Business News in English

Washington Post: Months needed to clear mines in Strait of Hormuz

The US Defense Department estimates it could take up to six months to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz. This prolonged demining process is expected to keep global oil and gas prices high ...

Retirement age rises: the average age Dutch people stop working

The average retirement age in the Netherlands rose to 66 years and 4 months in 2025, an increase of two and a half months compared to the previous year. This shift brings the actual retirement age clo...

Zandvoort grants Bernie’s Beachclub another extension despite previous harsh words: ‘The situation is complex’

The Zandvoort municipal council has granted Bernie's Beachclub another extension despite a previously set ultimatum passing four months ago. This marks the ninth consecutive year that no construction ...

Heineken sells more beer thanks to popular premium brands

Heineken reported an increase in beer sales during the first quarter, marking its first volume growth since late 2024. This positive performance was primarily driven by the success of the brewer's pre...

More than 2,700 vacation homes for sale, the highest number in fifteen years

The number of holiday homes for sale in the Netherlands reached a 15-year high last year, with more than 2,700 properties listed on the market. According to the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents...

Former employee sues MrBeast’s company for sexual harassment

A former employee has filed a lawsuit against YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson's company, Beast Industries, alleging sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation. The company has denied the accus...

Employees on sick leave need more time to recover

Sickness absence in the Netherlands decreased to 5 percent in March, down from 5.4 percent in February. However, the overall quarterly absence rate remains steady because employees who fall ill are ta...

Many women postpone motherhood due to temporary contracts: ‘Financial security first’

A new study reveals that many young adults, particularly women aged 18 to 35, are delaying motherhood due to job insecurity. The prevalence of temporary contracts has led many to prioritize financial ...

EU electric car sales rose nearly 50 percent last month

Sales of fully electric vehicles in the European Union increased by nearly 50 percent in March compared to the same month last year. According to the European automobile manufacturers association (ACE...

Tesla profit rises after slight sales growth, revenue also up

Tesla reported a rise in both profit and revenue for the first quarter of the year compared to the previous year. This financial growth follows a slight increase in the company's vehicle sales during ...

Pension funds have smaller buffers due to war in Middle East

The funding ratios of major Dutch pension funds ABP and PME have declined due to financial market instability linked to the conflict in the Middle East. This decrease could result in less capital bein...

Oil prices rise on uncertain ceasefire prospects

Oil prices have risen for the fourth consecutive day due to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz. The struggle for control of the strategic waterway has led to...

Queer Market offers safe space for Amsterdam makers: ‘Some found it too outspoken’

For sale signs appearing more often and staying longer on luxury holiday homes as oversupply drives down prices, especially in coastal areas

The luxury holiday home market in the Netherlands is cooling down, with a record number of properties listed for sale due to stricter tax measures. This oversupply is leading to falling prices after y...

Small sellers feel robbed by Bol.com: ‘I paid almost 3,000 euros too much’

Small sellers using Bol.com's shipping service are reporting significant overcharges due to inconsistent pricing for packages of identical size and weight. Merchant Cee Heeren claims he was overbilled...

Consumer fears war, investor counts on peace

Consumers are growing increasingly pessimistic due to the conflict in the Middle East, while stock markets continue to reach record highs. This contrast raises questions about whether investors are ig...

No trains to or from Amsterdam South for a week after King's Day due to Zuidasdok work; A10 South also partially closed

Heinen open to taxing windfall profits, but not yet

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen has expressed openness to taxing the excess profits of companies benefiting from conflicts in the Middle East, such as those in the oil sector. However, he stated t...

Drop in economic confidence doesn't mean people are spending less yet

Dutch consumer confidence dropped significantly in April, reaching nearly its lowest level ever recorded. Despite this decline, consumer spending remains stable as many individuals report their person...

Lufthansa grounds many aircraft in summer due to high fuel prices

Lufthansa is cancelling 20,000 short-haul flights through October to mitigate rising fuel costs. The German airline reports that aviation fuel prices have doubled since the start of the conflict in Ir...

Ryanair passengers must check in earlier due to airport crowds

Starting this fall, Ryanair passengers checking in luggage must do so 20 minutes earlier to avoid missing flights due to long airport queues. The budget airline introduced this measure because congest...

Former Moldovan MP sentenced to 19 years for role in 'theft of the century'

Former Moldovan MP and businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc was sentenced to 19 years in prison on Wednesday for his role in a massive bank fraud scheme. He was found guilty of stealing over 850 million eu...

Employee dies in robbery at gold exchange office in Beverwijk

A store employee has died after being seriously injured during a robbery at a gold exchange office in Beverwijk on Wednesday afternoon. Following a search with a police helicopter, a 19-year-old man f...

Need a new or upgraded power connection? Apply before July 1, 2026

Individuals and businesses requiring a new or upgraded power connection are advised to submit their applications before July 1, 2026. After this deadline, all new requests will be placed on a waiting ...

Blokker is back: are you still a fan or have you moved on? Let us know

Following its bankruptcy in late 2024 and the subsequent closure of hundreds of stores, the household retail chain Blokker has made a comeback with 56 locations. The chain has returned to using its or...

Inspectorate imposes penalty on Tata Steel over hazardous steel slag

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) has imposed a penalty on Tata Steel for failing to classify a specific type of steel slag as hazardous waste. The steel manufacturer must now upd...

European Union seizes energy crisis to phase out fossil fuel dependence

The European Commission is introducing measures to reduce the European Union's dependency on fossil fuels in response to the current energy crisis. The plan aims to accelerate the energy transition wh...

Cosmetics chain Rituals warns customers after data breach

Cosmetics chain Rituals has issued a warning to its customers following a data breach where customer information was unlawfully downloaded. The company advised individuals to be vigilant against poten...

Action and Albert Heijn sell fake AirPods, Apple targets Dutch wholesaler

Retailers Action, Albert Heijn, and Sligro have been found selling counterfeit AirPods Pro that were marketed as genuine products at low prices. Apple discovered the illegal trade and is now taking ac...

Tata Steel tests plant after excessive chromium-6 emissions

Tata Steel is conducting trial runs at its Direct Sheet Plant in IJmuiden this week to measure emissions following an earlier shutdown. The facility was closed after internal tests revealed that chrom...