Business News in English

Station Square office giants to be demolished in early 2028; preparations for new square well underway

The office buildings and sports hall at Haarlem's Stationsplein are scheduled for demolition in early 2028 to facilitate a complete redesign of the station area. Preparations for the redevelopment are...

Young people aged 16 and over to receive higher minimum wage in 2027

Starting January 1, 2027, individuals aged 16 to 20 in the Netherlands will receive a higher minimum wage. Social Affairs Minister Hans Vijlbrief is implementing the increase, which follows a plan est...

Time is running out for circular shop MooiZooi in Molenwijk: still no new premises

Sustainable neighborhood shop MooiZooi is still searching for a new location as its current building in Haarlem's Molenwijk district is scheduled for demolition. Founder Alice Taylor expressed the urg...

Tata Steel fined another 8.5 million euros for excessive emissions

Tata Steel has been ordered to pay an additional fine of over 8.5 million euros for exceeding harmful emission limits at one of its plants. The penalty was imposed by the North Sea Canal Area Environm...

Van Weel: we will increasingly see major cybercrime

Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel warns that major cyberattacks, such as those targeting ChipSoft and Odido, will become increasingly common as global cybercrime rises. He stresses the need for mo...

Huge value of Pokémon cards leads to robberies in the UK

The increasing market value of Pokémon cards has triggered a wave of robberies and ram-raids at stores throughout the United Kingdom. Some incidents have resulted in the theft of merchandise valued a...

TommyTomato relaunches in slimmed-down form; 30,000 students may get healthy lunches again after May break

The social enterprise TommyTomato is resuming its operations in a slimmed-down form after securing new financing. While the restart allows 30,000 primary school students to receive healthy lunches aga...

Airport parking prices at an all-time high: 'Consider the bus'

Airport parking prices have reached a record high, with the average weekly cost for an official space rising to 98 euros. Rates at major hubs like Schiphol, Dusseldorf, and Brussels are significantly ...

Netflix reports sharply higher profit with Bridgerton as major draw

Netflix reported a significant increase in first-quarter profits, driven by the success of popular titles like Bridgerton and the second season of One Piece. The streaming service also benefited from ...

Professor: Time to worry about the business climate in Amsterdam

The number of foreign companies establishing themselves in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area has continued to decline, with only 39 new arrivals in 2025. While city officials are prioritizing high-quali...

Cans and bottles can now also be returned at gas stations off the highway

Statiegeld Nederland and Shell have formed a partnership to allow consumers to return deposit cans and bottles at gas stations located off the highway. This initiative aims to make recycling more acce...

Several hospitality businesses no longer have valid permits: enforcement and supervision catch-up in Velsen

The municipality of Velsen is conducting a comprehensive review of hospitality permits to improve oversight and enforcement within the sector. While the goal to inspect all commercial establishments b...

Reader question: Kees Schaap keeps having battery trouble. When does your warranty end?

A reader named Kees Schaap seeks advice on consumer rights regarding car batteries that repeatedly fail within the legal warranty period. The inquiry focuses on whether a consumer is entitled to a new...

New interim board of Hoofddorp Pioniers tries to turn tide in dispute with stadium operator ETO, conflict cautiously fading: ‘The battle between us is unnecessary’

The Hoofddorp Pioniers baseball club and stadium operator ETO are moving toward resolving a long-standing dispute over a new operating agreement. Following the appointment of an interim board at the c...

Enhanced castle feel at renovated Stayokay in Assumburg Castle, new bridge to lure garden visitors: 'They book for the experience'

The Stayokay hostel in Slot Assumburg, Heemskerk, has reopened following an extensive renovation designed to enhance the historic "castle experience" for guests. Manager Michiel Broos noted that while...

Chamber of Commerce: Fewer business closures and more startups for first time in 2.5 years

The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) reports that the number of businesses closing fell in the first quarter of this year for the first time in 2.5 years. Additionally, there was an increase in the num...

ANWB: Different May holiday choices due to global unrest

Dutch travelers are increasingly choosing European destinations for their May holidays due to global instability, with 94% staying within the continent. According to the ANWB holiday monitor, interest...

Amsterdam fails to attract international companies: ‘We are not doing nearly as well as we think’

De Hypotheker: average mortgage rate hits two-year high

The average mortgage interest rate in the Netherlands has reached its highest level in over two years, according to reports from De Hypotheker. This rise is primarily driven by increasing capital mark...

Flight cancellations are just the beginning: ‘Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left’

KLM will cancel 160 flights starting in late April as the International Energy Agency warns that Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel reserves remaining. This fuel shortage is expected to trigger a b...

Majority of Dutch Parliament supports better pay for top athletes, VVD wants business sector to contribute

A majority of the Dutch Parliament supports a proposal by NOC*NSF to increase the income of elite athletes. While there is political backing for the plan, the VVD party advocates for the additional fu...

People keep credit cards in their pockets due to economic uncertainty

Dutch consumers are using their credit cards less frequently due to economic and geopolitical uncertainty following the start of the conflict in the Middle East. According to data from Visa Netherland...

Referral to dermatologist for laser tattoo removal. 'I’m not removing it. I’m going over it'

The rapid growth of tattoo shops has led to an increase in customers seeking to cover up or modify older designs they regret. Professionals in the industry observe a stylistic transition from traditio...

Medical patient data also stolen in ChipSoft hack

Hackers stole medical patient data during a cyberattack on ChipSoft, a major software provider for the healthcare sector. The company confirmed the theft of sensitive information on Thursday following...

Meat fraud involving beef heads in Brabant, NVWA conducts raid

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) raided a meat company in Nuenen on suspicion of meat fraud and document falsification. Three employees were arrested for allegedly trading m...

Greenpeace hopes Dutch court overturns multi-million dollar US fine

Greenpeace and US pipeline company Energy Transfer appeared in an Amsterdam court to dispute a multi-million dollar fine issued against the environmental group in the United States. Greenpeace is chal...

Three arrested after series of shopliftings in Hoofddorp

Police arrested three individuals on Thursday afternoon at Burgemeester van Stamplein in Hoofddorp. The suspects are accused of committing a series of shopliftings within the local shopping district.

Pubs allowed to stay open overnight for late World Cup matches this summer

Bars in Amsterdam will be allowed to extend their opening hours from June 11 to July 19 to broadcast late-night FIFA World Cup matches held in North America. Mayor Femke Halsema specified that while e...

We're back and that's great! Bars and restaurants can stay open longer during the World Cup

Hospitality businesses in Amsterdam are permitted to extend their opening hours during the World Cup to accommodate late-night football matches. This change allows fans to watch the games in local pub...

KLM cancels 160 flights at Schiphol due to rising fuel prices

KLM will cancel 160 flights to and from Schiphol Airport over the coming month. The airline is reducing its schedule in response to rising kerosene prices.