Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Priority mail price hike: funeral card doubles in price
Starting in July, PostNL will significantly increase rates for 24-hour delivery services, including bereavement cards and medical mail. These items will cost several euros per piece as the postal serv...
PostNL to deliver letters within two days from July 12
Starting July 12, PostNL will shift its standard letter delivery from next-day to within two days to ensure service reliability and manage high operational costs. This change follows a government deci...
Stuck in a ‘foreign’ city: many people can no longer return to their roots
Many people are finding it increasingly difficult to move back to the regions where they grew up due to a lack of affordable housing. This trend leaves individuals stuck in cities away from their root...
Astronauts begin first trip to the moon since 1972
Four astronauts have launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the Artemis II mission, marking the first human flight toward the moon since 1972. The rocket took off on Wednesday night, initiating a h...
World Bank, IEA and IMF to collaborate over economic impact of Iran war
The World Bank, International Energy Agency, and International Monetary Fund are establishing a coordination group to manage the global economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. This initiat...
Protesters see ghost hotel in North as symbol of vacancy: ‘It is a political choice’
Chocolate company De Bonte Koe looks beyond the holidays: ‘Chocolate connects’
The Schiedam-based family business De Bonte Koe has been nominated for the National Entrepreneur Prize for its innovative approach to chocolate making. The company focuses on year-round customer engag...
Yet another energy crisis, now we’re finally buying that heat pump
A second energy crisis in five years has triggered a significant surge in demand for heat pumps in the Netherlands. The high volume of interest has led some companies to scale back their advertising e...
Cuba on the brink of collapse as US cuts it off from the rest of the world
Cuba's economy is on the brink of collapse and faces a potential humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing United States blockade. The communist government in Havana is losing its grip as it can no longe...
iDeal successor protects consumers, but businesses fear high costs
Wero, the successor to the iDeal payment system, aims to enhance consumer protection, but businesses and payment providers express concern over potential cost increases. In response to these developme...
Cabinet accommodates startups in new Box 3 system after fierce criticism
The Dutch cabinet is planning to introduce tax benefits for startups and scale-ups following criticism of the new box 3 tax system. The proposal includes redefining early-stage companies and easing ta...
Foreign ministers of 'Hormuz coalition' meet for the first time
Foreign ministers from a 35-nation coalition are holding their first video meeting to discuss strategies for ending the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Dutch Minister Tom Berendsen and his i...
No NOC*NSF funding for Zandvoort figure skating pair Tsiba and Danilova, but support for Alkmaar bobsledder Wesselink
NOC NSF has announced the distribution of Olympic winter sport budgets for 2026-2030, with no financial support allocated to figure skaters Michel Tsiba and Daria Danilova. In contrast, Dave Wesselink...
Mega data centers near Haarlemmermeer villages to be operational in three years
Plans for four large data centers in Haarlemmermeer are moving forward, with the facilities in Rozenburg and Schiphol-Rijk expected to be operational within three years. The projects have sparked loca...
Record number of hospitality businesses forced to close immediately due to pests
A record number of catering establishments in the Netherlands were forced to close due to pest infestations during the first quarter of 2026. Inspectors expressed concern after a video of rats in an A...
Netherlands' largest pension fund exits tech firm doing business with ICE
The Netherlands' largest pension fund, ABP, has announced its decision to divest from the American technology firm Palantir. The move follows concerns regarding Palantir's contracts with the U.S. Immi...
Trump's remarks on ending the war have immediate impact: oil and gas prices fall, stocks surge
Donald Trump's prediction that the war against Iran could end within two to three weeks has triggered a significant reaction in global markets. Following his statements, international oil and gas pric...
IT providers unite against Big Tech to reduce Dutch dependence on US
Seven Dutch IT providers have formed an alliance to offer a local cloud alternative to American technology firms, aiming to reduce the Netherlands' dependency on US providers. By collaborating on larg...
North Holland investigates regional heating company and fund
The province of Noord-Holland is exploring the creation of a regional heating company and a dedicated fund to support the development of heating networks. The initiative aims to address the shortage o...
Douwe Egberts parent company JDE Peet's falls into American hands
Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired a 96 percent stake in JDE Peet's, the parent company of Douwe Egberts. This move brings the coffee giant almost entirely under the ownership of the American beverage comp...
TommyTomato declared bankrupt after failed investment: 'We made a lot of profit, just not in our bank account'
TommyTomato, a Haarlem-based delivery service providing healthy school lunches, has been declared bankrupt after a multi-million euro investment deal fell through in mid-March. Director Bas Turk attri...
Major rocket launch sends people around the Moon with a massive slingshot
A significant rocket launch scheduled for tonight aims to transport four astronauts further into space than ever before by sending them around the moon. The mission features a prominent role for Dutch...
Brussels proposes first relaxation of key climate measure
The European Commission has announced a proposal to relax the Emissions Trading System (ETS), which serves as the European Union's primary mechanism for regulating corporate CO2 emissions. This develo...
EU loan for Ukraine primarily intended for drone purchases
The European Commission has proposed a 45 billion euro disbursement to Ukraine, which represents half of a larger loan package currently being blocked by Hungary. Commission President Ursula von der L...
Stricter holiday rental rules from today: what changes in the city center and De Pijp
Amsterdam has halved the maximum number of nights allowed for vacation rentals in the city center and De Pijp neighborhood from 30 to 15 per year. Effective immediately, the measure aims to reduce tou...
British PM seeks to further strengthen ties with EU
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to further strengthen ties with the European Union through a cooperation summit scheduled for later this year. The initiative focuses on enhanci...
GL-PvdA wants temporary off-peak travel for 9 euros per month
The GroenLinks-PvdA party has proposed a temporary "climate ticket" allowing off-peak travel across the Netherlands for nine euros per month between May and September. MP Habtamu de Hoop introduced th...
Company behind ChatGPT worth $852 billion after mega-investment, ‘superapp’ on the way
OpenAI has raised $122 billion in a new investment round, bringing the company's total valuation to $852 billion. This funding round marks the first time the ChatGPT creator has accepted investments f...
Apple turns 50: still relevant or ready for the museum? ‘They are not a pioneer’
As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, critics argue the company has lost its innovative edge and is lagging behind in artificial intelligence. To mark the milestone and the company's histo...
Divorced Japanese parents can share child custody for the first time
Japan has introduced a new law allowing divorced parents to share joint custody of their children for the first time. Previously, Japan was one of the few countries where custody was exclusively grant...