Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Cabinet reverses income support cuts for the poor again
The Dutch government has reversed a planned €30 million cut to income support following a request from the House of Representatives. Political parties argued that municipalities must continue active...
FNV Tata votes on new collective labor agreement: 'Green with a red border around it'
FNV union members at Tata Steel have voted in favor of a new collective labor agreement during meetings held on Thursday morning. Despite the majority approval of the proposal, many employees expresse...
Warner Bros. shareholders approve Paramount's billion-dollar deal
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have approved a $110 billion merger deal between Paramount and Skydance. The resulting media giant will own numerous American television channels and a vast library...
Amsterdam angry as Schiphol lowers fees due to fuel crisis: ‘A smaller airport only comes about through fair prices’
Retiring later and later: how much you need to save to still retire at 65
The average retirement age in the Netherlands has risen to 66 years and four months, with expectations that this trend will continue. Individuals wishing to retire at age 65 will need to save substant...
Jetten welcomes Ukraine support package and new Russia sanctions
Premier Rob Jetten welcomed the adoption of a 90 billion euro European support package for Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia. He described the financial aid and measures as a very important ste...
Number of major rail disruptions on the rise
ProRail reported that 586 serious disruptions occurred on the Dutch rail network last year, marking an increase in major incidents. The rail manager also warned that performance targets for 2025, prev...
20th Russia sanctions package finalized after Hungary drops opposition
The European Union has approved its 20th package of sanctions against Russia after Hungary and Slovakia withdrew their opposition. This agreement mirrors previous instances where both countries initia...
UN: 30 million people fall back into extreme poverty due to war
The chief of the UN Development Programme, Alexander De Croo, warns that over 30 million people are falling back into extreme poverty due to the conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran....
Vitens struggling to provide everyone with drinking water
Vitens, the largest drinking water company in the Netherlands, is facing increasing difficulties in ensuring a consistent water supply for all customers. Despite a slight decrease in average consumer ...
Hungary and Slovakia receive Russian oil again
Hungary and Slovakia have resumed receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline following the completion of months of repairs. Deliveries began flowing through the Ukrainian section of the pipeli...
Iran war leads to even more expensive condoms in China, residents want to hoard
The conflict in Iran has caused condom prices to rise in China due to raw material shortages, according to manufacturer Karex. This price hike follows previous increases aimed at boosting population g...
Right-wing bill: scrap housing priority for status holders
Right-wing political groups, including Mona Keijzer and JA21, have submitted a bill to stop Dutch municipalities from prioritizing status holders for social housing. This initiative aims to reinstate ...
Hungary lifts veto: Ukraine to receive 90 billion EU loan
European Union member states have agreed on a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifted its blockade on the funding. The first installment of 45 billion euros will be disbursed for 2026 to...
Family business Ritter Sport cuts jobs for the first time in 114 years
German chocolate maker Ritter Sport is cutting jobs at its Waldenbuch headquarters for the first time in its 114-year history to reduce costs. The family-owned business is responding to significantly ...
Schiphol gives airlines discount due to high fuel prices
Schiphol Airport is offering airlines discounts on landing, parking, and terminal fees to help mitigate the impact of high kerosene prices. This move aims to provide financial relief to carriers strug...
Over 350,000 people join mass claim against Odido after data breach
More than 350,000 individuals have joined a mass claim against telecom provider Odido following a significant data leak. The privacy foundation Consumers United in Court (CUIC) initiated the collectiv...
Lidl to make pig feed from unsellable food waste
Lidl is launching a four-week pilot program in ten stores to convert unsaleable food products into pig feed, becoming the first supermarket in Europe to do so. The initiative aims to reduce food waste...
Strait of Hormuz closure hits consumers in the bedroom: condom prices to rise sharply
The CEO of Karex, the world's largest condom manufacturer, has warned that prices could rise by up to 30 percent due to conflict in the Middle East and potential shipping disruptions. This increase is...
Data of nearly all Epe residents stolen in data breach
A data hack on March 12 at the municipality of Epe resulted in the theft of personal information belonging to nearly all its residents. Stolen data includes names, addresses, and social security numbe...
Iran receives first revenue from Strait of Hormuz toll
Iran has reportedly received its first revenue from tolls imposed on ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This development was announced by a high-ranking Iranian parliamentary offici...
Samsung employees protest for higher wages and threaten long-term strike
Tens of thousands of Samsung employees held a protest on Thursday to demand higher wages and bonuses. Labor unions have threatened an 18-day strike starting next month if the South Korean company does...
Washington Post: Months needed to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz
The US Defense Department estimates it could take up to six months to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz. This prolonged demining process is expected to keep global oil and gas prices high ...
Retirement age rises: the average age Dutch people stop working
The average retirement age in the Netherlands rose to 66 years and 4 months in 2025, an increase of two and a half months compared to the previous year. This shift brings the actual retirement age clo...
Heineken sells more beer thanks to popular premium brands
Heineken reported an increase in beer sales during the first quarter, marking its first volume growth since late 2024. This positive performance was primarily driven by the success of the brewer's pre...
More than 2,700 vacation homes for sale, the highest number in fifteen years
The number of holiday homes for sale in the Netherlands reached a 15-year high last year, with more than 2,700 properties listed on the market. According to the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents...
Employees on sick leave need more time to recover
Sickness absence in the Netherlands decreased to 5 percent in March, down from 5.4 percent in February. However, the overall quarterly absence rate remains steady because employees who fall ill are ta...
Many women postpone motherhood due to temporary contracts: ‘Financial security first’
A new study reveals that many young adults, particularly women aged 18 to 35, are delaying motherhood due to job insecurity. The prevalence of temporary contracts has led many to prioritize financial ...
EU electric car sales rose nearly 50 percent last month
Sales of fully electric vehicles in the European Union increased by nearly 50 percent in March compared to the same month last year. According to the European automobile manufacturers association (ACE...
Tesla profit rises after slight sales growth, revenue also up
Tesla reported a rise in both profit and revenue for the first quarter of the year compared to the previous year. This financial growth follows a slight increase in the company's vehicle sales during ...