Economy News in English

Many mothers struggle to make ends meet during leave: ‘Extra recovery time is often needed’

A study by the CNV trade union reveals that nearly half of working women and 30% of partners in the Netherlands cannot afford to take parental leave due to financial constraints. Experts warn this sit...

Jetten rejects scattergun approach to high energy prices: what is the plan?

Climate Minister Rob Jetten and the Dutch cabinet are opting for targeted interventions rather than broad measures to combat rising energy prices. The government's deliberative approach to the crisis ...

Calvé and Douwe Egberts to US: 'Not the owner, but the feeling that matters'

American companies have acquired the parent companies of iconic Dutch brands Calvé and Douwe Egberts this week. Despite public concern about potential changes to these authentic brands, experts indic...

Many words on tax forms are incomprehensible to people with low literacy

Dutch tax forms contain numerous complex terms and questions that are not commonly used in everyday life. As a result, individuals with low literacy levels are often forced to seek help from others to...

Iran confirms allowing ships with essential goods into the country

Tehran has confirmed that vessels carrying essential goods are permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz to reach Iranian ports. This movement must be coordinated in consultation with Iranian aut...

Alderman Pels wants to investigate ban on sale of individual rooms

Amsterdam Housing Councilor Zita Pels is investigating a ban on the sale of individual rooms within properties that have not been legally split. The move comes after an 11-square-meter room in Amsterd...

EU ministers want windfall tax on energy companies due to rising prices

Five European Finance Ministers have called on the European Commission to introduce a windfall tax on energy companies' profits. The proposal comes in response to significant fuel price increases caus...

UN Security Council to vote on Strait of Hormuz next week

The UN Security Council is expected to vote next week on a resolution regarding the resumption of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The vote was originally scheduled for this week but has been...

Drivers hit hard by unprecedented wave of roadworks: 'Don't just hit the road'

Following Easter, road users in the Netherlands face an unprecedented series of construction projects on major motorways including the A9, A44, and A10 around Amsterdam. Rijkswaterstaat warns of signi...

Diesel price at the pump slightly higher after sharp Friday increase

Diesel prices at the pump in the Netherlands rose slightly on Saturday following a significant increase of over 10 cents on Friday. According to UnitedConsumers, the national recommended price for a l...

Hiking holiday agency goes bankrupt, travelers lose trips and money: 'A total shock to receive such an email'

A travel agency based in 't Harde has declared bankruptcy, affecting hundreds of travelers and investors who now face the loss of their pre-booked trips and payments. All scheduled walking tours have ...

Screen Time | For young concertgoers, the perfect picture is totally unimportant

Tech reporter Rutger Otto explores how Gen Z concertgoers are shifting away from seeking the perfect social media photo in favor of capturing raw memories. The column highlights a broader trend where ...

PRO Haarlem seeks answers on consequences of TommyTomato bankruptcy: 'Very concerning'

The political party PRO Haarlem has expressed serious concern following the bankruptcy of school meal delivery service TommyTomato. Council members Bowien Wegman and Digna Brand have submitted formal ...

Fewer reports of wolf attacks on livestock in first three months

The number of reported wolf attacks on livestock in the Netherlands decreased during the first quarter of this year for the first time in several years. According to data from BIJ12, 255 incidents wer...

The battle against tourist shops: why the city center isn't changing

The municipality of Amsterdam is struggling to reduce the number of tourist-oriented shops in its city center, with research showing that 583 such businesses still exist despite years of restrictive p...

Souvenirs, rubber ducks and stroopwafels: still hundreds of tourist shops in the city

A survey by AT5 identified 583 tourist-oriented businesses in Amsterdam's city center, including 145 souvenir shops and over 120 pizzerias and steakhouses. Despite municipal efforts since 2016 to curb...

NOC*NSF on new elite sports income plans: 'We want sport to be recognized as a profession'

The NOC*NSF has introduced a detailed plan aimed at improving the incomes of elite athletes and having sports officially recognized as a profession. The initiative seeks to address long-standing finan...

Happy Easter, but not for 120,000 day-old cockerels

During the Easter holiday, millions of eggs are consumed, but the industry faces ethical concerns regarding the daily gassing of approximately 120,000 day-old male chicks. Despite the availability of ...

Better off behind the checkout than on stage, time to strike? Union leader Douwe de Vries: ‘I don’t want to get ahead of the troops’

Approximately 40% of Dutch Olympic athletes are struggling to survive on a minimum income, leading to calls for better financial support. Douwe de Vries, chairman of the union NL Sporter, discusses th...

Booked flight holidays can become significantly more expensive up to six weeks before departure

Travelers who have booked flight holidays for the upcoming summer may face mandatory surcharges due to rising kerosene costs. Consumers only have the right to cancel their trip free of charge if the t...

A10 South tunneling also leads to tree felling on Beethovenstraat

Five trees on Beethovenstraat in Amsterdam's Zuidas district will be removed or relocated this week to facilitate the relocation of a water pipe for the A10 South tunneling project. This action follow...

4 years, 40 signings and 1 hit; why Ajax used a scattergun approach in the transfer market

Ajax's recruitment strategy has faced severe criticism after analysis showed only one of forty signings over the past four years has been a major success. The trend of poor investment is highlighted b...

Cabinet allocates billions for new offshore wind farm

The Dutch cabinet has allocated 3.9 billion euros for a new offshore wind farm in the North Sea, which is expected to be operational by 2032. The project aims to generate 1 gigawatt of power, providin...

Fewer flights and more expensive tickets: High jet fuel prices from Middle East crisis hit hard

The conflict in the Middle East is driving up kerosene prices and creating a potential fuel shortage, which will lead to more expensive air travel. Consequently, travelers can expect higher ticket pri...

Trump proposes record US defense budget

U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for the upcoming year. The proposal represents a 40 percent increase in military spending, marking the highest level in m...

Tata Steel unit shut down due to excessive chromium-6 emissions

A department of the Tata Steel plant in IJmuiden will be shut down this Saturday following orders from regulators due to excessive emissions of chromium-6. Internal measurements by the company reveale...

Israel resumes gas production at Leviathan gas field after war shutdown

Israel has resumed natural gas production at the Leviathan gas field off its coast after operations were halted for security reasons at the beginning of the conflict with Iran. The decision to restart...

Explainer | Which countries are hit hardest at the pump?

KLM CEO receives 30% pay rise despite financial troubles and internal unrest: Rintel earns €1.6 million

KLM CEO Marjan Rintel received 1.6 million euros in total compensation in 2025, a 30 percent increase from the previous year. The salary rise, driven largely by higher bonuses, comes despite the airli...

Rising fuel prices pose a risk to more than 1,100 households in Haarlem

Rising fuel prices, driven by conflict in Iran, pose a significant financial risk to over 1,100 households in Haarlem. According to research from TNO, these specific residents are particularly vulnera...