paroolNov 13, 2026, 12:46

De Bijenkorf to stop dressing its own window displays: ‘Our unique identity has become increasingly diluted in recent years’

De Bijenkorf will stop designing its own window displays starting next year, opting instead to let individual brands manage the spaces. This change represents a shift away from the store's traditional identity and has sparked concerns about the loss of a piece of Dutch heritage.

Business Culture Lifestyle Netherlands

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Letter from entrepreneurs to municipality on tourist tax hike: "Many negative consequences"

Business leaders in Amsterdam are urging the city council to pause and reconsider a planned hike in tourist tax that could reach 20 percent by 2031. They warn that the combined effect of this tax and a national VAT increase will place a 41 percent burden on hotel stays, threatening the viability of the city's hospitality and events sectors.

Joris and his father take over chip shop: “We cut the potatoes ourselves and you can taste it”

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Chef Ron Blaauw is closing his Michelin-starred Ron Gastrobar in Amsterdam-Zuid after fourteen years to pursue a new, more flexible dining concept. The restaurant will cease operations in February, with a new project to be announced in December, while his other business locations across the Netherlands will remain open.

100 years of Hema: Amsterdammers share memories of smoked sausage, loose cookies and secret snacking on the job

As the Dutch retail chain Hema celebrates its 100th anniversary, residents of Amsterdam are sharing nostalgic stories about the store's iconic products and their personal history with the brand. Since its founding in 1926, the company has become a cultural staple, with customers reflecting on childhood memories of snacks, toys, and long-lasting household items.