Economy News in English

UvA junior lecturers rebel against temporary contracts

Jetten: energy support must not hinder government investments

Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that the Dutch cabinet should not postpone planned investments in security and innovation despite economic uncertainties caused by the conflict in the Middle East. He ...

Vijlbrief: WIA setback shows benefit system must be simplified

Dutch Minister of Social Affairs Hans Vijlbrief states that rising costs in disability benefits (WIA) highlight the urgent need to simplify the social security system. He intends to prioritize discuss...

Asylum reception and disability benefits billions more expensive than expected in coming years

The Dutch government is allocating billions of euros more than expected for asylum reception and disability benefits in the coming years. Officials caution that the national budget may become even tig...

Spring Memorandum: healthcare premiums fall, but taxes rise

The Dutch government's Spring Memorandum indicates that while healthcare premiums are expected to decrease, taxes will be raised to cover deficits in social security. Consequently, citizens are unlike...

Explosive rise in energy bills looms in 2027 due to new tariff rules

Dutch households and businesses face a potential annual increase in energy bills of 150 to over 200 euros due to new tariff regulations. These changes result from a new method for passing on power gri...

640 million euros paid out in earthquake zone last year

The Institute for Mining Damage Groningen (IMG) paid out nearly 640 million euros in compensation to the earthquake zone over the past year. This figure represents a slight decrease from the previous ...

Grid costs could double to 1,200 euros per year: pay attention to when you charge

Electricity grid costs in the Netherlands are projected to double, potentially reaching 1,200 euros per year for households. To prevent grid overload, energy providers plan to increase rates during pe...

Treasury cannot really handle the blow of war in Iran

The Dutch government's spring memorandum reveals that the national treasury lacks a financial buffer to withstand potential economic shocks caused by a conflict in Iran by 2027. This lack of reserves ...

Cabinet sleepwalking through energy crisis

The Dutch cabinet is facing criticism for its perceived inaction regarding rising fuel prices that are negatively impacting motorists in the Netherlands. Critics argue that the government incorrectly ...

Deutsche Bahn warns of poorer service after billions in losses

German railway company Deutsche Bahn has reported a significant loss of 2.3 billion euros for the year 2025. Consequently, the operator has warned passengers to expect a decline in service quality and...

Higher flower and plant prices offset falling sales at FloraHolland: 'Continuing to resist proposed tulip tax'

Royal FloraHolland is actively opposing a proposed VAT increase on flowers and plants, warning that this "tulip tax" could lead to significant revenue losses and job cuts. While higher prices currentl...

Kremlin denies report that Putin asked businessmen for money

The Kremlin has denied reports that President Vladimir Putin requested financial support from wealthy businessmen during a meeting on Thursday. According to a spokesperson, one unnamed businessman vol...

Curtain falls for online home store fonQ

The Dutch online home retailer fonQ has been declared bankrupt by the court, according to the company's trustees. Approximately 100 employees face potential job losses as a result of the filing.

Essent pulls out of heating network, but Haarlem continues steadily

Energy company Essent has withdrawn from Haarlem's district heating network project, leaving the Haarlem heat company with full responsibility for the initiative. Despite the departure of this major p...

Star Wars C-3PO head fetches over $1 million at auction

A C-3PO head used in the Star Wars film 'The Empire Strikes Back' has sold at auction for over $1 million. The prop was part of the original costume worn by actor Anthony Daniels during the 1980 produ...

Consumentenbond accuses Jumbo of misleading customers with 'lowest Easter prices'

The Dutch Consumers' Association has accused supermarket chain Jumbo of misleading customers with its 'lowest Easter prices' promotional campaign. The association argues that banners and signs in stor...

Red carpet for offshore ship of the future, which was almost named Windcat IJmuiden: ‘Not a name that works well in international ports’

Damen Shipyards and Windcat have unveiled a new, innovative offshore vessel designed for the future of the industry. The ship was originally going to be named 'Windcat IJmuiden,' but the name was chan...

Thousands of accidental 112 calls made via car emergency buttons last year

The Dutch emergency center received 37,500 calls from vehicles last year, but approximately 75 percent were non-emergencies often caused by accidental button presses. In total, the emergency services ...

Heemskerk and Beverwijk investigate construction of heat networks to reduce natural gas consumption

The municipalities of Heemskerk and Beverwijk are investigating the implementation of heating networks to reduce natural gas consumption. On Thursday, they signed an intent agreement with heat company...

US Senate backs end to shutdown after airport chaos

The United States Senate has passed a funding proposal for the Department of Homeland Security to end a partial government shutdown that left thousands of federal employees unpaid. The legislation aim...

Fuel prices skyrocket but travel allowance stays flat: this option could work in your favor

The Dutch trade union FNV has urged the government to increase tax-free travel allowances in response to rising fuel prices. However, employees are unlikely to see immediate changes as it will take si...

Gold is no longer a safe haven for now: 'Markets expect a longer crisis'

Gold prices have experienced a significant decline since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, recording their worst weekly performance in decades. Markets are currently anticipating a prolong...

Oil prices fall slightly after delay in attack on Iran's energy facilities

Oil prices saw a slight decline on Friday, reversing gains from the previous day. This shift followed President Donald Trump's decision to postpone potential military strikes on Iranian energy infrast...

Middle East conflict upends travel industry: Turkey now hundreds of euros cheaper

Political unrest in the Middle East is shifting summer holiday preferences, leading to increased demand for destinations like Turkey, Egypt, and the Caribbean. Consumers are increasingly choosing pack...

Plan for temporary housing on Huibert Pootstraat. Garages to make way for 63 units.

Stichting Care4Good and HDO Groep have proposed a plan to build 63 temporary housing units on Huibert Pootstraat for individuals with limited access to the housing market, such as young adults and the...

Trump signature to appear on US paper money

The United States Treasury Department announced that President Donald Trump's signature will appear on American banknotes. This update is being implemented to mark the 250th anniversary of the country...

Potential major drinks merger: Pernod Ricard and Jack Daniel’s producer confirm talks

French spirits group Pernod Ricard and American distiller Brown-Forman, the producer of Jack Daniel's, have confirmed they are in talks regarding a potential merger. The deal would bring together two ...

Hema wins Gouden Loeki for Christmas commercial featuring Takkie and Siepie cheering up sick girl

Hema and advertising agency Hotel L’Amour have won the Gouden Loeki award for the best television commercial of the year for the third consecutive year. The winning Christmas advertisement, which fe...

Addicted to social media? Ruling against Meta and Google could have major consequences

Meta and Google have been held liable for a 20-year-old woman's addiction to their social media platforms, which she claims led her to become suicidal. This legal ruling is expected to have significan...