Economy News in English

Crisis or not, garden centers are thriving: ‘The start is like Skirt Day—as if everyone agreed to get to work’

Despite high inflation, garden centers and hardware stores in the Netherlands are seeing a surge in customers as the first signs of spring appear. The industry remains resilient, with millions of cons...

Minister Vijlbrief warns: State pension plan is gone for now, but the problem remains

Minister Hans Vijlbrief has invited labor unions to discuss the future of the Dutch social security system after the government's controversial AOW plan was put on hold. He warned that interventions r...

Ombudsman critical of plan to cut welfare benefits

Dutch National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen has criticized the cabinet's proposal to reduce spending on social assistance benefits. Van Zutphen expressed his concerns in a formal letter to Minister T...

Screen Time | Moon mission makes mobile phones mainstream in space

Tech reporter Rutger Otto's weekly column discusses the increasing use of mobile phones for capturing high-quality photography in space. The article highlights impressive images taken by mobile device...

High diesel prices hit major sectors: 'Additional costs of 800,000 to 900,000 euros'

High diesel prices are causing significant financial concern for companies in the transport, logistics, construction, and agricultural sectors. These businesses fear that the rising costs, which can r...

Waiting? Working! Twelve permit holders from across the country get help finding work in West-Friesland

Twelve status holders with healthcare backgrounds from asylum centers across the Netherlands are participating in a pilot program to find employment in West-Friesland. The initiative provides language...

World's largest gasoline port has more gasoline than the Netherlands needs despite oil crisis

Amsterdam remains the world's largest gasoline port and currently holds more fuel than the Netherlands requires, despite the ongoing global oil crisis. While gasoline supplies remain stable and contin...

Future for Kwantum and Leen Bakker: new CEO Linda Keijzer does not want to close any more stores

Linda Keijzer, the new CEO of Leen Bakker and Kwantum, announced that no more store locations will be closed in the short term. The companies' new owner intends to invest in both retail chains for the...

How did the construction halt at Blekersduin happen? External agency found no nitrogen increase for Santpoort-Zuid housing

The construction of 40 rental homes in Santpoort-Zuid has been halted by provincial authorities due to concerns over nitrogen emissions. Although an external consultancy report commissioned by the hou...

Teslas with self-driving software allowed on Dutch roads

The RDW has approved the use of Tesla's self-driving software on Dutch roads, allowing drivers to navigate traffic without keeping their hands on the steering wheel. This decision makes the Netherland...

US Santas can now deduct tips from taxes

The United States Internal Revenue Service has clarified that individuals earning money as Santa Claus or other costumed characters can now deduct tips from their taxable income. This new tax guidance...

KLM plane forced to return to Schiphol after hitting a heron

A KLM flight heading to Nice was forced to return to Schiphol Airport on Friday afternoon after colliding with a heron shortly after takeoff. It is suspected that the bird may have been sucked into th...

Persian Gulf oil blockade sends Amsterdam gasoline as far as Australia

Air France-KLM CEO earned €5.1 million last year, Netherlands objects

Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith earned 5.1 million euros last year, more than triple the salary of KLM CEO Marjan Rintel. The Dutch government has raised objections to the compensation package, which was...

Netherlands also opposes KLM CEO Smith’s exorbitant pay

Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith earned 5.1 million euros last year, more than triple the salary of KLM CEO Marjan Rintel. The disclosure in the aviation group's annual report has sparked criticism in the...

Richard Kemper horrified by ‘target of five’ diet: ‘It’s like eating as if you’re already on chemo’

Richard Kemper expressed strong disapproval of specific dietary guidelines, comparing the suggested food to a diet for chemotherapy patients. Additionally, residents in Bloemendaal welcomed news of a ...

NVWA catches seven men red-handed in illegal sheep slaughter

The NVWA raided an illegal slaughterhouse on a farm in Friesland on Thursday, catching seven men red-handed. The suspects were found slaughtering sheep without anesthesia, which is strictly prohibited...

Irish fuel protests cause dozens of pumps to run dry

Protests against rising fuel prices in Ireland have entered their fourth day, with demonstrators blocking key fuel depots and a major refinery. These actions have led to fuel shortages at approximatel...

Study: 87 percent of vapers use illegal vapes

A study by Bureau Beke reveals that 87% of people who vape in the Netherlands use illegal products or purchase them through unauthorized channels. These vapes are frequently imported from abroad to ci...

Activists occupy two Betuweroute railway lines

Activists from the group Geef Tegengas blocked two tracks of the Betuweroute freight railway between Lent and Elst on Friday afternoon. The protesters aim to draw attention to the climate crisis and h...

How an ‘affordable rent law’ led to rents above 2,000 euros

Rental prices in the Dutch private sector are skyrocketing, with many monthly costs now exceeding 2,000 euros despite legislation intended to keep housing affordable. The article explores the factors ...

The price of failure: the sporting and financial cost to Ajax of missing out on European football

Ajax faces the possibility of missing out on European football for the first time in over sixty years due to poor form and league standings. Journalist Johan Inan analyzes the significant sporting and...

Port of Antwerp hopes to reopen within a day after oil leak

The Port of Antwerp expects to be fully operational within a day following a significant oil leak that occurred on Thursday evening. The spill resulted in a near-complete halt of shipping traffic at E...

Murder suspect Clen V. sold ‘number one planner’ on Bol.com, retailer cuts ties

Online retailer Bol.com has suspended its partnership with top seller Clen V. following his arrest on suspicion of murdering his 40-year-old girlfriend. The suspect sold tens of thousands of anti-stre...

State appeals Bonaire climate case ruling

The Dutch government is appealing a court ruling that ordered the state to increase its efforts to protect Bonaire from the effects of climate change. The original judgment, following a lawsuit by Gre...

Jerrycans flying off the shelves: Hardware stores selling three times as many

Hardware stores in the Netherlands are reporting a significant increase in jerrycan sales as consumers travel to neighboring countries to purchase cheaper fuel. The Dutch motoring association ANWB has...

Tata Steel faces fine for obstructing inspections

The North Sea Canal Area Environment Agency has threatened Tata Steel with a penalty of 10,000 euros per violation for obstructing environmental inspections. This measure follows multiple instances in...

World Food Programme warns of food crisis in Lebanon

The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that Lebanon is facing an imminent food crisis amid ongoing unrest in the Middle East. This warning highlights the worsening humanitarian situation a...

Professor banned for two years after forgetting to scan eight items offers Albert Heijn a solution

Professor Maarten Steinbuch received a two-year ban from an Albert Heijn supermarket after failing to scan eight out of twelve items during a self-checkout spot check. Faced with the choice of a ban o...

Longstanding discontent over hacked healthcare provider ChipSoft: ‘They hold hospitals in a stranglehold’

Healthcare IT provider ChipSoft has been hacked, potentially compromising patient data across various hospitals. The company is currently facing significant criticism for its near-monopoly position an...