Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
'Dutch people don't want to downsize, but they must.' Aging far from the only pain point in the housing market, according to economist
Economist Joep Steegmans of Leiden University warns that home ownership is increasingly becoming a privilege for the wealthy due to demographic trends and a persistent housing shortage. He notes that ...
Magyar to Brussels for talks on frozen EU funds
Hungarian politician Péter Magyar is scheduled to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels to discuss the release of frozen EU subsidies. While Magyar seeks the funds ...
Havo students fail final exams most often: 'Diluted VWO program'
A data analysis by NU.nl reveals that Havo students in the Netherlands have the lowest final exam pass rates compared to other educational levels. While 97.5% of VMBO-basis students pass their exams, ...
Massive bridge deck to sail through the city to Zuidas in the coming days
A massive 21-by-26-meter bridge deck for the Schinkelbrug is being transported by boat through Amsterdam's waterways to the Zuidas. The final leg of the journey will take place on Tuesday evening to a...
Tax filing often a costly missed opportunity due to common mistakes: ‘People sometimes leave thousands of euros on the table’
Over nine million people in the Netherlands have already filed their tax returns, with one million more expected to do so in the final week. Experts highlight that many taxpayers miss out on potential...
The Greenhouse | Facts once again seem to matter little in the climate debate
Climate reporter Jeroen Kraan discusses how factual education about climate change fails to significantly shift public opinion. He highlights that even a crash course on the subject does not alter per...
Power grid full because geese took priority
The Dutch government's underestimation of power grid congestion has stalled new housing projects and forced the use of diesel generators in cities like Delft. This situation highlights conflicting pol...
After 11 viewings, 9 bids and 8 rejections, Daan (28) lands his dream home in Haarlem: 'Below asking price'
Daan Geuke, a 28-year-old first-time buyer, successfully purchased a home on Houtplein in Haarlem after participating in eleven viewings and making nine bids. Despite a challenging housing market, he ...
Entrepreneurs from Southeast chosen by rapper Cho run pop-up shop
Rapper Cho has selected a group of aspiring entrepreneurs from Amsterdam-Zuidoost to run a pop-up store in the Amsterdamse Poort. The initiative, supported by MBO College Zuidoost, allows participants...
Who will benefit most from cheaper public transport this summer?
The Dutch government plans to introduce a 49-euro monthly public transport pass this summer as part of a relief package for high energy costs. While specific details of the 'Netherlands ticket' are st...
Closer cooperation between IJmuiden and Beverwijk port services
The municipality of Beverwijk and Zeehaven IJmuiden have reached an agreement for closer cooperation in port services. Under this temporary arrangement, the IJmuiden port service will manage the De Pi...
Now 'an inhuman place', soon a vibrant transport hub for Haarlem and the region
The city of Haarlem is constructing a new public transport hub, Haarlem Spaarnepoort, to improve regional connectivity for the southern Schalkwijk district. In addition to the transport hub, the proje...
Over 10,000 Velsen tenants to pay tens of euros more per month from July 1; 'Incomprehensible', says Tenants' Council chair
Starting July 1, more than 10,000 tenants in Velsen will face monthly rent increases of tens of euros. The Woningbedrijf Velsen Tenants' Council strongly opposes the hike, citing significant overdue m...
OpenAI CEO apologizes for not tipping off police about shooting suspect
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized for the company's failure to notify police about a blocked account linked to a suspect who killed eight people at a Canadian school in February. The suspect committed ...
Baby boomers leave behind massive €1 trillion inheritance, but far from everyone will get a share
A significant wealth transfer is expected in the Netherlands as baby boomers are projected to leave behind approximately 1,000 billion euros in inheritances over the coming years. While this massive i...
UN rapporteur: Countries must accelerate phase-out of oil and gas now
UN rapporteur Elisa Morgera states that global tensions are complicating climate policy while highlighting the risks and high costs of fossil fuel dependency. She urges nations to accelerate their tra...
Sharp rise in sick leave due to mental health issues costs billions: 'Nowhere else in the world does the employer pay two years of salary'
The Netherlands is experiencing a significant rise in employees unable to work due to mental health issues, with nearly 900,000 people currently classified as disabled. This trend results in billions ...
Oil crisis? No problem! I've been going on vacation by train for years | column
A columnist suggests traveling by train instead of flying to avoid potential flight cancellations and rising fuel prices during international crises. The author emphasizes that train travel is a more ...
With Aloha and Timboektoe on the Velsen-Noord beach, Pim (30) sets the course for his island state: 'We’re going to build something cool on the North Pier'
Pim Lammertse, the owner of beach club Aloha in Velsen-Noord, is expanding his business by acquiring the neighboring pavilion Timboektoe on May 1st. He aims to transform the Noordpier area into a prem...
He programs systems that know exactly when you buy something, but Tom (53) has doubts: ‘It’s gnawing at me’
Tom, a 53-year-old software engineer, has raised ethical concerns about the AI systems he develops to predict consumer behavior. Speaking with career expert Anne-Marije Buckens, he expressed fear that...
We can let AI take over tasks, but please not the profession
In his weekly column Schermtijd, tech reporter Rutger Otto examines the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in office environments. He argues that while AI can be utilized to automate speci...
Blokker's comeback: Will the household chain make it this time? ‘I think the stores look excellent’
Following a bankruptcy and the closure of hundreds of locations in late 2024, the household retail chain Blokker has reopened 56 stores this summer. The comeback has sparked discussion regarding wheth...
Last weekend to file taxes: risk of fine after May 1st
The deadline for filing income tax returns in the Netherlands is May 1st, making this the final weekend for taxpayers to submit their information. Those who cannot meet the deadline should request an ...
Local real estate agents on housing market trends
Real estate agents report a slight cooling of the housing market across various regions in recent months. However, demand for affordable, ready-to-move-in single-family homes remains high, with buyers...
Summit on phasing out fossil fuels begins in Colombia
Colombia and the Netherlands have launched the first international conference on phasing out fossil fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia. The six-day event features 56 participating countries that together ...
Jade Anna caught with fake webshop review: ‘Jan’ gives five stars, but he doesn’t exist
Influencer Jade Anna van Vliet’s company has been caught posting a fake five-star review for a product before its official release. Although posting fake reviews is illegal, the brand has claimed th...
Brabant meat processor ordered to recall all products immediately
A meat processing company in Nuenen has been ordered to immediately recall all its products following a raid by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The enforcement actio...
Bookman Frank (55) seeks successor for The ReadShop in Beverwijk: ‘If I want to do something else, now is the time’
Frank Valk, the 55-year-old owner of The ReadShop in Beverwijk, is seeking a successor to take over his bookstore. Valk has put the business up for sale to pursue a new career path, though the shop is...
D66 must change course in our ‘city-state’, says Jan-Kees Emmer: ‘More room for people’
Jan-Kees Emmer argues that the D66 party must lead a policy shift in the Netherlands to prioritize human needs over political deadlock. He highlights the contrast between the ongoing political theater...
Utrecht connection freeze signals power issues for rest of country
A grid connection stop in Utrecht serves as a warning for potential electricity infrastructure challenges throughout the Netherlands. Similar restrictions are already affecting parts of Noord-Brabant,...