Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Alleged FBI hack could create dangerous situations for agents whose home addresses were leaked
The hacker group ShinyHunters claims to have accessed extensive personal data belonging to FBI agents and applicants after compromising a recruitment website. The hackers are demanding the removal of ...
Quarter of a million people sign up for nostalgic Hyves profile
The social network Hyves has relaunched thirteen years after its original decline, attracting over a quarter of a million sign-ups. Developed by Mediahuis, the platform intentionally avoids modern alg...
State buys shares in Borssele nuclear power plant to keep it open longer
The Dutch government plans to purchase a majority stake in the Borssele nuclear power plant for 115.7 million euros to ensure it can operate beyond 2033. This move aligns with national efforts to util...
Swedish meatballs and tableware: IKEA to launch small-format stores
IKEA is launching smaller, supermarket-sized stores in the Netherlands to provide better accessibility for customers by focusing on everyday household items and limited food offerings. These new locat...
375 tons of 'incorrect' wood seized over possible illegal logging in Gabon
Dutch authorities have seized 375 tons of timber suspected of being harvested illegally following an investigation into a company based in the northern Netherlands. The wood, intercepted with the help...
Rhine water levels near the German town of Kaub drop toward 1 meter again
Water levels on the Rhine near Kaub are dropping toward critical lows, threatening to severely disrupt freight shipping as vessels are forced to limit their cargo capacity. The low water levels are al...
Offices, homes, and nature: this is what 'Zuidas village' should look like
The City of Amsterdam is planning to transform the current ABN Amro office complex into a new, mixed-use neighborhood called Zuidas Village, which will integrate residential spaces, retail, and office...
Gasoline and diesel are very expensive, but we are not driving any slower
Dutch drivers are attempting to cut down on fuel costs by driving less frequently and avoiding short trips. However, they are not reducing their speed, as many continue to drive at 130 km/h on highway...
Global economy more resilient to Iran war than expected
The OECD reports that the global economy has proven more resilient to the conflict involving Iran than initially expected due to diversified energy sources and strategic reserve releases. While the gl...
Sixty parties interested in relaunch of Batavus and Babboe bicycle manufacturer
Sixty parties have submitted bids to purchase bicycle manufacturer Accell, which filed for bankruptcy in August due to mounting financial struggles and inventory issues. Meanwhile, creditors have file...
Cybercriminals extorting companies are now turning on each other
The cybercriminal gangs ShinyHunters and Clop are publicly feuding, with ShinyHunters hacking Clop's dark web site to demand a massive ransom. This conflict, which likely originates from a past disput...
Advisory body SER wants better employment support for newcomers
The Social and Economic Council (SER) is urging for improved employment support for newcomers in the Netherlands to help them integrate and fill labor shortages. The council suggests that municipaliti...
CBS: Dutch people have slightly more to spend
Statistics Netherlands reports that household disposable income rose by 0.7 percent in the second quarter of the year, driven by wage growth and higher benefit payments. Conversely, total mortgage deb...
Thousands of parents affected by benefits scandal still waiting for municipal aid
Thousands of families affected by the Dutch benefits scandal are experiencing significant delays in receiving municipal support in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Almere. While authorities ar...
Dutch economy grows faster than expected as household spending increases
The Dutch economy grew faster in the first quarter than initially estimated, with growth reaching 0.4 percent for the quarter and 1.6 percent on an annual basis. This increase is mainly attributed to ...
Budget deficit in first half of year largest since 2021 pandemic year
The Netherlands recorded a 5 billion euro budget deficit in the first half of 2025, the largest since 2021, due to increased social spending and higher government costs. Despite this, the total govern...
From Kivik sofa to Kallax shelf: Ikea cuts prices on bestsellers and introduces new small stores
Ikea is investing 40 million euros in the Netherlands to lower prices on popular products and improve accessibility. The retailer is also launching smaller, supermarket-sized stores to better reach co...
Everything is dying: Norwegian Consumer Council goes viral with ad about products breaking faster
A viral video campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council critiques manufacturers for intentionally creating products that break quickly and are difficult to repair. The initiative calls for stronger c...
First 18-hour direct flight between Sydney and New York starting in 2028
Starting in 2028, Qantas will offer a direct 18-hour flight between Sydney and New York to accommodate increasing travel demand. The airline will utilize specially modified Airbus aircraft equipped wi...
Shortening unemployment benefits has little effect on employment growth
Recent research from the CPB indicates that shortening the duration or lowering the amount of unemployment benefits has only a minimal effect on structural employment growth. Although the Dutch govern...
CPB: Shortening unemployment benefit duration creates 8,000 extra jobs, effect is limited
The Dutch Centraal Planbureau (CPB) estimates that reducing unemployment benefit duration from 24 to 12 months will lead to 8,000 extra jobs, though it describes the effect as limited. The plan faces ...
SER wants better guidance for Ukrainians into jobs matching their qualifications: 'We are missing opportunities'
The Social and Economic Council (SER) suggests that municipalities should take formal responsibility for integrating Ukrainian refugees into the Dutch labor market by providing language training and c...
From Hengelo to Amsterdam for a tenner: GoVolta now allowed to offer domestic routes
Budget rail operator GoVolta has been granted permission to launch domestic train services in the Netherlands. The company plans to offer low-cost travel, including round-trip tickets between Hengelo ...
Canadian company abandons bid to acquire Arcadis and withdraws offer
Canadian firm WSP Global has terminated its attempt to acquire the Dutch engineering and consultancy company Arcadis after being rejected twice. The suitor withdrew its offer because it could not enga...
EU extends sanctions against Russia at the last minute
The European Union has reached a last-minute agreement to extend sanctions against Russia, simultaneously shifting the renewal period from six months to three years. The deal involved removing two pro...
ASML is not currently selling any chip machines in Europe
ASML reports that it is not selling any chip-making machines in Europe due to a lack of local investment and new fabrication facilities. The company, which is vital to the global semiconductor supply ...
World Cup visitors bombarded with fast food and drink advertisements
A study found that unhealthy food and drink brands dominated advertising during the World Cup, appearing in over 70 percent of all visible branding throughout the live matches. These advertisements we...
Labor Inspectorate arrests two ex-convicts for benefit fraud
Two former convicts have been arrested by the Netherlands Labor Inspectorate for allegedly defrauding the UWV of 160,000 euros. The suspects reportedly used forged prison discharge documents to illici...
Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok are in the doghouse, and Hyves is cleverly capitalizing on it
The former social network Hyves is making a comeback to offer users a nostalgic alternative to major platforms like Facebook and TikTok. The company aims to attract users by emphasizing that their dat...
Former Martinair cargo pilots are entitled to back pay from KLM
Former Martinair cargo pilots have won the right to back pay from KLM for the period spanning 2014 to 2022 following an improper company transfer. Although the court denied their request for retroacti...