Economy News in English

Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

ING customers experience much less discrimination, but the problem is not solved
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ING customers experience much less discrimination, but the problem is not solved

ING customers with minority ethnic backgrounds continue to report experiencing discrimination during bank compliance checks aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. However, the b...

Cooling mist from the Dom Tower: the remedy for urban heat?
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Cooling mist from the Dom Tower: the remedy for urban heat?

As the Netherlands experiences high temperatures, researchers are debating whether spraying cooling mist from tall structures like the Dom Tower could serve as an effective solution against urban heat...

Instagram and Facebook are too addictive according to European rules
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Instagram and Facebook are too addictive according to European rules

The European Commission has found that Meta's Instagram and Facebook apps violate European regulations due to their addictive design. The company faces potential fines unless it can demonstrate that i...

Potentially carcinogenic substance in squishy dumpling toys, bol stops sales
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Potentially carcinogenic substance in squishy dumpling toys, bol stops sales

Online retailer bol and candy store chain Jamin have halted sales of popular squishy dumpling toys following research by a Flemish toxicologist. The study suggests the products may contain potentially...

Dozens of ships pass through Strait of Hormuz despite attacks
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Dozens of ships pass through Strait of Hormuz despite attacks

Despite recent attacks on vessels, dozens of ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz daily. While traffic remains significantly lower than levels recorded before the start of the conflict in th...

Foreigners to pay for Belgian roads: vignette becomes mandatory
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Foreigners to pay for Belgian roads: vignette becomes mandatory

Starting May 1, 2027, Belgium will introduce a mandatory vignette for all motorists using its main roads. This requirement will apply to all drivers, including those from the Netherlands who travel th...

Day of reckoning looms for Volkswagen: 100,000 jobs at risk and possible closure of German factories
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Day of reckoning looms for Volkswagen: 100,000 jobs at risk and possible closure of German factories

Volkswagen is facing significant backlash after announcing plans to cut 100,000 jobs and potentially close four German factories to reduce costs. Hundreds of employees have staged protests against the...

End of textbooks in the recycling bin? Schools join new publisher en masse
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End of textbooks in the recycling bin? Schools join new publisher en masse

Over 1,500 schools in the Netherlands have joined a new publishing cooperative called Neon to replace traditional textbooks. This initiative aims to reduce the significant amount of paper waste caused...

End of daily mail: PostNL to take two days from now on
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End of daily mail: PostNL to take two days from now on

Starting this weekend, PostNL will extend its standard delivery time for letters from one day to two days in the Netherlands. Customers who require faster delivery can still opt for a separate, higher...

Volkswagen to cut costs and aims to scrap half of its model range
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Volkswagen to cut costs and aims to scrap half of its model range

Volkswagen plans to significantly restructure its operations by reducing its overall product range by approximately 50 percent. The strategy impacts brands within the Volkswagen Group, including Audi,...

Aviation sector aims to reduce number of unruly, intoxicated passengers
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Aviation sector aims to reduce number of unruly, intoxicated passengers

Dutch Minister Vincent Karremans is taking action against the increasing issue of disruptive and intoxicated passengers on flights. Proposed measures to address this problem include implementing fines...

Average rental home requires monthly income of 5,650 euros
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Average rental home requires monthly income of 5,650 euros

Rental prices in the private sector in the Netherlands rose during the second quarter compared to last year. Data from housing platforms indicates that more than forty percent of these rental properti...

Danish fine for KLM of 400,000: they are not that green
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Danish fine for KLM of 400,000: they are not that green

The Copenhagen City Court has fined KLM 400,000 euros for misleading sustainability advertising. The court ruled that the airline's claims regarding environmentally friendly operations were not substa...

Queen Máxima and Minister Vijlbrief cycle through Southeast and speak with Amsterdammers in debt: 'Often the root of many problems'
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Queen Máxima and Minister Vijlbrief cycle through Southeast and speak with Amsterdammers in debt: 'Often the root of many problems'

New Eurostar trains must be able to withstand extremely high temperatures
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New Eurostar trains must be able to withstand extremely high temperatures

Eurostar is modifying its new high-speed trains to withstand temperatures of up to 55 degrees Celsius. This measure is being taken to ensure service reliability as extreme summer heat becomes more com...

