Economy News in English

Chamber of Commerce: Fewer business closures and more startups for first time in 2.5 years

The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) reports that the number of businesses closing fell in the first quarter of this year for the first time in 2.5 years. Additionally, there was an increase in the num...

Amsterdam fails to attract international companies: ‘We are not doing nearly as well as we think’

De Hypotheker: average mortgage rate hits two-year high

The average mortgage interest rate in the Netherlands has reached its highest level in over two years, according to reports from De Hypotheker. This rise is primarily driven by increasing capital mark...

Rehabilitation centers confirm hack, forensic clinic also hit

Several Dutch rehabilitation centers and the Van der Hoeven Kliniek have confirmed they were affected by a data breach at software provider ChipSoft. The hack resulted in the theft of patient data fro...

Protecting Venice could cost billions: 'The sooner we choose, the better'

Venice is facing more frequent flooding due to a combination of rising sea levels and land subsidence. New research suggests that while additional protective measures are necessary, they will come wit...

!Woon faces potential budget cut: Fears of long waiting lists for tenants needing help

Stichting !Woon, which advises Amsterdam tenants on rental issues, warns that a potential €700,000 budget cut could lead to staff layoffs and significantly longer wait times for assistance. The orga...

Flight cancellations are just the beginning: ‘Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left’

KLM will cancel 160 flights starting in late April as the International Energy Agency warns that Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel reserves remaining. This fuel shortage is expected to trigger a b...

Majority of Dutch Parliament supports better pay for top athletes, VVD wants business sector to contribute

A majority of the Dutch Parliament supports a proposal by NOC*NSF to increase the income of elite athletes. While there is political backing for the plan, the VVD party advocates for the additional fu...

People keep credit cards in their pockets due to economic uncertainty

Dutch consumers are using their credit cards less frequently due to economic and geopolitical uncertainty following the start of the conflict in the Middle East. According to data from Visa Netherland...

Medical patient data also stolen in ChipSoft hack

Hackers stole medical patient data during a cyberattack on ChipSoft, a major software provider for the healthcare sector. The company confirmed the theft of sensitive information on Thursday following...

Meat fraud involving beef heads in Brabant, NVWA conducts raid

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) raided a meat company in Nuenen on suspicion of meat fraud and document falsification. Three employees were arrested for allegedly trading m...

Average Haarlem mover settles 16 kilometers away

Recent data from the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) reveals that residents moving from Haarlem travel an average distance of 16 kilometers to their new homes. This distance typically leads former...

Greenpeace hopes Dutch court overturns multi-million dollar US fine

Greenpeace and US pipeline company Energy Transfer appeared in an Amsterdam court to dispute a multi-million dollar fine issued against the environmental group in the United States. Greenpeace is chal...

Pubs allowed to stay open overnight for late World Cup matches this summer

Bars in Amsterdam will be allowed to extend their opening hours from June 11 to July 19 to broadcast late-night FIFA World Cup matches held in North America. Mayor Femke Halsema specified that while e...

KLM cancels 160 flights at Schiphol due to rising fuel prices

KLM will cancel 160 flights to and from Schiphol Airport over the coming month. The airline is reducing its schedule in response to rising kerosene prices.

KLM cancels 160 European flights due to high fuel costs

KLM has cancelled 160 European flights scheduled for the coming month due to rising fuel costs. The airline stated that these routes are no longer profitable because of the high price of kerosene.

KLM cancels 160 European flights due to rising fuel prices

KLM is cancelling 160 European flights to and from Schiphol Airport next month due to rising fuel prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. These cancellations represent less than one percent ...

Amazon video doorbells now recognize your face – ‘undesirable’, says regulator

Amazon is introducing AI-powered facial recognition technology to its video doorbells, which the company claims will store data securely. However, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) has expresse...

Housing construction stalls due to full power grid, Utrecht faces connection freeze

The Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents (NVM) warns that housing construction may slow down due to upcoming changes in power grid connection priorities. A potential connection stop in Utrecht curr...

Labor Inspectorate finds nine illegal workers in BBQ restaurant raid

The Dutch Labor Inspection discovered nine illegal workers during a raid at a barbecue restaurant in Amsterdam-West last Thursday. More than half of the fourteen staff members lacked valid work permit...

Cabinet: no more animal transport on sweltering days, only allowed up to 30 degrees

The Dutch cabinet has announced a ban on the transport of livestock, including pigs, chickens, and cows, when temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius. State Secretary Silvio Erkens stated the measure i...

Amsterdam house prices fall faster than national average, but overbidding remains the norm

House prices in Amsterdam fell by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2026, a sharper decline than the 2.7% drop seen nationally across the Netherlands. This trend is driven by an increase in supply as inves...

Brussels wants European mega-companies to compete with China and US: merging must become easier

The European Commission is considering a revision of merger guidelines to facilitate the creation of larger companies within the European Union. This strategic shift aims to help European businesses c...

Nature permit still required for Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports

A Dutch court has ruled that Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports must obtain nature permits, overturning a previous government decision that deemed them unnecessary. The ruling follows legal challenges f...

Babboe cargo bikes return, relaunch starting in Germany among other countries

Parent company Accell has announced that Babboe cargo bikes will return to the market following a major safety recall. The relaunch comes after the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NV...

Low incomes hardest hit by expensive oil

Rising oil prices due to conflict in the Middle East are increasing inflation and reducing purchasing power, particularly for low-income households with cars. The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Polic...

Coalition wants to compensate companies for electricity costs

Dutch coalition parties D66, CDA, and VVD have proposed moving forward funds originally allocated for 2028 to help companies manage current electricity costs. This initiative was announced during a pa...

Iran war hits our wallets: purchasing power growth could completely evaporate

A scenario study by the CPB indicates that the conflict involving Iran could lead to higher energy prices and inflation for Dutch households. This rise in costs might completely offset the expected gr...

House prices now falling significantly, by up to 6 percent: check your neighborhood here

House prices in the Netherlands fell by up to 6 percent during the first quarter of the year. Real estate agents attribute this decline to rising mortgage interest rates and global uncertainty caused ...

Diesel price at the pump drops by nearly 6 cents

Diesel prices in the Netherlands fell by nearly 6 cents on Thursday, with the national recommended price dropping to 2.589 euros per liter. This decrease follows a record high of 2.819 euros per liter...