Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Rising oil price sends European gas prices through the roof: highest in years
Escalating geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has pushed Brent crude oil prices to their highest levels since July, causing a ripple effect throughout global energy markets. This surge has trigg...
Major Dutch bridges in worrying condition due to deferred maintenance
Major bridges across the Netherlands are experiencing safety risks due to deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure that has reached its technical limit. Experts and officials warn that a massive ...
Google makes largest ever European investment in Finnish AI data center
Google is investing 13 billion euros into Finnish data center infrastructure to support its AI services, marking the company's largest European investment to date. The project, which utilizes nuclear ...
House prices to keep rising for the next two years despite larger supply
Rabobank forecasts that housing prices in the Netherlands will continue to rise through 2027 despite an increase in supply from selling investors. Although wage growth supports current transaction lev...
Dutch spending up from last year, especially on sustainable goods
Consumer spending in the Netherlands increased in July, marked by a 3.1 percent rise in purchases of durable goods like vehicles and appliances. Overall consumption grew as households also spent more ...
Households spend smaller share of income on taxes, especially pensioners
Dutch households are paying a smaller percentage of their gross income toward taxes and social security contributions compared to 2011. Pensioners currently face the lowest tax burden, while single-ea...
Morning rush hour remains quiet despite public transport strike
A nationwide public transport strike has led to a surprisingly quiet morning commute, as many workers adjusted their schedules or worked from home. Despite minor incidents on the A10 and A8 motorways,...
Rising oil prices make humanitarian aid more expensive: 'This costs children's lives'
Surging oil prices are significantly increasing the cost of delivering humanitarian aid, forcing organizations to reduce their reach or sacrifice essential services. Higher fuel costs for transportati...
Drought causes significant drop in freight transport on Dutch rivers
Historic low water levels in Dutch rivers during the summer caused a major decline in inland shipping, with cargo volumes dropping nearly 19 percent in August. The crisis particularly impacted interna...
Haarlem municipality spends more on WMO than budgeted for the first time since 2020
Haarlem spent over 32 million euros on WMO social support services last year, remaining under its initial budget for the fifth year in a row. The funding provided essential equipment and household ass...
Silicon Valley was once progressive, but now 'tech bros' are choosing Trump: 'The taboo against being right-wing is gone'
Journalists Laurens Verhagen and George van Hal warn in their book 'De Techbro's' that many in Silicon Valley are shifting toward right-wing politics and authoritarian values. They argue that some tec...
Nationwide public transport strike against social security cuts begins
Public transport workers across the Netherlands have launched a nationwide strike to protest proposed government cuts to social security benefits. The industrial action has led to widespread cancellat...
Opinion: An expensive solution that worsens the problem: Amsterdam at its best
Residents of Amsterdam are criticizing the city's focus on costly architectural aesthetics for infrastructure and the continued development of energy-intensive data centers. They argue that public fun...
58 flights at Schiphol cancelled due to UK air traffic control failure
A technical failure at the UK's National Air Traffic Service has led to the cancellation of 58 flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. KLM has suspended all flights to and from England as the situation...
Wero is coming, but there are fears of higher costs
The Wero payment system is set to replace iDeal in the Netherlands next month, promising better consumer protection and European independence from American providers. While the transition offers new f...
Nationwide public transport strike and roadworks: expect delays
A nationwide public transport strike in the Netherlands has caused widespread service disruptions, leading to the near-total suspension of trains and buses. Simultaneously, critical roadworks and high...
Are younger generations really wealthier? Herman (78): ‘We didn’t have much back then, we made do with what we had’
Data indicates that each successive generation in the Netherlands is wealthier than the last, featuring more home ownership and travel opportunities. However, people interviewed at Rotterdam Central S...
French champagne production nearly halved due to extreme weather
Extreme heat and drought have significantly reduced France's wine production to one of the lowest levels in three decades. The struggling agricultural sector is also facing economic headwinds from dec...
Uganda becomes the world's newest oil exporter
Uganda has officially begun exporting its crude oil, marketed as Pearl Sweet, with production expected to ramp up significantly over the next three years. The project utilizes the new East African Cru...
Economic growth in the Amsterdam region no longer guaranteed, situation requires 'drastic choices'
Economic growth in the Amsterdam region is slowing significantly due to infrastructure constraints, labor shortages, and geopolitical risks. The region must now navigate difficult trade-offs regarding...
Economic growth of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area no longer a given
The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is facing significant challenges to its economic growth due to labor shortages, grid capacity issues, and limited space for housing and business development. These cons...
German supermarket Kaufland launches online marketplace in the Netherlands
German supermarket chain Kaufland has expanded its operations into the Netherlands with the launch of an online marketplace featuring nine million products from thousands of vendors. This digital plat...
ABN Amro: high tourist tax will further reduce number of business overnight stays
Business overnight stays in Amsterdam have dropped by 38 percent since 2019, with experts warning that further increases in tourist taxes will continue to harm the sector. High tax rates are driving u...
Sugar prices rise sharply due to lower production and extreme weather
Sugar prices are surging globally due to reduced production caused by drought, extreme weather, and the impact of El Niño on major producing regions. Consumers are expected to experience these price ...
No buses, trams, metros or ferries due to major public transport strike: "This is a desperate measure"
Public transport workers across the Netherlands are launching a nationwide strike to protest proposed social security cuts that they argue unfairly penalize those in physically demanding jobs. As a re...
ASML begins construction of new campus for twenty thousand people
ASML has begun construction on a new campus in the Netherlands, a project supported by the government under Project Beethoven to secure the future of the local chip industry. The facility is expected ...
Working from home, online classes, or just walking: how Amsterdam commuters are preparing for the national public transport strike
Commuters in Amsterdam are adjusting to a national public transport strike by shifting to remote work, walking, or attending classes online. While some workers are forced to rely on expensive taxi ser...
Tax deficit is rising, Nina keeps withdrawing money from her account
Self-employed entrepreneur Nina has accumulated an 8,000 euro deficit in her tax account due to a habit of using tax funds to cover personal and business expenses. She is now working to stabilize her ...
From Taylor Swift to Leonardo DiCaprio: how the Honey Deuce became the ultimate US Open status symbol
The Honey Deuce has become a signature status symbol at the US Open in New York, generating over 17 million dollars in sales last year. The cocktail, featuring distinct melon spheres resembling tennis...
Wars increasingly put international shipping under pressure
The Consultative Shipping Group has warned that geopolitical conflicts and the rise of an uninsured shadow fleet are threatening the stability of global maritime trade. Consequently, businesses are in...