme heatwaves forced bees to forage less and damaged floral resources. Estimates suggest a decrease in output from up to 25,000 tons last year to...

FNV and cleaning industry on collision course, new strikes imminent
nu

FNV and cleaning industry on collision course, new strikes imminent

FNV members have rejected a new collective labor agreement in the cleaning sector, leading to a standoff with employers who refuse to renegotiate. The union is now preparing for escalated strikes acro...

Maybe we’ll soon long for the days when you were rejected for a stain on your sweater
ad

Maybe we’ll soon long for the days when you were rejected for a stain on your sweater

Anne-Marije Buckens, who specializes in helping job seekers over 50, notes that views on AI-driven job interviews are divided among her clients. While some individuals like Laurens appreciate avoiding...

Former Chancellor Schröder back as senior executive at Russian company
nu

Former Chancellor Schröder back as senior executive at Russian company

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has taken a new senior role at the Russian supermarket chain Hyperglobus. This decision follows years of intense criticism regarding his business association...

Screen Time | Trump fans the AI flames further as regulations remain absent
nu

Screen Time | Trump fans the AI flames further as regulations remain absent

President Donald Trump and tech executives have agreed to a set of voluntary safety standards for artificial intelligence, though critics argue that self-regulation is insufficient compared to formal ...

Ramez Ramzy (33) had to sell half of his hospitality empire: 'Of course I look in the mirror to see what went wrong. But I'm not dwelling on it'
parool

Ramez Ramzy (33) had to sell half of his hospitality empire: 'Of course I look in the mirror to see what went wrong. But I'm not dwelling on it'

Entrepreneur Ramez Ramzy has sold nearly half of his hospitality businesses following a period of over-expansion after the pandemic. He is now focused on improving the value of his remaining venues ra...

Tesla on track to avoid new sales decline after strong quarter
nu

Tesla on track to avoid new sales decline after strong quarter

Tesla is seeing a rebound in global sales due to the release of cheaper Model 3 and Model Y variants, aiming to reach a record 1.8 million vehicles this year. In the Netherlands, the brand is also per...

Halsema: number of tourists must be curbed, even if it costs the hospitality industry visitors
rss

Halsema: number of tourists must be curbed, even if it costs the hospitality industry visitors

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has stated that the city must actively reduce the number of annual tourists to protect local livability and curb negative issues like waste. Although she acknowledges tha...

Consumers pay more for other products due to high energy prices
nu

Consumers pay more for other products due to high energy prices

Surging energy prices caused by the Iran-US conflict are driving inflation in the Netherlands, leading to higher costs for fuel, food, and various consumer goods. Economists predict that while the imp...

Paramount and Warner Bros. to merge under Skydance name
nu

Paramount and Warner Bros. to merge under Skydance name

The merged media company formed by Paramount Global and Skydance Media will officially operate under the name Skydance. Led by David Ellison and former Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz, the organization intends ...

Open House Day in Haarlem: 324 homes between 275,000 and 3,100,000 euros available for viewing
ad

Open House Day in Haarlem: 324 homes between 275,000 and 3,100,000 euros available for viewing

On October 3, the NVM Open Huizen Dag allows prospective buyers to visit 324 homes in Haarlem without an appointment. Prices for these properties range from 275,000 to 3.1 million euros, though expert...

G7 taps 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency reserves following Trump threat
nu

G7 taps 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency reserves following Trump threat

The G7 countries are releasing 100 million barrels of oil and diesel from emergency reserves to counter market instability caused by the war in Iran. The decision comes after pressure from President T...

Kenyan herders fight companies offsetting emissions on their land
nu

Kenyan herders fight companies offsetting emissions on their land

Kenyan herders are protesting against the Northern Rangelands Trust for allegedly seizing ancestral lands for carbon credit projects used by major corporations. The pastoralists claim the organization...

Trump can be satisfied: Netherlands brings two storage tanks full of diesel and gasoline to market
ad

Trump can be satisfied: Netherlands brings two storage tanks full of diesel and gasoline to market

The Netherlands has released over 750,000 barrels of diesel and gasoline from its strategic reserves, fulfilling a long-planned commitment to the International Energy Agency. Although the timing align...

Financial milestones every expat hits in their first couple of years in the Netherlands
parool

Financial milestones every expat hits in their first couple of years in the Netherlands

Expats moving to the Netherlands must navigate various financial milestones, starting with basic administrative requirements like obtaining a BSN number and opening a local bank account. Over time, th...

Dutch royal house earned over half a billion euros from colonial past
nu

Dutch royal house earned over half a billion euros from colonial past

A historical study has revealed that the Dutch royal house accumulated over 566 million euros from colonial activities in the East Indies, West Africa, and the Americas between 1600 and 2025. While th...

Fuel prices drive eurozone inflation to highest level since 2023
ad

Fuel prices drive eurozone inflation to highest level since 2023

Eurozone inflation has climbed to 3.8 percent, the highest rate since September 2023, largely driven by soaring fuel costs due to Middle East tensions. In the Netherlands, inflation also saw a rise, r...

Rabobank tightens mortgage standards for seniors: pensions count sooner
nu

Rabobank tightens mortgage standards for seniors: pensions count sooner

Starting in March 2027, Rabobank will implement stricter mortgage rules for older clients by calculating borrowing limits based on pension projections fifteen years before retirement. The bank is also...

Nike's pain is not over yet: sharp drop in sales expected and jobs to be cut
nu

Nike's pain is not over yet: sharp drop in sales expected and jobs to be cut

Nike expects a significant annual revenue decline of 5 to 10 percent due to weak sales in China and key product lines. The company plans to consolidate sales divisions to improve efficiency, a move th...

Katwijk gives green light: US multibillion-dollar obesity drug plant approved
nu

Katwijk gives green light: US multibillion-dollar obesity drug plant approved

The municipality of Katwijk has approved the construction of a large-scale Eli Lilly pharmaceutical factory focused on obesity and diabetes medication. The project is supported by a 100 million euro g...

Anthropic plans November IPO despite 'catastrophic' risks to humanity
nu

Anthropic plans November IPO despite 'catastrophic' risks to humanity

Anthropic is reportedly preparing for an initial public offering in November, with a goal to finalize the process before the end of the year. The company acknowledges significant existential and safet...