Economy News in English

Casino employee asks for €1,000 advance before first day, but it doesn't go down well with her boss

A newly hired casino employee in Limburg was dismissed before her first day of work after requesting a 1,000 euro salary advance. The employer's decision to terminate the contract immediately prompted...

What should plant-based chicken pieces be called? Well-known advertiser makes a suggestion

New regulations have banned terms like 'vegetarian chicken pieces' and 'vegetarian bacon', requiring meat substitute manufacturers to find alternative product names. A famous Dutch advertiser, known f...

Excise duty reduction only way to curb fuel prices, say experts

Experts suggest that reducing excise duties is the only way for the government to control rising fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East. Although pump prices are increasing, it is curre...

Cabinet aims to provide more clarity for self-employed with new law

The Dutch government is drafting new legislation to provide greater clarity for self-employed professionals. This plan includes scrapping significant parts of current laws regarding false self-employm...

Well-attended Beverwijk Christmas market to become annual event, municipality seeks permanent budget

The Beverwijk city council intends to turn its successful Christmas market into an annual event starting after the 2025 edition. Local authorities are currently investigating the allocation of a struc...

Study: Significant inequality between women and men remains in the city

The 2025 Emancipation Monitor reveals that women in Amsterdam continue to face significant inequalities compared to men, including lower economic independence and higher rates of street harassment. De...

In Amsterdam, women are more highly educated than men but less economically independent

Santpoort-Noord gets ATM back: residents can withdraw cash at Dekamarkt from March 23

Residents of Santpoort-Noord will regain access to a local ATM starting March 23, with a new Geldmaat machine being installed at the Dekamarkt supermarket. This move restores cash withdrawal services ...

Oil agency not yet planning to tap reserves: 'Temporary disruption'

The International Energy Agency (IEA) currently has no plans to release oil reserves despite rising energy prices caused by the conflict in the Middle East. The agency attributes the situation to seri...

Concerns about Schrijversbuurt in Heemskerk remain, but no one wants to delay the construction plan: ‘This is not the last time we will speak about this. These are the broad outlines, the details follow’

The expansion of the Schrijversbuurt neighborhood in Heemskerk will nearly triple the number of homes to address the regional housing shortage. Despite concerns regarding traffic, greenery, and shadow...

Judge rules against woman who seized government statue

A judge ruled on Friday that Yasmin Molleman, a victim of the Dutch childcare benefit scandal, cannot seize a government-owned statue to settle alleged debts. The court sided with the ministry, which ...

Canadian Prime Minister seeks to strengthen cooperation with Japan

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to strengthen defense cooperation and economic security with Japan during a visit to Tokyo on Friday. The meeting is part of an international tour aimed at ...

Limburg maintains opposition to new Iron Rhine railway line

The province of Limburg maintains its opposition to a new freight rail connection, known as the Iron Rhine, between Belgium and Germany through Dutch territory. Local authorities argue that the enviro...

Emirates resumes daily flights from Dubai to Schiphol starting Saturday

Emirates will resume daily flights from Dubai to dozens of destinations, including Schiphol Airport, starting this Saturday. The service was previously suspended due to regional tensions in the Middle...

Beemster cheese voted world's best: 'Aged, but smooth'

The Dutch cheese Beemster Royaal Grand Cru was named the best cheese in the world at a competition held in Wisconsin, USA. It secured the top title after competing against more than 3,300 other entrie...

Global drug and money laundering network dismantled, 15 arrests

An international law enforcement operation known as Operation Candy has dismantled a global drug smuggling and money laundering network, leading to fifteen arrests. Europol reported the seizure of 1,2...

Months of delay for Tata Steel sustainability plan permit

Tata Steel's sustainability plans are facing several months of delay as the province of North Holland and the environmental agency require more information to assess the permit application. The evalua...

Operation successful, patient dead – students have almost no housing alternatives

Dutch Cabinet clear on reopening Groningen gas fields: 'We're not going to do it'

The Dutch cabinet has confirmed it will not keep the Groningen gas field open, even for emergency situations. Interior Minister Pieter Heerma stated that the government feels a 'debt of honor' to the ...

Cabinet reiterates: gas extraction from Groningen field will not happen

The Dutch cabinet has reaffirmed that gas extraction from the Groningen field will not be resumed. Ministers stated that the field will be closed as planned, maintaining the previously established sch...

NS takes critical look at strike compensation

The Dutch railway operator NS is evaluating its current compensation scheme for passengers affected by train strikes, according to its annual report. Currently, travelers can receive up to 25 euros fo...

Gas power plants were used more often last year during dips in solar and wind energy

Gas-fired power plants in the Netherlands significantly increased their natural gas consumption last year to compensate for fluctuations in solar and wind energy supply. This led to a 6.2 percent incr...

Queen Máxima visits NS Train Modernization in Haarlem

Queen Máxima and Minister Stientje van Veldhoven visited NS Train Modernization in Haarlem on Wednesday as part of Circular Economy Week. They observed how old double-decker trains are being refurbis...

Hungarian PM stops transport to Ukraine over pipeline

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that he is halting the transport of essential goods to Ukraine. This move is a retaliatory measure against Ukraine's decision to block the supply o...

Diesel price reaches record high, gasoline price also nears peak

The national recommended price for diesel in the Netherlands has reached a record high of 2.375 euros per liter, matching levels seen four years ago. Gasoline prices are also increasing, though at a s...

Portugal fined millions for failing to protect Iberian species

Portugal has been fined millions of euros for failing to adequately protect thousands of unique animal and plant species, including the gold-striped salamander and the Iberian wolf. Despite having yea...

US states sue over new Trump tariffs

A group of 24 U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's recently imposed 10% import tariffs. The states argue that the president is acting unlawfully by ignoring a previous ruli...

Lower revenue for auto industry in 2025, but more electric cars sold

The automotive and motorcycle industry saw a 2.6 percent decrease in revenue in 2025 compared to the previous year, with importers and heavy vehicle sectors experiencing the most significant declines....

Solutions for housing shortage and strengthening neighborhoods in Beverwijk and Heemskerk: New performance agreements between municipalities and housing corporations

The municipalities of Heemskerk and Beverwijk have established new performance agreements with housing corporations and tenant organizations for the 2026–2029 period. These agreements prioritize add...

Ministry forbids municipalities from restricting steel slag themselves

The Dutch government has prohibited municipalities from implementing their own bans on the use of steel slag, requiring local restrictions to be reversed by the end of the year. Local officials have e...