Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Vijlbrief: Cabinet to make proposal after union ultimatum
Dutch Minister of Social Affairs Hans Vijlbrief announced that the cabinet will present a proposal to bring labor unions and employers back to the negotiating table. This statement follows an ultimatu...
DigiD outage: App and website users seeing error messages
A technical malfunction at DigiD on Monday has made it difficult for users to log in via the service's website and mobile application. More than 3,600 reports of the outage have been recorded on the m...
EU member states lift suspension of association agreement with Syria
EU member states have revoked the partial suspension of the association agreement with Syria, lifting trade restrictions on products such as oil, gold, and diamonds. This decision, finalized on Monday...
Trawling on Dogger Bank prohibited without permit
A court in The Hague has ruled that trawling in the protected Doggersbank area of the North Sea requires an environmental permit, overturning a long-standing government exemption. The court found that...
Unions issue ultimatum to cabinet: scrap budget cuts within 14 days or face major strikes
Dutch labor unions FNV, CNV, and VCP have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government demanding the withdrawal of proposed cuts to state pensions and social benefits. Failure to meet these demands wil...
Gas price investigation: who profits from the war with Iran?
The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is investigating why gasoline prices at the pump do not decrease as rapidly as crude oil prices. The inquiry aims to identify which parties are gain...
Expert warns of even higher energy prices: Household bills to rise by another 25 euros per month
Dutch households are currently paying an average of 25 euros more per month for energy following the outbreak of conflict involving Iran. Experts warn that this upward trend in energy costs is likely ...
Mortgage interest deduction not left untouched after all? ‘This will be a serious problem’
The Dutch political parties D66, VVD, and CDA are facing renewed pressure over their agreement to leave the mortgage interest deduction unchanged. A forthcoming report suggests that maintaining the cu...
Dutch cabinet to tackle Russian shadow fleet in North Sea with emergency law: ‘Russians photographed locks’
The Dutch government is preparing emergency legislation to crack down on the Russian shadow fleet in the North Sea. The new laws, expected by summer, will grant authorities the power to seize vessels ...
Gas station owners not getting richer from rising fuel prices
Gas station owners are not benefiting from the recent surge in fuel prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. While prices at the pump have risen significantly, the increased profits are pr...
Berendsen: use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has called for using frozen Russian assets to provide long-term financial support to Ukraine. While EU member states have agreed on a €90 billion loan for 2026 a...
Orange cranes, yellow and green loaders: colorful construction chaos along Europaweg Haarlem
The Europaweg in Haarlem is currently experiencing significant construction activity characterized by a wide variety of colorful machinery. Observers can see orange cranes alongside yellow and green s...
Chinese factory prices rise for first time after years of decline
China's inflation rose unexpectedly in April, signaling an end to a long period of price declines in the world's second-largest economy. The surge was largely attributed to higher global oil prices li...
Wingtech demands $8 billion from Dutch state after Nexperia intervention
Wingtech is pursuing arbitration against the Netherlands, seeking $8 billion in damages following the government's intervention in its subsidiary, Nexperia. The company alleges that state actions in O...
How are motorists in Haarlem and Velsen adjusting their driving habits? 'Ten short trips and the tank is empty too'
A survey conducted at gas stations in Haarlem and Velsen explores how local motorists are adjusting their driving habits in response to rising fuel prices. Residents are considering options such as us...
Netanyahu aims to eventually end reliance on US military aid
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a CBS interview that he aims for Israel to eventually operate without the $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid. He expressed that it is currentl...
Employers influence stress-related absence, even when personal issues play a role
Employers are being encouraged to focus on preventing employee stress and burnout by fostering a culture of open communication. Experts emphasize that early intervention and a supportive environment c...
Possible supermarket ban in Velsen; only allowed for large-scale housing developments
Local authorities in Velsen are considering a freeze on new supermarkets due to market saturation in the IJmond region. Under the proposal, new stores would only be permitted when integrated into larg...
Report: A safe Bonaire is costly, but doing nothing is much more expensive
A report commissioned by Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund states that protecting Bonaire from climate change requires an investment of $1.2 to $1.8 billion. Researchers warn that the cost of ina...
Cees doesn't want a smart device. Can he refuse the replacement of his old electricity and gas meters?
Cees Riedeman wishes to retain his traditional electricity and gas meters rather than upgrading to modern smart devices. He prefers manually reporting his energy readings and questions whether he has ...
Scorned used EVs suddenly in demand. Maarten Pompen drives an eight-year-old one: 'Hardly any maintenance, only tires wear faster'
High fuel prices are driving a new trend in the Netherlands as car owners increasingly turn to older, affordable used electric vehicles. Despite concerns over battery life, owners report low maintenan...
Hoofddorp to build 400 homes in city center: Houses too close to busy road according to health regulations
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has approved plans for 400 to 450 new homes in the center of Hoofddorp on the Binnenweg. Local politicians generally support the project despite health authorities' ...
NS launches free train pass trial for low-income residents in Amersfoort
The Dutch Railways (NS) is launching a pilot program in the municipality of Amersfoort to provide free train passes to residents with low incomes. The initiative aims to increase societal participatio...
Lowest growth in onshore wind energy in years, RVO reports
The expansion of onshore wind energy in the Netherlands has reached a historical low, according to a report by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). A decline in total power generation capacity is ...
Disappointing growth in onshore wind energy due to power grid and uncertainty
Onshore wind energy expansion in the Netherlands reached its lowest point since 2017, with only 96 megawatts added in 2025. This stagnation is primarily driven by legislative uncertainty and the chall...
Landlord awarded over 20,000 euros in back rent after tenant leaves shared home
A tenant in Amsterdam-Noord has been ordered by a court to pay over 20,000 euros in rent arrears after his co-tenant moved out of their shared apartment. Although the remaining resident paid his porti...
Another protest on Rotterdam port railway line
Activists from the group Geef Tegengas held a second day of protests in the Port of Rotterdam on Sunday. This follows a similar action on Saturday where the group blocked the port's railway line.
'Excellent connection' Schipholweg continues to change: from Tour de France to Haarlem Spaarnepoort public transport hub
The Schipholweg in Haarlem-Oost, which opened in July 1954, has served as a vital link between Haarlem and Schiphol Airport for decades. Originally hosting the Tour de France just before its official ...
53 homes on site of former Hema in Hoofddorp
The municipality of Hoofddorp plans to build 53 new homes on the site of the former HEMA and Hangar 20 in the town center. The local government intends to sign a development agreement with the firm Wo...
Police find 340,000 euros and weapons in Zutphen man's bedroom
Police in early May discovered 340,000 euros in cash, drugs, and a gas alarm pistol in the bedroom of a 23-year-old man from Zutphen. The investigation was initiated after the suspect was observed par...