Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Half-million euro fine for construction companies that bribed Sint Maarten minister
Two subsidiaries of the construction company VolkerWessels were ordered by a court in Zwolle on Thursday to pay a combined fine of €480,000 for bribing former Sint Maarten minister Theo Heyliger. Th...
Government raises 923 million euros from emission rights auction
The Dutch government raised approximately 923 million euros last year through the auction of carbon emission rights. These rights must be purchased by large industrial companies to legally emit CO2, w...
Videoland on Teun Kuilboer's departure from Sleepers: 'There were tensions'
Actor Teun Kuilboer has resigned from the Videoland series *Sleepers* with immediate effect, citing what he described as an unworkable situation. Videoland and production company Fiction Valley confir...
Philips still plagued by sleep apnea scandal: CEO also sued
Philips continues to face legal repercussions from its 2021 sleep apnea device recall, with American investors filing a lawsuit against CEO Roy Jakobs in December. Investors in the Netherlands are als...
After Unilever, Nestlé may also spin off ice cream division including Häagen-Dazs
Nestlé is considering the sale of its ice cream division, which includes the Häagen-Dazs brand, as part of an ongoing corporate reorganization. The Swiss food company aims to focus more on its other...
Zuckerberg gives rare testimony in social media addiction case
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in court on Wednesday for the first time regarding Instagram’s impact on the mental health of young users. During the testimony, he was questioned about how age li...
Advisory body SER calls for eight weeks of paid leave for informal caregivers
The Dutch advisory body SER is calling for the government to provide eight weeks of paid leave to help informal caregivers balance their jobs with their caregiving responsibilities. This recommendatio...
Quartet behind Skatecafé opens Noorderpark Café, where things are a bit more laid-back
The four founders of Amsterdam's Skatecafé have taken over the Noorderpark Café in Amsterdam-Noord, transforming it into a relaxed, family-friendly neighborhood destination. The new owners plan to o...
350-euro washing machines, fresh durian and maybe a Rolex: Chinese giant aims to conquer the Dutch market
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is planning to expand its presence in the Dutch market, posing a significant threat to local retailers like Bol.com and Coolblue. Retail expert John Lin predicts the co...
Tech billionaires (and Dick Schoof) discuss the future of AI at Indian summit
Leaders from major technology companies, including OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic, are gathering in India to discuss the future and impact of artificial intelligence. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Dick...
KLM concerned about costs but parent company reports record profit
KLM CEO Marjan Rintel has called for improved cost management following a challenging 2025, despite the airline starting and ending the year strongly. In contrast, parent company Air France-KLM report...
Dutch investors fared well in otherwise turbulent year
In 2025, the investment value of Dutch households increased by 7.8 percent, according to data from De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). Despite experiencing a volatile and tense financial year, the central ba...
Few people ill in January for the time of year
Employee absenteeism in January was lower than in previous years, but rates are now rising due to the start of a flu epidemic. The celebration of Carnival is expected to further contribute to this inc...
Fishmonger at wits' end: stall area plagued by rats but health services say little can be done
Renger Debens, owner of the "De Nieuwe Vangst" fish stall in Amsterdam, is struggling with a severe rat infestation that is causing the ground to sink and damaging his stall's structure. While local h...
Dozens of flights at Schiphol cancelled as a precaution due to winter weather
Airlines have preemptively cancelled approximately 100 flights at Schiphol Airport due to expected winter weather conditions. These cancellations primarily affect European destinations and were made a...
Billions in profits for Dutch banks, yet checking account fees are rising: why is that?
Major Dutch banks ING, Rabobank, and ABN Amro reported record annual profits last year, drawing public criticism as service fees for checking accounts continue to rise while savings interest remains l...
After Henny’s (58) unexpected death, Willem opens her dream shop: ‘In that world she felt safe’
Following the unexpected death of 58-year-old Henny Christophersen, her husband Willem is opening a dollhouse shop in Lochem to honor her memory. Henny, who owned 40 dollhouses, found solace in the mi...
Meta to equip smart glasses with facial recognition: 'Doomsday scenario for privacy'
A leaked memo indicates that Meta plans to equip its smart camera glasses with facial recognition technology to allow users to identify individuals in public. Privacy advocates have condemned the pote...
Vodafone sells stake in VodafoneZiggo, Ziggo to list in Amsterdam in 2027
British telecom company Vodafone has agreed to sell its 50% stake in the Dutch joint venture VodafoneZiggo to its partner Liberty Global for €1 billion in cash. VodafoneZiggo will be integrated into...
Aegon insurance brand to disappear from the Netherlands in coming months after takeover
The insurance brand Aegon will completely disappear from the Dutch market over the coming months following its acquisition by insurer ASR. All remaining mortgage and pension products will be rebranded...
Hey you! indebuurt Haarlem is looking for a freelance editor
Indebuurt Haarlem is immediately seeking a freelance editor to join its team. The role involves creating content to make the local platform more engaging and practical for the residents of Haarlem.
Massive Odido data breach also hits customers who left years ago: 'They'll end up on the dark web'
A significant data breach at Dutch telecom provider Odido has affected current and former customers, including individuals who left the company up to ten years ago. Affected victims expressed anger an...
Shein under investigation in Europe over illegal products and ‘addictive’ design: ‘Aggressive marketing model’
The European Union has launched an investigation into the Chinese retailer Shein over the sale of illegal items, including reports of child sex dolls being listed on the platform. The probe also exami...
Not Laren, but this municipality is now the most expensive in the Netherlands
Blaricum has replaced Laren as the most expensive municipality for homebuyers in the Netherlands, with average house prices exceeding €1.1 million. According to data from the CBS and Kadaster, Bloem...
Hundreds of Odido customers switch after massive data breach: ‘What happened there is no small matter’
Hundreds of Odido internet customers have switched to competitors following a major data leak at the telecommunications company. According to the comparison platform Internetten.nl, the number of cust...
D66 member Nathalie van Berkel not to become state secretary due to CV inaccuracies
D66 Member of Parliament Nathalie van Berkel has withdrawn as the nominee for State Secretary of Finance due to inaccuracies regarding her educational background. She stepped down after it was reveale...
Welding robot becomes new colleague at regional shipyards: ‘Skilled workers for difficult jobs’
Neptune Marine in Hardinxveld-Giessendam is introducing advanced welding robots to address a critical shortage of skilled labor in the Dutch shipbuilding industry. These smart machines are designed to...
Pauline was back on the street after three weeks: 'I supposedly didn't pass onboarding'
Pauline, a 56-year-old employee, was dismissed from her new job after only three weeks despite initially passing the application process and assignments with high marks. Her employer claimed she faile...
Free digital security training
Small and medium-sized business owners in Haarlem are invited to a free "Digital First Responder" training on March 3, 2026, to improve their cybersecurity preparedness. The session at the 3D Makers Z...
Suddenly, ‘no-frills’ discounter Aldi has the wind in its sails: how is that possible?
Aldi is experiencing a significant business recovery after several years of financial setbacks and declining performance. The discount supermarket's turnaround is largely attributed to its consistent ...