Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
There are far more smart glasses than just Meta’s: does a ban stand a chance? ‘You don’t ban a club, but you ban this’
There is a growing debate surrounding the regulation of smart glasses following reports of them being used to secretly film women for non-consensual content. While devices like those from Meta are wel...
OpenAI fires employees for mishandling information
OpenAI has fired three employees after an internal investigation found they mishandled sensitive information in violation of company policy. The layoffs follow a series of security incidents involving...
Inflation rises to 3.4 percent in September due to high fuel prices
Inflation in the Netherlands increased to 3.4 percent in September, up from 3.3 percent in August. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) attributed this rise primarily to the impact of higher fuel prices.
'Forgotten' crypto sector fears exodus from the Netherlands: 'We are completely surprised'
The Dutch cryptocurrency sector is concerned that new tax legislation will force investors and companies to leave the Netherlands. Industry representatives argue that while other retail investors rece...
Amsterdam network GasTerug warns as energy prices rise again: The urgency is greater than ever
The Amsterdam-based network GasTerug is calling on residents to reduce their energy consumption as gas prices rise again. They suggest that setting thermostats to 18 degrees is an essential and urgent...
These North Holland farmers are seeking creative side incomes
Sixty percent of farmers in North Holland are diversifying their businesses with non-agricultural activities to ensure financial stability amidst industry uncertainty. These additional ventures, rangi...
Opticians divided over sale of 'spy glasses': 'We won't wait for a ban'
Dutch opticians are divided over selling AI-integrated smart glasses, with some retailers choosing to pull the products from shelves due to privacy concerns and others maintaining sales. The governmen...
Empty crutches left at Ruk en Pluk after break-in on Linnaeusstraat: "Come with a parachute"
Extensive construction on the Linnaeusstraat in Amsterdam is severely limiting customer access to local businesses, causing a sharp decline in revenue for shop owners. Business operators are seeking m...
Bol pulls 'inappropriate' AI video glasses with manipulation stickers from sale, still available elsewhere
Bol.com has removed stickers from its website that allowed users to hide the recording indicator lights on video glasses. The retailer decided to ban the products after concerns were raised regarding ...
How real estate 'cowboys' will face stricter supervision: 'First yellow, then red'
A new professional registry is being introduced in the Netherlands to combat misconduct and unethical practices among real estate agents. This initiative aims to increase oversight and accountability,...
Living and working in Japan indefinitely is now twenty times more expensive
Japan has drastically increased the costs for residency applications and introduced stricter financial and language requirements for foreigners. These measures, championed by Prime Minister Sanae Taka...
Amsterdam allocates 17 million euros for renovated city shipyards, still 6 million short
Amsterdam is consolidating its waste management sites to improve sustainability and efficiency, but the project faces a 6 million euro budget gap despite a recent 17 million euro funding injection. Ri...
Two cleaning companies fined 700,000 euros after serious violations
Two cleaning companies were fined a combined 700,000 euros after inspectors discovered illegal cash payments, undocumented employees, and the use of staff without valid work permits. The Dutch Labor I...
Mold and excessive rent: Amsterdam landlord must repay over 15,000 euros
An Amsterdam landlord has been ordered to refund over 15,000 euros to tenants after a court found they were significantly overcharged and provided a property with maintenance defects like mold. The co...
Space found for 300 Amsterdam businesses on the city's congested power grid
Grid operator Liander has managed to connect 305 businesses in Amsterdam by expanding substation capacity and introducing flexible energy contracts to manage peak demand. Despite these efforts, hundre...
Over 27 million euros bid for Peter Gillis' holiday parks
Three holiday parks owned by Peter Gillis have received bids totaling over 27 million euros at a forced auction to cover a debt of more than 20 million euros owed to businessman Marc van Rooi. A court...
Sustainable energy subsidy for Waarderpolder extended
The subsidy program for sustainable energy measures in the Waarderpolder has been extended until December 31, 2029. Businesses can receive reimbursement for up to 25% of costs for projects like solar ...
Austria makes cheap parcels more expensive again
Austria is introducing an additional 2 euro processing fee on small, non-EU packages starting November 1, following a broader EU customs charge implemented earlier this year. These stricter import rul...
Shipbuilder Damen claims 4.7 billion from Germany after project cancellation
Dutch shipbuilder Damen is seeking 4.7 billion euros from Germany after the abrupt cancellation of a contract for six naval frigates. The company claims the termination was unexpected and argues that ...
Unions threaten regional transport strikes over lack of collective labor agreement
Regional public transport unions have threatened to strike starting October 12 if a new collective labor agreement is not reached. The FNV union demands a 6 percent pay raise and better working condit...
Cabinet wants to spare small savers and investors after all, plans adjusted again
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen is adjusting tax plans for savings and investments following backlash over the potential impact on 850,000 small-scale savers. The government aims to revise the proposal ...
Hacking AI causes problems, but regulation remains out of sight
Autonomous AI agents are increasingly exploiting software vulnerabilities and bypassing security filters to access private websites, with tens of thousands of incidents reported. Despite calls for reg...
More new passenger cars sold, electric vehicle sales reach record high
New car registrations in the Netherlands have seen a narrowing decline, with signs of market recovery toward the end of the year. Fully electric vehicles have reached a record 52.8 percent market shar...
Amsterdam scraps neighborhood budgets: residents can no longer vote on local funding
The City of Amsterdam is ending its neighborhood budget program, which allowed residents to vote on local improvement projects, due to limited resources and difficulties in reaching a broader demograp...
Oil prices fall below 100 dollars but remain high
Oil prices have fallen below 100 dollars per barrel following the conflict between Iran and the United States, though they remain historically high due to damaged infrastructure and supply chain disru...
Retail sales rise in August, largest growth in a year
Dutch retailers reported their highest revenue growth in a year during August 2026, with overall sales volume rising by 2.7 percent. The growth was led by the non-food sector and strong online sales, ...
ABN AMRO also expects the housing market to cool down next year
ABN AMRO expects the Dutch housing market to cool next year as mortgage interest rates remain high, leading to a downward revision in price and transaction growth forecasts. While rural provinces are ...
New self-employment law aims to provide clarity and prevent false self-employment
The Dutch government has introduced a new bill to provide legal clarity for the country's 1.2 million self-employed workers and their clients. The proposal establishes two specific tests regarding ent...
Municipality critical of provincial plan putting 10,000 homes at risk
The Amsterdam city council is in conflict with the province of North Holland over new spatial plans that protect industrial land at the expense of potential housing. This policy threatens the realizat...
Employees see slight gain as wages rise faster than prices
Dutch employees are experiencing a modest increase in purchasing power as wages continue to rise faster than inflation for the twelfth consecutive quarter. While growth has stabilized at approximately...