Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Experts surprised by cabinet response to US VAT software: ‘Distraction’
Experts are criticizing the Dutch government's decision to hire an American software company to manage VAT collection, calling the official justifications a diversionary maneuver. While State Secretar...
Build, build, build: Hundreds of new homes per year in Velsen
The municipality of Velsen has prioritized housing and livability in its 2022-2026 council program. Since 2022, 530 new homes have been completed, with an additional 1,250 units planned for the coming...
15,000 cruise passengers and 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf
Approximately 15,000 cruise passengers and 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The United Nations' International Maritime Organi...
Druzhba oil pipeline may be out of service for another six weeks
The Druzhba oil pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine, is expected to remain out of service for four to six weeks following damage. Ukrainian President Volodym...
Is it wise to look to Groningen again in the gas crisis? This is what the gas expert says
Following a 67 percent increase in gas prices due to Middle East unrest, the Dutch House of Representatives is considering resuming gas drilling in Groningen. Expert Martien Visser addresses key quest...
Enexis significantly expands power grid, but electricity demand grows even faster
Grid operator Enexis invested a record 1.9 billion euros in the electricity grid last year to support the energy transition. Despite this investment, the grid remains congested in many areas as demand...
Coen van Oostrom succeeds Ingrid Thijssen as chair of employers' organization VNO-NCW
Coen van Oostrom has been appointed as the new chairman of the Dutch employers' organization VNO-NCW. He succeeds Ingrid Thijssen, who served in the role for nearly six years before becoming the chair...
Travelers pay top price: direct flights to Far East nearly unaffordable
Direct flight prices to Far East destinations like Bangkok and Singapore have skyrocketed, with tickets often costing between 2,000 and 3,000 euros. This price surge is attributed to reduced capacity ...
NS passengers faced an unprecedented number of disruptions last year
NS CEO Wouter Koolmees acknowledged in the annual report that train passengers faced an unprecedented number of unexpected disruptions over the past year. Additionally, the report noted that trains we...
NS records profit from passenger transport for first time since 2019
Dutch Railways (NS) recorded a profit from passenger transport in 2023 for the first time since 2019. The financial recovery was driven by higher ticket and subscription prices, a slight increase in p...
Discover how to reuse items
Starting March 19, 2026, Haarlem will participate in the Week of the Circular Economy with various sustainability activities such as workshops and a clothing swap. The event aims to inspire residents ...
Female judges discriminated against by lower salaries
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights ruled that female judges in training were previously discriminated against by receiving lower salaries than their male counterparts. The institute declared t...
Council of State gives green light for construction at De Hangkous site in Hillegom: 'No parking nuisance feared'
The Dutch Council of State has approved the construction of an apartment complex at the former site of the De Hangkous restaurant in Hillegom. The ruling clears the way for the project after concludin...
Possible conflict of interest in investigation into Muslim discrimination
An investigation by the newspaper Trouw suggests a possible conflict of interest in recent research focused on the discrimination and exclusion of Muslim youth. The findings raise concerns about the o...
Groninger Bodem Beweging: reopening Groningen gas field is not an option
The Groninger Bodem Beweging (GBB) has rejected a proposal by the political party JA21 to maintain the Groningen gas field as a strategic reserve. The group argues that reopening the field for extract...
Companies eye 178 billion mega-pot for defense contracts, but one hurdle remains
The Dutch government's plan to invest 178 billion euros in defense has triggered a surge in interest from companies seeking military contracts. Economists from Rabobank predict that revenue for these ...
Terraces fill up again: what about the prices this year?
As sunny weather returns, terraces across the Netherlands are filling up with customers enjoying outdoor dining and drinks. The article highlights the seasonal shift while raising questions about how ...
Jewelers more cautious as gold prices hit record highs: 'You get much less jewelry for your money'
Record-high gold prices are driving individuals to sell their old jewelry in large quantities while making new purchases less attractive for consumers. Jewelers and goldsmiths are becoming more cautio...
ACM intensifies oversight of energy market due to rising gas prices
The Netherlands' Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is intensifying its oversight of the energy market in response to rising gas prices caused by instability in the Middle East. The regulator i...
Growing calls in Dutch Parliament not to permanently close Groningen gas fields
Support is growing in the Dutch House of Representatives to keep the Groningen gas fields open as a strategic emergency reserve rather than closing them permanently. This proposal, supported by partie...
Number of cancelled flights to Middle East continues to rise
Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are causing a significant increase in the number of cancelled flights to the region. This disruption is resulting in major travel issues for passengers as air traff...
Eerdmans wants to enshrine 'gas emergency button' in law
JA21 leader Joost Eerdmans proposes legally designating the Groningen gas field as a strategic reserve to allow drilling during emergency situations. He argues that rising energy prices necessitate ke...
South Holland requests power grid capacity for a quarter million homes
The province of South Holland has requested electricity grid capacity for approximately 250,000 new homes planned for construction through 2032. This collective application was submitted to grid opera...
Zita Pels (GroenLinks) forced to stand her ground during housing debate: ‘This is not polarizing’
Kleverparkfestival ends after forty years: 'It’s run its course, our permit became 1500 percent more expensive'
The Kleverparkfestival in Haarlem is being discontinued after forty years due to a 1500 percent increase in permit costs. It is the second event in the city to recently announce its cancellation, foll...
Paying ransom after Odido hack would have been pointless, experts say
Telecom provider Odido refused to pay a ransom to the Shinyhunters hacking group following a data breach, despite facing criticism from affected customers. Cybersecurity experts and insiders support t...
First-time buyers needed to borrow less for Haarlem homes last year
First-time homebuyers in Haarlem required an average mortgage of 429,000 euros last year to purchase a home. This figure indicates that starters in the local housing market needed to borrow less compa...
Israel eases restrictions, people allowed back to work
The Israeli military announced on Thursday that restrictions for citizens are being eased, allowing public gatherings of up to fifty people. Residents are also permitted to return to work, provided th...
Hard anti-immigration policy, but Italy grants 500,000 migrants temporary work permits
Despite its hardline anti-immigration rhetoric, the Italian government plans to grant temporary work permits to 500,000 non-EU migrants over the next three years. This initiative marks a record-high n...
Tourists seek more value for money and stay outside the city more often
A report by Amsterdam&partners reveals that a growing percentage of tourists visiting Amsterdam are opting to stay overnight outside the city or with friends to find better value for their money. This...