Economy News in English

Online supermarket Crisp acquires Buurtboer to provide company lunches

Housing market cools due to rising mortgage rates

The Dutch housing market is cooling down following a rise in mortgage interest rates. ABN AMRO predicts that home prices will increase by 3 percent this year and 4 percent next year.

ABN AMRO: housing market cools due to higher mortgage rates

The Dutch housing market is cooling down due to rising mortgage interest rates, according to a report by ABN AMRO. While income growth and limited housing supply continue to support prices, the bank e...

Calling a plumber for a leaking roof? You might soon get an AI voice on the line: 'This will quickly become the new normal'

KPN is introducing a new service that allows businesses, such as plumbers, to use AI voices to answer incoming customer calls. While this technology aims to streamline communication, it has sparked a ...

Average holiday home price fell slightly last year, sales also down

In 2025, the average price of a holiday home in the Netherlands fell slightly to approximately 240,000 euros, alongside a decrease in total sales. Research from the Land Registry shows that most new h...

Holiday parks continue to grow: 4,000 parks, 135,000 cottages, and buyers often paying in full immediately

The popularity of holiday parks in the Netherlands continues to rise, with an increase in the total number of parks and vacation homes. According to new data from the Kadaster, property prices are inc...

Van Essen: agriculture must remain possible around nature reserves

Agriculture minister Jaimi van Essen stated that farming should remain possible in areas surrounding nature reserves, despite the need for stricter nitrogen emission reductions in those zones. During ...

Rotterdam port seeks to unlock development and awaits funding for nature

Authorities involved in the Port of Rotterdam are developing measures to restore four Natura 2000 sites surrounding the industrial zone to resume stalled project permits. Permitting has been largely s...

SRO keeps major fixer of multimillion-dollar chaos out of the spotlight: 'All time focused on the work'

EY accountant Luc van Gils has been appointed to address the aftermath of a multi-million euro fraud scandal at the sports and real estate company SRO. The company stated that Van Gils will work in th...

Minister Sterk finds funds to reverse long-term care cuts

Minister of Long-Term Care Mirjam Sterk has secured funding to reverse proposed budget cuts in the long-term care sector. By reallocating resources more precisely, the sector will be able to maintain ...

Shipbuilder Damen unhappy with German withdrawal: 'Part was already finished'

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has expressed dissatisfaction following the German government's decision to cancel a contract for six frigates. The company stated that significant progress had already been ma...

Experts want clearer health agreements regarding state aid for Tata Steel

Experts are urging the Dutch government to establish clear health targets before providing billions in state aid to Tata Steel. They argue that the current agreements lack guarantees that the financia...

New PlayStation games will no longer be released on physical discs

Sony has announced that it will discontinue physical disc releases for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. The company attributed this shift to the changing preferences of consumers who in...

'While supplies last' does not apply to new energy fund, but not everyone will receive funding

Dutch Minister Hans Vijlbrief announced the new Noodfonds Energie to support households facing high heating costs and low income. However, individuals who limit their energy usage to save money are cu...

We are searching everywhere for lithium, yet we nonchalantly ship 1,184,000 kilos in old batteries to China

Despite efforts to reduce dependency on foreign markets for critical minerals, the Netherlands exported over 1.1 million kilograms of lithium from recycled batteries to China in 2025. This export tren...

Inflation falls to 2.9 percent in June due to lower energy prices

Inflation in the Netherlands fell to 2.9 percent in June 2026, down from 3.5 percent in May. This decrease is primarily attributed to lower energy prices, according to preliminary data from the nation...

Eurozone inflation falls below 3 percent

Inflation in the eurozone decreased to 2.8 percent in June, down from 3.2 percent in May. This data was reported by the European statistical office, Eurostat.

Significant drop in inflation to 2.9 percent in June due to lower fuel prices

Inflation in the Netherlands dropped to 2.9 percent in June, primarily driven by a decline in fuel and energy prices. This unexpected decrease suggests that further interest rate hikes may not be nece...

New power grid rules could delay home renovations or sustainability upgrades

Starting July 1, Dutch homeowners planning to make their homes more sustainable may face delays if their projects require a heavier power connection. This is due to new regulations that prioritize soc...

Fewer new passenger cars registered in the first half of 2026

During the first half of 2026, 174,789 new passenger cars were registered in the Netherlands. This figure represents a 4.2 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2025.

Apple increases MacBook and iPad prices due to memory chip costs

Apple is increasing its global prices for MacBooks and iPads to compensate for the rising costs of memory chips driven by the AI boom. While these hardware prices are set to rise, the price of iPhones...

Criticism of finances and lack of culture in new Haarlemmermeer administration plans: 'Big ambitions, weak foundation'

The new Haarlemmermeer administration's coalition agreement has drawn criticism for its ambitious goals and weak financial substantiation. Opposition parties highlighted a lack of focus on culture and...

Code red due to extreme heat: what are your rights as an employee?

The Dutch meteorological institute KNMI has issued a code red warning due to extreme heat, raising questions about employee rights during such conditions. The article examines whether workers, includi...

Box 3 chaos has also reached the Senate, but clarity won't come until autumn

The Dutch Senate has begun debating the controversial Box 3 wealth tax legislation, though a final vote is expected to be delayed until autumn. This delay comes as the cabinet continues efforts to rep...

Albert Heijn to stop grocery deliveries after 3 PM Friday due to heat

Albert Heijn will stop grocery deliveries after 3:00 PM this Friday due to extreme heat forecasts. The decision follows a code red warning from the KNMI, as the supermarket chain aims to protect its e...

Significant drop in Haarlem severe weather damage last year, rainfall costs lowest since 2017

Private property damage caused by severe weather in Haarlem fell to 919,000 euros last year, reaching its lowest level since 2017. This figure represents a significant decrease compared to the previou...

Tata Steel names Herman van der Meyden as successor to Donald Pols

Herman van der Meyden has been appointed as the new director of communications and public affairs at Tata Steel. He succeeds Donald Pols, who was dismissed after just one day in the position following...

State Secretary yet to choose preferred option for Moerdijk

State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat has postponed selecting a final plan for industrial and energy expansion near Moerdijk to further evaluate a scenario where the village remains intact. He intends to di...

Highest number of new social housing units in Amsterdam in 16 years, but concerns remain: ‘Permits sometimes take way too long’

Castricum swimming pool to cost nearly €1.8 million more: three parties demand clarity over missing information and design choices

Three political parties in Castricum are seeking urgent clarification from the municipal executive after the budget for a new swimming pool at Noord-End sports park reportedly increased by nearly 1.8 ...