Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Petrol more expensive than ever: over 2.60 euros per liter
The national recommended price for a liter of Euro95 gasoline in the Netherlands has reached a record high, exceeding 2.60 euros for the first time. According to the consumer collective UnitedConsumer...
Airfare prices surge due to fuel crisis; KLM and Air France seek 660 million from travelers
Inspectorate warns against benefit mediation agencies making mistakes
The Dutch inspection service is warning against benefit mediation agencies that frequently provide incorrect information, leading to errors in applications. These mistakes often result in young people...
Hundreds of ASML employees suffer health problems
A survey conducted by the FNV trade union reveals that hundreds of employees at chip machine manufacturer ASML are experiencing health problems attributed to wearing face masks. The complaints emerged...
Greenpeace activists storm world's largest meat company meeting
Greenpeace activists disrupted the annual shareholders' meeting of JBS, the world's largest meat processor, near Schiphol on Thursday. The protest caused attendees to flee the meeting room as activist...
Ban on extracting water from ditches in parts of Brabant due to drought
The Brabantse Delta water board has banned water extraction from streams and ditches in parts of Central and West Brabant due to ongoing drought. This ban, which took effect on Thursday morning across...
Government abandons wage freeze in new pay offer to civil servants
The Dutch government has issued a new collective labor agreement offer to civil servants, abandoning a controversial wage freeze that led to months of strikes. This updated proposal aims to address un...
Holiday pay is coming: one group of workers to receive hundreds of euros extra
Dutch employees will receive their annual holiday pay at the end of May, with part-time and minimum wage workers set to see a significant increase. According to calculations by HR service provider ADP...
Summit to move away from oil and gas has one key outcome: the summit itself
The first international summit for countries aiming to phase out fossil fuels concluded with a positive atmosphere but without any concrete new plans. Organizers highlighted that the event's most sign...
Belgium wants to take over 7 nuclear reactors from energy company Engie
The Belgian government is negotiating with French company Engie to take full ownership of seven nuclear reactors located in Doel and Tihange. Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced the move, which aim...
Economic growth disappoints due to uncertainty: 'Just short of stagnation'
The Dutch economy grew by only 0.1 percent in the first quarter of the year, narrowly avoiding stagnation according to figures from CBS. This lower-than-expected growth rate is attributed to ongoing e...
Air France-KLM fears $2.4 billion in extra fuel costs: The biggest blow is yet to come
Air France-KLM expects to spend an additional $2.4 billion on fuel this year due to the conflict in the Middle East. While the aviation group reported improved results for the first quarter, it warns ...
Papa Koenders’ fight against the legacy of colonialism: May 4 and 5 portraits
The exhibition 'Op zoek naar Papa Koenders' at the OBA in Amsterdam honors Julius Gustaaf Arnout Koenders, a key figure in the struggle for Surinamese cultural identity and language recognition. Koend...
Daily life slightly more expensive again: Middle East war hits our wallets
Inflation in the Netherlands rose slightly to 2.8 percent in April, up from 2.7 percent in March, according to preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase affects the cost of dail...
Labor market tightness eases slightly but remains high
The tightness in the Dutch labor market decreased slightly in the last quarter but remains at a high level. According to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), there are currently 91 vacancies for ev...
Many employees get less holiday pay, part-timers receive tens of euros extra
Dutch employees will see significant variations in their holiday pay this year, with some receiving less while others, particularly part-time workers, see increases of up to 200 euros. The changes are...
ATM will not return; two suspects in Santpoorterstraat bombing quickly released
Two suspects arrested for the ATM explosion robbery at Santpoorterstraat last Tuesday have been released from custody. The destroyed ATM, which was located in an annex of a real estate office, will no...
Controversial Brazilian meat giant settles in the Netherlands as activist groups fight back
Sellers forced to compromise: 12.2 percent of homes reduced in price
A new trend report from housing platform Huispedia reveals that 12.2% of homes have seen price reductions as overbidding becomes less common. Sellers are increasingly forced to lower their asking pric...
Aartsen wants to expand entry-level job pilot for status holders
Minister of Work and Participation Thierry Aartsen is expanding a pilot program that provides "starter jobs" for newcomers with residence permits to more than 80 municipalities. The initiative aims to...
RAI Amsterdam cautious amid challenges, but growth plans remain on the table: ‘I am trying to entice Amsterdam’
Van Veldhoven after fossil fuel summit: We can start building the ‘house’
Dutch Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven announced that an international conference co-organized by the Netherlands and Colombia has reached a significant milestone in phasing out fossil fuels. S...
Fed Chair Powell to remain on US central bank board after term expires
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has announced his decision to remain on the central bank's board of governors after his current term as chair concludes. This rare move is intended to safeguard the...
Criticism of Hegseth over costs of US war with Iran
US lawmakers questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the financial costs of the conflict with Iran during a House of Representatives budget hearing. While the session was intended to revie...
Nostalgic candy shop Ieteke in Santpoort closes its doors after five years: ‘It’s not yet a final goodbye’
Annemarie and Fedor Haaker have closed their nostalgic candy store, Ieteke, in Santpoort-Noord after five years of operation. The owners decided to shut down because the business's turnover no longer ...
Brent oil price hits highest level since June 2022
The price of Brent oil reached its highest level since June 2022 on Wednesday. This increase is attributed to the ongoing geopolitical stalemate in the conflict between the United States and Iran.
Oil and gas companies TotalEnergies and BP see profit jump since war in Iran
Oil and gas companies TotalEnergies and BP reported a significant surge in profits during the first quarter of 2026. This financial growth is attributed to rising oil prices resulting from the conflic...
'Five hundred additional hectares for industrial land'. Businesses north of the North Sea Canal want to grow
Entrepreneurs in the region north of the North Sea Canal are calling for 500 hectares of additional industrial land to match local housing growth. Economic Forum chairman Friso de Zeeuw emphasizes tha...
Rental supply continues to shrink despite changes in rent law, researchers say
ABN AMRO researchers warn that the supply of middle-segment rental housing will continue to shrink as long as the government maintains high taxes on private rental properties. Despite recent changes i...
Iraq war cost US $25 billion so far, Pentagon says
The Pentagon reports that the United States has spent $25 billion so far on the war against Iran. This expenditure includes significant costs for ammunition and missiles used in attacks since the conf...