In this Amsterdam-East neighborhood, neighbors share self-generated power to relieve the grid: ‘I get a push notification that I can charge my car a bit cheaper’

Amsterdam virtual reality at the Venice Film Festival

Defense personnel receive significant 6.5 percent pay raise

Military and civilian personnel at the Dutch Ministry of Defence will receive a 6.5 percent salary increase starting September 1, with an additional 2 percent raise planned for 2028. This measure is intended to bolster recruitment efforts within the organization.

Holidaymakers pay more at the pump after new price hike

Fuel prices for gasoline and diesel have increased again just before the final major summer holiday travel wave. Travelers using caravans or campers will face higher costs, especially when refueling at expensive highway gas stations.

Mortgage rates rise sharply due to developments in Iran and Ukraine

Mortgage interest rates in the Netherlands have increased significantly this week due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in Iran and Ukraine. Nearly all lenders have raised their rates, with several institutions implementing multiple hikes in just a few days.

Failure of soy agreement threatens Amazon area the size of a third of the Netherlands

The collapse of a soy agreement earlier this year could lead to 1.4 million hectares of additional deforestation in the Amazon. The World Wide Fund for Nature warns that this loss, equivalent to one-third of the Netherlands, brings the region closer to a dangerous environmental tipping point.