Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Wedding costs have risen significantly this year compared to last year
Wedding costs in the Netherlands have risen significantly this year compared to the previous year. Expenses vary depending on the municipality and the day of the week, with weekend weddings being the ...
Tilburg power outage caused by faulty meter, not overload
Approximately 18,000 customers in the Tilburg region experienced a power outage on Sunday due to a faulty meter that incorrectly signaled an overload. As a precautionary measure, a medium-voltage subs...
Rutte: Europe and Canada now spending around 4 percent of GDP on defense
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that European member states and Canada are currently investing approximately 4 percent of their GDP in defense and security. He noted that these nations are on...
New rescue attempt for black-tailed godwit: 35 areas and 35,000 hectares to save national bird from extinction
Dutch Minister of Nature Jaimi van Essen and seven provinces have launched a new conservation initiative to prevent the extinction of the black-tailed godwit. The project aims to restore 35,000 hectar...
Motorcycle sales rise significantly again: 'It's a practical means of transport'
New motorcycle sales in the Netherlands increased significantly in the first half of the year, with 14,062 units sold. This represents a growth of over 15 percent compared to the same period in the pr...
Zijlstraat, Cronjé and Kleverpark shopping areas partly excluded from higher parking rates: 'Benefits local economy'
The Haarlem city council has decided to exempt parking areas and garages in the Zijlstraat, Cronjé, and Kleverpark shopping districts from planned rate increases. The current 'stop and shop' rate of ...
Russian banks pressured to issue risky loans
A European intelligence report reviewed by Reuters indicates that Russian banks are under pressure to issue increasingly risky loans. This practice raises concerns about a potential explosive banking ...
Government did not want to buy Solvinity itself, company claims
Solvinity, the manager of the DigiD platform, approached the Dutch government with an offer to be acquired, but the government declined the proposal. Lawyers representing the company disclosed this in...
Halving of subsidy threatens future of Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek: 'Only in the Bollenstreek are we just scraping by'
The Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek foundation is facing a significant budget cut, with subsidies nearly halving for 2026 and 2027. Consequently, the organization has warned that activities such as th...
Minister Sjoerdsma to China to strengthen trade relations
Dutch Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma is traveling to China for a three-day trade mission accompanied by seventeen companies from the Netherlands. This visit occurs five years after Beijing placed Sjoerdsma...
Wibra saw turnover and store count grow significantly last year
Budget retailer Wibra experienced a record year in 2025, opening 63 new stores to reach a total of 360 locations. The company reported that its revenue grew by over 25 percent, amounting to 362 millio...
Spain expects 100 million foreign tourists despite fires and heat
Spain expects to welcome 100 million foreign tourists this year, according to Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu. Despite concerns regarding rising summer temperatures and wildfires, the country continues t...
Diesel is flowing from the pump for less than 2 euros per liter again here and there
The price of diesel has fallen below 2 euros per liter at some locations in the Netherlands. This follows a significant price increase that occurred after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
Sales of new owner-occupied homes fall sharply
The sale of new owner-occupied homes in the Netherlands has declined for the third consecutive quarter. During the first three months of this year, only 5,126 new properties were sold.
EasyJet agrees to takeover bid from investment firm
British airline easyJet has agreed in principle to a new acquisition bid from investment firm Castlelake. Previous takeover attempts by the investment company had been rejected by the airline.
Number of new-build homes sold drops sharply
New-build home sales in the Netherlands declined by 19 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. This data was released by the national statistics office CBS ...
The pear has an image problem: ‘When you think of a poke bowl, you think of mango, why not pear?’
Pears are facing a significant decline in popularity among younger consumers and families, leading to concerns about market consumption. This issue is not limited to the Netherlands but is a broader t...
Cutting prize money: is it really necessary, Kim Lammers wonders
The ATP is considering significant changes to the men's doubles format at Wimbledon, including a reduction in participants and prize money starting in 2028. These proposed adjustments aim to reallocat...
Dutch employees need an average of 13.7 days of vacation to recover from work
Recent research indicates that Dutch employees require an average of 13.7 days of vacation to fully recover from work. The study notes that the ease of detaching from work varies by individual and dep...
Netherlands not yet prepared for extreme heat as the new normal
The eleven-day heatwave in June, which caused event cancellations, school closures, and train disruptions, highlighted that the Netherlands is currently ill-prepared for extreme heat events. The artic...
Richard grows with Gobanna at the port of IJmuiden: I don't need a prime location because customers come here specifically to visit
Richard van Leeuwen transitioned from a career as a civil servant to founding Gobanna, a successful company specializing in the production of compact, custom-made caravans. Despite operating from a sh...
Power temporarily cut in Tilburg due to risk of overload
Approximately 18,000 customers in the Tilburg region experienced a brief power outage on Sunday morning. Grid operator Enexis intentionally shut down power to prevent the electricity network from beco...
Oil cartel OPEC+ increases oil production again in August
Seven member countries of the OPEC+ oil cartel have decided to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels per day in August. This follows similar production quota increases that were implemented for b...
Dirty water and crowds: nitrogen not the only cause of poor nature
The Dutch government is implementing strict nitrogen measures to address the decline of natural areas. However, experts emphasize that nitrogen reduction is only one part of the solution and further a...
HR department has something ‘fun’ for Katinka (51): ‘I thought it was a summer bonus, but it wasn’t’
Katinka, a 51-year-old employee, shares her negative experience regarding a mandatory company sports day. She recounts feeling overwhelmed by emotions after an unpleasant interaction with her HR depar...
New rules could cost surviving relatives thousands of euros in pension: 'Those who don't arrange this in time leave their partner with a major shortfall'
New pension regulations in the Netherlands require couples to take proactive steps to secure their survivor's pension. Failure to prepare under the new system could result in significant financial los...
The Greenhouse | All the climate underdogs turn out to be quite significant together after all
In his weekly column, climate reporter Jeroen Kraan reflects on the role of the Netherlands in the global climate crisis. Despite the country's relatively small share of worldwide CO2 emissions, he ex...
Where can entrepreneurs and recreationists go now that the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer Recreation Board is dissolving? Three questions and answers
The recreational board Recreatieschap Alkmaarder- en Uitgeestermeer (RAUM) is set to be dissolved following a recent decision. Stakeholders and business owners are now seeking clarity on which organiz...
The two faces of the ANWB: ten thousand volunteers and a CEO earning 600,000 euros
The ANWB, an organization with over 5 million members in the Netherlands, is facing scrutiny over its business model and executive compensation. Despite generating significant revenue and profits, que...
Netherlands seeks delay in EU environmental rules for gas imports over shortage fears
The Netherlands is calling for a delay in the implementation of strict new EU environmental regulations on natural gas imports. This request follows warnings from oil companies and the United States r...