Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
State Secretary considers higher salary for prison staff
State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen is investigating the possibility of a separate collective labor agreement for prison staff to allow for higher salaries. Currently, employees of the Custodial Insti...
Council of State overturns proposal to limit Schiphol flights
The Dutch Council of State has annulled a government proposal to reduce the number of flights at Schiphol Airport, ruling that the plan was insufficiently justified. The court stated it was not convin...
KLM cancels all flights to Dubai until March 28
KLM has cancelled all flights to Dubai until March 28th due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline will not fly to the destination for the time being as a result of the regional secur...
Middle East war costs European taxpayers an extra 3 billion euros
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the first ten days of the war in the Middle East cost European taxpayers an additional €3 billion in fossil fuel imports. The conflict ...
Karremans: Utrecht Ring Road ruling bad news for housing construction
The Dutch Council of State has blocked the planned widening of the Utrecht ring road, prompting a disappointed response from Infrastructure Minister Vincent Karremans. Karremans warned that the decisi...
Iran now also sees banks and tech companies as targets in war
Iran has declared financial institutions and technology companies with ties to the United States and Israel as potential military targets. An Iranian military spokesperson stated that this move follow...
Grid operator Alliander invests billions, but power grid remains full
Grid operator Alliander is investing billions to expand the power grid, yet the number of companies waiting for connections continues to increase. Although the operator helped nearly two thousand cust...
Fish, fertilizer or mortgages: everything more expensive due to high oil prices
The war in the Middle East is driving up oil prices, resulting in higher costs for a wide range of products including fuel, bricks, and fertilizer. These economic impacts are expected to be widespread...
Netherlands must create emergency gas reserve to prevent new crisis
Gasunie has advised the Dutch government to establish a strategic emergency gas reserve to prevent future energy crises. The recommendation follows concerns about the vulnerability of the national gas...
Petrol price drops slightly again for the first time since the start of the war in Iran
Fuel prices at Dutch gas stations saw a slight decrease on Wednesday, halting a sharp rise caused by conflict in the Middle East. The average national recommended price for diesel dropped to 2.495 eur...
CNV asks government to cut fuel excise duty by 20 cents
The Dutch labor union CNV has called on the government to temporarily reduce fuel excise duty by 20 cents per liter due to rising oil prices. This request follows a sharp increase in fuel costs trigge...
Ikea's second-hand corner had a slight scent of greenwashing
How wooden homes boost construction speed and living pleasure: ‘It really does something to you’
BAM, the largest construction company in the Netherlands, is significantly increasing its focus on timber construction for new housing projects. This shift aims to improve environmental sustainability...
CBS: emissions rose in 2025, climate goals further out of reach
Greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands increased by 0.8 percent in 2025, reaching a total of 145.6 megatonnes. According to data from the CBS and RIVM, this rise makes achieving the national clim...
Dutch CO2 emissions rise as neighboring countries close power plants
Dutch greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2025, primarily due to a rise in electricity production for export. The surge in exports to neighboring countries like Belgium and Germany occurred as those...
Large differences in cancer drug prices, KWF calls for more transparency
KWF and the Netherlands Cancer Institute report that hospitals pay significantly different prices for the same cancer medications, with variations up to 2,800 euros per treatment. The organizations ar...
Wealthy executive behind Jupiler receives 85.8 million bonus: ‘This is unprecedented’
AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris received an unprecedented compensation package last year, earning nearly 1,800 times more than the company's lowest-paid employee. The total amount includes a bonus of 85....
Real estate association sounds alarm: sale of rental homes widens gap between first-time buyers
The Dutch real estate association NVM reports that the large-scale sale of rental properties is significantly increasing inequality among first-time homebuyers. While the supply of homes for sale has ...
Large group of economists advises against billions in aid for Tata Steel: 'Too risky'
More than 100 economists have warned in the journal ESB that a proposed 2 billion euro subsidy for Tata Steel's green initiatives is inefficient and risky. They argue that the government funds would b...
Europe misses opportunities for a more sustainable food system
Scientists argue that current European Union policies are failing to adequately address climate risks and reduce the food system's environmental footprint. They state that a fundamental systemic chang...
Bol stops selling play sand after new asbestos find
Online retailer Bol has permanently ceased the sale of play sand after traces of asbestos were discovered in two products sold on its platform. The decision follows an investigation by the Dutch newsp...
Axios: US wants Israel not to attack Iran's oil sector
The U.S. government has reportedly requested that Israel refrain from targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, with a specific focus on the oil sector. This information was disclosed by sources speakin...
Safety major concern for downtown business owners: "Female colleagues afraid to walk the streets at night"
The annual Amsterdam City Index reveals that safety in the city center has reached a record low, with entrepreneurs reporting increased aggression, vandalism, and shoplifting. Business owners also exp...
Reuters: first days of war cost US $5.6 billion
The White House has informed Congress that the first two days of U.S. military operations against Iran cost the government 5.6 billion dollars. This financial information was reported by Reuters based...
Kung fu and backflips: Dancing robots are the stars of China, but what else can they do?
China is showcasing its advanced humanoid robots that can perform synchronized dances, kung fu, and backflips to demonstrate its technological progress in robotics. These robots are being utilized by ...
Castricum local Ed ashamed of his low-income pass: 'Here comes another pauper'
81-year-old Ed Kaandorp from Castricum is refusing to use the new 'Castricumpas,' a discount card for low-income residents, due to the perceived social stigma of poverty. He expresses frustration that...
Dutch Parliament wants target for reducing healthcare fraud
The Dutch Parliament is pushing for a target to reduce healthcare fraud by at least 1 percent by 2027, which would save approximately 100 million euros. While the Public Prosecution Service estimates ...
Fishermen: Stop demonizing the fishing industry
The national action day 'Save the Countryside' in Barneveld received significant media and public attention on Saturday. Skipper Dirk Kraak supported the event, urging an end to the demonization of th...
EU aims to deploy small nuclear reactors by 2030 for energy independence
The European Commission has introduced a new energy strategy that prioritizes investment in nuclear power to increase energy independence and stabilize costs. Starting in 2030, the European Union aims...
D66 and CDA unhappy with maternity leave cuts
Dutch government parties D66 and CDA have expressed concern after realizing that planned benefit cuts will also reduce payments for women on maternity leave. D66 floor leader Jan Paternotte stated tha...