Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Working from home more due to the fuel crisis? Employers actually want staff back in the office
The European Commission has recommended increasing remote work to lower energy and fuel consumption amid the current fuel crisis. However, the Dutch employers' association AWVN states that many employ...
DPG Media revenue grows to 2 billion, partly thanks to RTL acquisition
DPG Media reported a record revenue of over 2 billion euros in 2025, marking the first time the company has reached this milestone. The growth was primarily driven by the acquisition of RTL Nederland,...
Residents and users of renovated Cruquius Bridges relieved: 'We had to burn a lot of extra fuel for two years'
The Cruquius bridges have reopened to all traffic as of Tuesday morning following more than two years of construction and closures. Local residents and commuters expressed relief as the restored acces...
Energy inflation rises further due to war: Pump prices remain high
Inflation rose to 2.7% in March, driven by higher energy prices resulting from conflict in the Middle East. Economists warn that this trend may continue, with inflation potentially exceeding 3% due to...
Port workers to strike for at least five days over government plans
Port workers across the Netherlands are planning to strike for at least five days to protest against government plans regarding social security. The industrial action is driven by dissatisfaction with...
Petrol prices drive up inflation and will rise further: ‘Manufacturers passing on energy costs’
Inflation rose significantly in March, primarily driven by increasing petrol and energy prices. Experts warn that this upward trend is expected to continue as manufacturers pass on their rising energy...
Customer data from booking sites Vacanceselect and Eurocamp stolen in data breach
Customer data from booking platforms Vacanceselect and Eurocamp has been stolen in a data breach, impacting customers of the holiday provider Roan. Both companies confirmed the incident on their websi...
Dutch Data Protection Authority investigates whether UWV was allowed to request passport copies
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) is investigating whether the UWV benefits agency was legally permitted to request passport copies from municipalities. This inquiry follows reports by the news...
Overfished mackerel further at risk: ‘Risk of total fishing ban’
European member states have set mackerel fishing quotas nearly double the levels recommended by scientists, leading to concerns over a potential population collapse. The North Sea Foundation warns tha...
Unilever sells brands like Calvé, Knorr and Unox to American company
Unilever has reached an agreement to sell a major part of its food division, including brands such as Calvé, Knorr, and Unox, to the American company McCormick. The deal involves a combination of sto...
Suspect arrested for laundering 1.5 million euros in healthcare funds
A suspect from The Hague was arrested last Tuesday on suspicion of defrauding healthcare funds of approximately 1.5 million euros. The individual is accused of unlawfully receiving the money and subse...
Why Unilever wants to sell its iconic Dutch brand Calvé and what it means for our peanut butter
Unilever is in advanced negotiations to sell its food division, including the iconic Dutch brand Calv , to the American company McCormick. The potential deal, which could be finalized as early as Tues...
Wages to rise sharply in 2026: ‘High labor costs a concern for entrepreneurs’
Wages in the small and medium-sized enterprise sector rose by 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2026, marking the sharpest increase in years. This significant rise has prompted concerns among busine...
Air Canada CEO resigns over poor French skills
Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau is resigning following backlash over his poor French language skills. The controversy erupted after he used only two words of French in a condolence message, which the ...
Arab countries lose year of economic growth due to Iran war
A UN Development Programme (UNDP) analysis indicates that the conflict involving Iran could cost Arab nations up to $194 billion in economic losses. This financial impact represents more than an entir...
Ajax spent €21.5 million on football agents last season
Ajax spent 21.5 million euros on football agents during the 2024-2025 season, the highest amount of any professional club in the Netherlands. This expenditure underscores the significant financial rol...
Mobile data usage in the Netherlands reached a new record last year
Mobile data usage in the Netherlands reached a new record in the final quarter of 2025, according to the regulator ACM. Additionally, the country saw a significant increase in fiber optic connections,...
KLM sells catering subsidiary
KLM has reached an agreement to sell its catering subsidiary, KLM Catering Services, to Gategroup. The sale is part of the airline's ongoing strategy to implement cost-saving measures across the compa...
Many homeowners with interest-only mortgages may face trouble: ‘Undermines housing security’
The Dutch Homeowners Association warns that many homeowners with interest-only mortgages may face financial difficulties due to stricter bank policies. These regulatory changes could potentially under...
Deal between Unilever food division and McCormick may be announced Tuesday
Unilever and the American spice company McCormick are in advanced talks regarding a merger of Unilever's food business operations. A formal announcement about the potential deal could be made as early...
New homes needed, but no carpenters or bricklayers to be found: ‘Not enough young people for vacancies’
Nearly three-quarters of construction employers in the Netherlands are struggling to find workers as the number of retirees outpaces new talent entering the field. This labor shortage is creating a si...
Dutch Consumers' Association calls on Albert Heijn to end bulk-buy discounts
The Dutch Consumers' Association is urging supermarket chain Albert Heijn to end bulk discounts that encourage overconsumption and unnecessary spending. The group is particularly focused on stopping t...
Study: Groningen residents more anxious and depressed due to earthquakes
A study by the UMCG and the University of Groningen has established a direct link between earthquakes caused by gas extraction and increased mental health issues among residents. Researchers found tha...
Dutch shop slightly less online in 2025: 35.7 billion spent
Dutch consumers spent 35.7 billion euros on online purchases last year, representing a 1 percent decrease compared to the previous year. This slight decline reflects a shift in shopping habits across ...
Consumers spend less online on travel and events
Dutch consumers are spending less money online on travel and events according to the industry association Thuiswinkel.org. While overall online shopping remains high, there has been a notable shift in...
Osdorp Garden Centre leaves city to make way for housing
Tuincentrum Osdorp is set to move out of Amsterdam's Nieuw-West district to make way for a new residential neighborhood and retail space. The popular 66-year-old family business expects to relocate to...
Inflation rises to 2.7 percent in March due to higher energy prices
Inflation in the Netherlands rose to 2.7% in March, up from 2.4% in February, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase in the cost of living was primarily drive...
Shell companies, fake invoices and obscured transactions: how drug money is laundered in personal budget healthcare
Organized crime is increasingly using the Dutch personal budget (PGB) healthcare sector as a conduit for laundering drug money. Criminals exploit fragmented supervision through the use of phantom comp...
MPs ask question after question about Haarlem track maintenance. The only one that matters: is it still worth it?
Dutch Members of Parliament have submitted 38 questions to State Secretary Annet Bertram regarding the canceled joint railway maintenance in Haarlem. The project's failure has resulted in a 60 million...
