Economy News in English

Former time trialist and Raleigh seller now wants to save Batavus: Spectacular collection of bike brands

Irish businessman and former cyclist Mel T. Sutcliffe is looking to acquire the bike brands from the bankrupt company Accell. His interest follows a notable career that includes his previous involveme...

Gasoline in Belgium gets more expensive, but still much cheaper than in the Netherlands: here is the difference

The maximum price for Euro95 gasoline in Belgium will increase by 7 cents to 1.936 euros per liter starting this Friday. Despite the price hike, fuel remains significantly cheaper in Belgium compared ...

Senators investigate gift to Trump following diamond tariff exemption

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal are investigating a diamond ring gifted to President Donald Trump by the Antwerp diamond sector. They allege the gift may have influenced import t...

Romania shuts down only nuclear power plant due to historically low Danube levels

Romania has shut down its only nuclear power plant due to historically low water levels in the Danube River. The plant relies on the river's water for essential cooling processes.

Electricity prices double due to solar eclipse but power grid holds firm: Even helped other countries

Electricity prices in the Netherlands doubled due to a significant drop in solar energy production during a solar eclipse. Despite the sudden decrease in supply, the Dutch power grid remained stable a...

Meta blocks 750,000 minor accounts in Australia

Meta has blocked over 750,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts in Australia since the introduction of a social media ban for teenagers. The company reports that these accounts were suspected of being m...

Fastned opens 28 new fast charging stations in the first half of 2026

Fastned opened 28 new fast-charging stations in the first half of 2026, marking a record for the company. The operator now manages a total of 434 charging stations across nine different countries.

Pizza, pasta or poké bowl: Dutch people spend more money on food delivery

Over the past decade, consumer spending on takeaway and delivery meals in the Netherlands has more than doubled. People are increasingly relying on prepared food services rather than cooking at home.

Achmea profit falls due to storm damage

Insurance company Achmea reported a decrease in operational profit for the first half of the year compared to the previous year. This decline is largely attributed to damage claims resulting from seve...

Shein targets billions with Hong Kong IPO in late August

Budget platform SHEIN is reportedly planning an initial public offering in Hong Kong around August 28. The company, which originated in China, aims to raise between $2 billion and $3 billion through t...

Amsterdam house prices still rising, but at slowest pace since 2023

Spotify raises prices by 2 to 3 euros, here is how much a monthly subscription costs now

Spotify is increasing the monthly prices for its Premium, Duo, and Family subscription plans in the Netherlands. A standard Premium subscription will now cost 14 euros per month.

Large pension funds in new system expect small pension increase

Retirees at major pension funds in the Netherlands that have transitioned to the new pension system may receive a modest pension increase next year. This development affects those covered under the up...

$29 million compensation for family of Boeing crash victim

A jury in Chicago has ordered Boeing to pay 29 million dollars in damages to the family of a victim involved in the 2019 Boeing 737 MAX crash. The decision was announced by a court spokesperson on Wed...

Haarlem house prices still rising, but at slowest pace since 2023

Housing prices in Haarlem have increased by 1 percent compared to last year, according to data from Statistics Netherlands. This represents the slowest rate of price growth recorded in the city since ...

Experts warn against fake reviews: Sellers have huge motivation to cheat

Experts warn that the reliability of online reviews is being undermined by manipulation, inadequate oversight, and the rise of artificial intelligence. Due to the significant influence reviews have on...

Dirk and Aldi leaving city centers: is there still a future for small neighborhood supermarkets?

Greenland puts American oil exploration company on hold

The Greenlandic government has halted an American company's oil drilling preparations after the firm began activities without official authorization. Authorities are delaying the project to conduct a ...

Despite drought, most fruit and vegetables remain available for now: 'But this cannot last much longer'

Exceptional drought in the Netherlands is impacting crop yields, resulting in smaller vegetables and higher prices for items like strawberries, potatoes, and onions. While most produce remains availab...

Schiphol struggles with long queues for non-EU travelers

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is facing significant concerns regarding long queues for non-EU travelers at passport control. These delays, which can reach up to two hours, follow the recent implementatio...

Bicycle manufacturer Accell declares bankruptcy, but repair shops reassure customers: ‘Sparta and Batavus don’t use special parts’

Money is flowing into banks again, but customers aren't seeing the benefits

Major banks in the Netherlands are reporting significant increases in revenue and profit. However, these positive financial results have not yet translated into tangible benefits for their customers.

Irish investment firm interested in acquiring bicycle manufacturer Accell

The Irish investment firm Quanta Capital has expressed interest in acquiring Accell Group, the parent company of bicycle brands including Sparta, Batavus, and Babboe. CEO Mel Sutcliffe confirmed the i...

Shrinkflation in the supermarket, do you have any examples?

A 1991 Mars bar discovered in an English home has highlighted the issue of shrinkflation, as it is noticeably larger than contemporary versions of the product. The article invites readers to share the...

Construction companies held back by staff shortages: 'Persistent problem'

Approximately one-third of construction companies in the Netherlands are facing significant production delays due to persistent staff shortages. New data from the Economic Institute for the Building S...

Switzerland wants to raise VAT to free up extra funds for defense

The Swiss government is proposing a 0.5 percentage point increase in VAT over the next twelve years to generate 24 billion Swiss francs for defense spending. This initiative aims to secure significant...

Shortage of women leads to lucrative trade in fake brides in China

A shortage of women in China has led to a lucrative illicit industry where intermediaries charge large sums of money to connect men with brides. This practice has resulted in severe financial losses f...

Roads around Coen Tunnel closed every weekend in August for maintenance

Schiphol unions threaten industrial action over security guard working conditions

Norway's sovereign wealth fund reports record profit in first half of year

Norway's sovereign wealth fund reported a record profit for the first half of this year, driven largely by the rising value of technology stocks. The fund currently manages assets totaling more than 1...