Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
US now also eases environmental rules on mercury emissions
The Trump administration is relaxing environmental regulations concerning the emission of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. According to the EPA, the policy change is intended to help older ...
State Secretary advises parents to keep children away from play sand
Dutch State Secretary Judith Tielen has advised parents and organizations to prevent children from playing with play sand due to concerns over potential asbestos contamination. While no formal ban has...
US economic growth slows in fourth quarter
The United States economy grew by 2.2 percent last year, a decrease from the 2.8 percent growth recorded in 2024. This expansion was primarily driven by increased consumer spending and business invest...
Defeat for Trump: US Supreme Court rules tariffs unlawful
The US Supreme Court has ruled that import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are unlawful, stating that the authority to set such duties belongs to Congress. While the ruling does not affect t...
Flood of complaints about Odido prompts watchdog to issue special appeal
Dutch authorities are being overwhelmed by reports from current and former Odido customers concerned about potential identity fraud. The surge in complaints has prompted the Dutch Data Protection Auth...
EU steel exports to US fall 30 percent due to high import tariffs
Steel exports from the European Union to the United States dropped by 30 percent during the second half of last year compared to the same period in 2024. This significant decline is attributed to the ...
Former Jehovah's Witness Armando committed armed robbery, but is now a successful entrepreneur: ‘Suddenly I had a change of heart’
Armando Muis, a 35-year-old former Jehovah's Witness who committed an armed robbery at age 15, has transformed his life into a highly successful business career. Currently a fatbike entrepreneur, he i...
Coalition will miss its own nitrogen targets with current plans
The Dutch coalition government's current plans are insufficient to meet its own nitrogen reduction targets by 2035, according to calculations released by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agenc...
Everyone worse off under coalition plans, especially lower incomes
Proposed coalition plans from D66, VVD, and CDA are expected to reduce the purchasing power of all households, with lower-income earners facing the most significant impact. The decline is primarily at...
Lower incomes will feel new cabinet measures more than high earners
Calculations by the CPB indicate that the new Jetten cabinet's economic plans will reduce disposable income, with lower-income households expected to feel the impact most significantly. In response to...
Dutch citizens no longer allowed to participate in Polymarket betting
The American betting platform Polymarket has blocked Dutch users from participating in wagers on its site. This action follows a demand from the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) for the c...
Odido data breach scam: Fake website charges €50 per claim
Victims of the Odido data leak are being warned about a fraudulent website that falsely promises to file compensation claims for a fee of 49.99 euros. The site is a scam, and customers are advised not...
Man allowed to keep 8 million gift after all as tax authorities lose case
A Dutch court has ruled that a company director in the northern Netherlands can keep an €8 million gift received after 24 years of service at a family business. The decision rejects a claim by the D...
Potatoes dirt cheap due to surplus, but not for supermarket shoppers
Potato prices have dropped significantly since the spring of 2025 due to a surplus from favorable harvests, leaving farmers with massive excess stock. However, consumers have yet to see these savings,...
Traffic fines in Haarlem generate more revenue for state treasury than in 2024
Traffic offenders in Haarlem generated more than 8.3 million euros for the state treasury last year. According to figures from the fine collection agency CJIB, this total represents the revenue collec...
Construction plans for 6,500 homes in Hamerkwartier back on track after chemical plant compromise
Construction of 6,500 homes in Amsterdam's Hamerkwartier district is set to begin next year following a compromise between the municipality and the chemical plant Ketjen. The agreement addresses previ...
Who is new State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg? Humorous policy wonk championed sex work and tens of thousands of homes
Eelco Eerenberg, a 41-year-old D66 alderman from Utrecht, has been named as the new Dutch State Secretary of Finance. He replaces Nathalie van Berkel, who withdrew from the position on Monday followin...
HEMA also recalls play and craft sand over possible asbestos
HEMA is recalling play and craft sand from its stores due to the potential presence of asbestos in the products. Customers are urged to return the affected items to the store immediately for safety re...
Half-million euro fine for construction companies that bribed Sint Maarten minister
Two subsidiaries of the construction company VolkerWessels were ordered by a court in Zwolle on Thursday to pay a combined fine of €480,000 for bribing former Sint Maarten minister Theo Heyliger. Th...
Rising numbers of people unable to work costing the treasury billions
Rising disability benefit costs are placing a multi-billion euro burden on the state treasury as the number of people unable to work continues to grow. In response to these skyrocketing expenses, the ...
Dutch want to live more sustainably, but government misses opportunities
Most Dutch citizens are willing to adopt more sustainable and climate-conscious lifestyles, which could potentially save megatons of CO2 emissions. However, the government is currently missing opportu...
Government raises 923 million euros from emission rights auction
The Dutch government raised approximately 923 million euros last year through the auction of carbon emission rights. These rights must be purchased by large industrial companies to legally emit CO2, w...
Philips still plagued by sleep apnea scandal: CEO also sued
Philips continues to face legal repercussions from its 2021 sleep apnea device recall, with American investors filing a lawsuit against CEO Roy Jakobs in December. Investors in the Netherlands are als...
Should Zandvoort circuit make way for housing?
The Zandvoort municipal council is debating the possibility of using the local racing circuit for long-term housing development over the next 30 to 40 years. While some political parties support explo...
After Unilever, Nestlé may also spin off ice cream division including Häagen-Dazs
Nestlé is considering the sale of its ice cream division, which includes the Häagen-Dazs brand, as part of an ongoing corporate reorganization. The Swiss food company aims to focus more on its other...
Netherlands and Belgium want better train connections: 'Of strategic importance'
The Netherlands and Belgium have agreed to strengthen their cooperation to improve cross-border rail connections between the two countries. This initiative is considered of strategic importance to enh...
Zuckerberg gives rare testimony in social media addiction case
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in court on Wednesday for the first time regarding Instagram’s impact on the mental health of young users. During the testimony, he was questioned about how age li...
Eelco Eerenberg to replace Van Berkel as D66 State Secretary for Finance
The D66 party has nominated Utrecht alderman Eelco Eerenberg as the new State Secretary of Finance. He replaces the previously intended candidate, Van Berkel, who recently stepped down from the positi...
Advisory body SER calls for eight weeks of paid leave for informal caregivers
The Dutch advisory body SER is calling for the government to provide eight weeks of paid leave to help informal caregivers balance their jobs with their caregiving responsibilities. This recommendatio...
350-euro washing machines, fresh durian and maybe a Rolex: Chinese giant aims to conquer the Dutch market
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is planning to expand its presence in the Dutch market, posing a significant threat to local retailers like Bol.com and Coolblue. Retail expert John Lin predicts the co...