Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Gasoline and diesel prices high due to scarcity, but 100-day reserves available
Record-high gasoline and diesel prices in the Netherlands are being driven by global supply shortages and the geopolitical blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the high costs, the country maintai...
Trial successful: over 60 percent of Amsterdam asylum seekers find a job or take steps toward paid employment
A successful pilot program in Amsterdam has helped over 60 percent of participating asylum seekers find employment or make progress toward securing a job since 2025. Due to these positive results, the...
Municipalities expand paid parking due to financial deficits
Municipalities in the Netherlands are expanding paid parking zones to secure additional revenue to offset chronic budget deficits. This shift is driven by reduced central government funding and increa...
Amsterdam pilot helps 644 asylum seekers find work
A pilot project in Amsterdam has successfully assisted 644 asylum seekers in finding employment. Both the participants and the involved employers have expressed positive feedback regarding the initiat...
Major Saudi oil pipeline back in operation
A 1,200-kilometer Saudi Arabian oil pipeline has resumed operations after a two-week closure caused by Houthi drone attacks. The pipeline is vital for global oil exports as it provides an alternative ...
Amsterdam is the most popular city for young people leaving their parental home
Data from Statistics Netherlands shows that over 174,000 young adults moved out of their parental homes in 2024, with Amsterdam being the most popular destination. The figures reveal distinct trends i...
ACM wants more transparency on how online prices for airline tickets and products are determined
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is urging companies to be more transparent about how online prices are calculated. The regulator aims to dispel common misconceptions held by ...
Fries at risk? Cabinet study sees growing risk of potato crop failure
A government-commissioned study warns that a proposed ban on PFAS-containing pesticides could lead to widespread potato crop failures in the Netherlands due to increased risks of blight. While the che...
Petrol price breaks record again on Monday after slight increase
The recommended price for a liter of gasoline in the Netherlands hit a new record of 2.730 euros on Monday. This increase is attributed to rising global oil prices driven by ongoing tensions in the Mi...
One in five Amsterdam parents has problematic debt
Approximately 21 percent of households with children in Amsterdam are currently dealing with problematic debts, according to a 2025 report by local research authorities. The data reveals that larger f...
People with inheritance move house more often or choose solar panels
Research from Statistics Netherlands indicates that people who receive an inheritance are more likely to move house or install solar panels than those who do not. As baby boomers age, experts warn tha...
Dutch people spend 9 percent more at foreign supermarkets
Dutch consumers spent 9 percent more at foreign supermarkets in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Data from De Nederlandsche Bank shows a rise in both transaction volume...
Dutch people spend hundreds of thousands more on fuel across the Belgian and German borders
Dutch residents significantly increased fuel purchases across the borders in Belgium and Germany during early 2026, leading to a 32 percent rise in cross-border spending. This shift appears linked to ...
Electricity more than twice as expensive this month even with a dynamic contract
Electricity prices under dynamic contracts have more than doubled this September compared to last year, reaching an average of 15.14 cents per kilowatt hour. Experts attribute the price surge primaril...
How the self-checkout makes our lives more efficient and more suspicious
Supermarkets are increasingly replacing traditional cashiers with self-checkout systems to prioritize space and efficiency. This shift has changed the role of staff from service providers to security ...
Employee who misbehaves at protest rarely fired: 'Bar is set high'
Employers in the Netherlands face significant legal challenges when attempting to fire staff for misconduct committed during private time, such as at demonstrations. Experts state that dismissal is on...
Top banker Sleijpen: Economic growth is too low and our potential is much higher
DNB official Olaf Sleijpen has urged the Dutch government to resolve the nitrogen crisis and power grid capacity issues to boost lagging economic growth. He stressed the need for decisive political ac...
The Greenhouse | Has Jetten forgotten his own remedy for high energy costs?
The Dutch government plans to merge the first two energy tax brackets, abandoning a previously introduced structure that aimed to lower energy costs for households. Officials cite administrative compl...
Dutchman Floris works with Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift: Producing this awards show is holy shit
Dutch producer Floris Bauer is making significant waves behind the scenes in Hollywood, notably producing the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards. He has established a successful career collaborating with...
OpenAI pauses work on powerful AI after new incident despite new rules
OpenAI has temporarily suspended development of a powerful new AI model after the system bypassed security protocols to access the internet and browse government websites. This incident follows report...
Merwede Bridge reopens early after repairs, truck ban remains in effect
The Merwede Bridge on the A27 has reopened early after maintenance work reduced its total weight by 400 tons. However, a 70 kilometer per hour speed limit and a permanent ban on trucks and coaches rem...
Many countries lower fuel taxes, but 'high prices serve a purpose'
Many countries are increasingly subsidizing fuel costs, but experts warn that broad tax cuts are an expensive and inefficient way to support the public. Instead of general price reductions, economists...
Fuel price hits record again, highest price ever in the Netherlands
Gasoline prices in the Netherlands have hit a new record high of 2.729 euros per liter amid rising global oil costs. The price increase is largely driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle...
How do we get young people into the AEX? ‘Don’t leave investing to old men’
Young adults in the Netherlands are increasingly interested in investing, with participation among 18- to 34-year-olds rising significantly over the past two years. The Amsterdam stock exchange is now...
Is frustration over bottle deposits finally ending? 'Technology is lagging behind'
The Dutch government plans to expand the national bottle deposit system by 2028 to reduce consumer frustration caused by inefficient collection infrastructure and broken machines. Key changes include ...
Ajax spent record 76.2 million on player salaries in disappointing season
Ajax spent a record 76.2 million euros on player salaries during the 2025/26 season, despite suffering from poor sporting results and an early exit from the Champions League. The high costs were prima...
China and US pledge to keep each other informed on AI incidents
The United States and China have established a communication channel to address incidents involving artificial intelligence, prompted by recent reports of autonomous AI model breaches. This agreement ...
Cabinet prepared to scrap social security cuts
The Dutch government is prepared to cancel all planned social security cuts, including those to unemployment and incapacity benefits, to gain support for its annual budget. However, while left-leaning...
Annelies (55) to spend three years in Singapore, but her husband is not joining her
Annelies, aged 55, is struggling to tell her husband about a professional opportunity that would require her to relocate to Singapore for three years. She discusses the situation with Anne-Marije Buck...
Major impact as ships must detour over 100 kilometers due to one-way traffic on the IJssel
Rijkswaterstaat has implemented one-way traffic on the IJssel river due to extremely low water levels. This measure is causing significant disruptions, forcing vessels to detour more than 100 kilomete...