Shift in Haarlem labor market: most jobs now in business services
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Shift in Haarlem labor market: most jobs now in business services

The labor market in Haarlem has undergone a significant shift, with the business services sector now providing the most jobs. This represents a change from a decade ago, when the healthcare sector was...

Queues in the heat: Greek airports issue urgent plea over European border control
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Queues in the heat: Greek airports issue urgent plea over European border control

Greek airports are raising concerns regarding long queues caused by the implementation of a new European border control system for non-EU travelers. This follows similar issues previously reported at ...

Digital euro one step closer after European Parliament support
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Digital euro one step closer after European Parliament support

The European Parliament has voted in favor of plans for a digital euro, moving the initiative a step closer to implementation. This support allows final negotiations between European Union member stat...

Neighborhood organization De Groene Hub receives 300,000 euro subsidy from municipality
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Neighborhood organization De Groene Hub receives 300,000 euro subsidy from municipality

The Amsterdam municipality has granted a one-time subsidy of 300,000 euros to the neighborhood organization De Groene Hub to prevent it from ceasing operations. The organization, which focuses on sust...

Tenfold increase in penalty for ICL fertilizer plant accused of 'calculating' behavior
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Tenfold increase in penalty for ICL fertilizer plant accused of 'calculating' behavior

Ajax talent Sean Steur (18) joins Newcastle United for a massive fee
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Ajax talent Sean Steur (18) joins Newcastle United for a massive fee

18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur is transferring to Newcastle United in a deal worth approximately 27 million euros including bonuses. The English Premier League club reached an agreement with A...

Trade with Russia and a gambler with tons of cash: how ABN Amro went (again) expensively wrong
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Trade with Russia and a gambler with tons of cash: how ABN Amro went (again) expensively wrong

ABN Amro has been fined 8.5 million euros by De Nederlandsche Bank for recurring anti-money laundering failures. The regulator cited the bank's over-reliance on client statements and its failure to pr...

Parcel delivery service ordered to halt operations by Labor Inspectorate
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Parcel delivery service ordered to halt operations by Labor Inspectorate

A package delivery service in North Holland has been ordered by the Labor Inspectorate to halt operations for one week. The inspection found that the company was employing individuals from outside Eur...

Inheritance tax is the most hated tax, people find it inherently unfair
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Inheritance tax is the most hated tax, people find it inherently unfair

While the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis reports public support for higher inheritance taxes, 50Plus senator Martin van Rooijen argues that the tax should be abolished entirely. He de...

Energy consumption has dropped significantly over the past quarter-century, but the decline has stagnated in recent years
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Energy consumption has dropped significantly over the past quarter-century, but the decline has stagnated in recent years

Energy consumption in the Netherlands has decreased significantly over the past 25 years despite population growth. However, this downward trend has stagnated in recent years, with little change in co...

Pump prices rise again due to escalating violence between Iran and US, fueling significantly higher costs in Belgium
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Pump prices rise again due to escalating violence between Iran and US, fueling significantly higher costs in Belgium

Fuel prices in the Netherlands increased on Thursday following a sharp rise in global oil prices. This surge was triggered by escalating tensions between Iran and the United States in the Middle East.

Government cushioned small businesses from major financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic
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Government cushioned small businesses from major financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic

During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dutch government provided the primary financial support for small businesses, rather than banks. The internal financing provided by business owne...

More choice in the Amsterdam housing market, but real estate agents warn of structural shortages
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More choice in the Amsterdam housing market, but real estate agents warn of structural shortages

Average house price rises to 506,000 euros despite record supply
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Average house price rises to 506,000 euros despite record supply

In the second quarter of 2026, the Netherlands saw a record number of houses put on the market, resulting in increased sales. Despite this high supply, the average price of an existing home rose by 3....

Sellers can no longer ask top price for homes: ‘Expectations must be adjusted’
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Sellers can no longer ask top price for homes: ‘Expectations must be adjusted’

Home sellers in the Netherlands are finding it harder to achieve high asking prices as market conditions shift. Properties with lower energy efficiency or poor maintenance are remaining on the market ...