Business News in English

Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

More plumbing companies, yet a shortage of skilled workers persists
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More plumbing companies, yet a shortage of skilled workers persists

Although the number of plumbing businesses in the Netherlands has surged by nearly 60 percent since 2016, the sector continues to face a significant shortage of skilled workers. Rising demand for sust...

Trump strikes deal with Russia for direct supply of 300,000 tons of diesel
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Trump strikes deal with Russia for direct supply of 300,000 tons of diesel

President Donald Trump announced a deal to import 300,000 tons of diesel from Russia, with additional large shipments expected in the near future. The U.S. Treasury has authorized a temporary permit f...

Trump says Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel to US immediately
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Trump says Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel to US immediately

President Trump announced that Russia will provide 300,000 tons of diesel to the United States immediately, with several million more tons scheduled for delivery in the coming months. The agreement fo...

Electricity becomes more expensive in the evening: these households will feel the new network tariffs
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Electricity becomes more expensive in the evening: these households will feel the new network tariffs

Dutch grid operators plan to abolish the single transport tariff for electricity by 2029, which will result in significantly different prices throughout the day. This shift aims to manage grid load, l...

DNB president continues to push for abolition of mortgage interest deduction
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DNB president continues to push for abolition of mortgage interest deduction

De Nederlandsche Bank President Sleijpen has reiterated his call for the complete abolition of the mortgage interest deduction in the Netherlands, arguing it no longer serves an economic purpose. He c...

On the role of money in football: the reports on Dolberg's cruciate ligament were distressing
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On the role of money in football: the reports on Dolberg's cruciate ligament were distressing

New setback for housing in Amsterdam-Noord: Parliament supports preservation of Damen shipyard
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New setback for housing in Amsterdam-Noord: Parliament supports preservation of Damen shipyard

Plans for a major residential development in Amsterdam-Noord are currently stalled because the Dutch parliament voted to keep the site as a protected industrial zone for the Damen shipyard. While the ...

EU and China reach agreement on hybrid car export restrictions
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EU and China reach agreement on hybrid car export restrictions

The European Union and China have successfully negotiated an agreement to restrict the export of plug-in hybrid vehicles to Europe. This decision follows a dramatic increase in Chinese hybrid imports,...

Bicycle brands Batavus, Koga and Babboe relaunch
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Bicycle brands Batavus, Koga and Babboe relaunch

Bicycle brands Batavus, Koga, and Babboe are set for a restart after being acquired by Dutech following the bankruptcy of parent company Accell. The deal includes the company's IT infrastructure, its ...

EU selects 46 raw materials projects to reduce dependence on China
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EU selects 46 raw materials projects to reduce dependence on China

The European Commission has launched 46 projects across sixteen countries to reduce reliance on China for vital raw materials like lithium and copper. These initiatives, supported by prioritized permi...

Topsport Amsterdam office unusable after Olympic Stadium fire
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Topsport Amsterdam office unusable after Olympic Stadium fire

Topsport Amsterdam faces a five-month displacement after a fire in the Olympic Stadium's parking garage caused significant soot and smoke damage to its offices. Despite the facility closure, the organ...

Regional bus drivers to strike all day Wednesday, impacting city public transport too
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Regional bus drivers to strike all day Wednesday, impacting city public transport too

Regional bus drivers plan a one-day strike next Wednesday following stalled collective agreement negotiations, impacting several bus lines operating within Amsterdam. The unions are demanding higher w...

Haarlem takes financial risk with new Spaarne Gasthuis construction
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Haarlem takes financial risk with new Spaarne Gasthuis construction

Haarlem is assuming significant financial risk by providing a 100 million euro guarantee and committing to purchase the current hospital site for 25 million euros to keep the Spaarne Gasthuis in the c...

Virgin hopes to lure passengers away from Eurostar with luxury and comfortable train
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Virgin hopes to lure passengers away from Eurostar with luxury and comfortable train

Virgin has ordered twelve high-speed trains from Alstom to challenge Eurostar on international routes between cities including London and Amsterdam starting in 2030. The company aims to differentiate ...

Uncertainty over government policy hinders collective bargaining negotiations
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Uncertainty over government policy hinders collective bargaining negotiations

Collective labor agreement negotiations in the Netherlands have reached a historical low due to disagreements between unions and employers and uncertainty regarding government policy. Employers remain...

ABN AMRO expects newspaper revenue growth due to willingness to pay for news
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ABN AMRO expects newspaper revenue growth due to willingness to pay for news

Dutch newspaper publishers experienced their sixth consecutive year of revenue growth, reaching 1.2 billion euros, largely driven by a surge in digital subscriptions. While advertising income has dwin...

Regional transport workers to strike one day a week until Christmas
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Regional transport workers to strike one day a week until Christmas

Regional transport workers in the Netherlands are planning weekly strikes until Christmas to push for better working conditions, including lower work pressure and improved pay. Municipal city transpor...

This won't be a hit piece on people in the Zuidas, I say on the way to the Green Business Club Zuidas anniversary
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This won't be a hit piece on people in the Zuidas, I say on the way to the Green Business Club Zuidas anniversary

The Green Business Club Zuidas recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary of promoting sustainability efforts within the Zuidas business district in Amsterdam. While the organization has made signi...

Gasoline prices headed for record highs due to ongoing Middle East unrest
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Gasoline prices headed for record highs due to ongoing Middle East unrest

Gasoline prices in the Netherlands are nearing record levels due to supply chain disruptions caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz and regional violence ...

Belgian strike affects train passengers to and from the Netherlands
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Belgian strike affects train passengers to and from the Netherlands

A 24-hour rail strike in Belgium is causing significant travel disruptions, including canceled train services to and from the Netherlands and approximately 140 flight cancellations at Brussels Airport...

Bus manufacturer Ebusco in financial trouble again and fears for its existence
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Bus manufacturer Ebusco in financial trouble again and fears for its existence

Electric bus manufacturer Ebusco is facing a critical financial crisis and warns that it may not survive without an immediate influx of capital. Production has slowed significantly, and the company ha...

Dutch industry grows by 12 percent in August, largest increase in over four years
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Dutch industry grows by 12 percent in August, largest increase in over four years

Dutch industrial production surged by 12 percent in August, marking its highest growth rate in over four years. This upward trend, following a 9.3 percent increase in July, is largely driven by a high...

Heinen has enough ways out of the box 3 swamp, but they all hurt
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Heinen has enough ways out of the box 3 swamp, but they all hurt

Finance Minister Eelco Heinen faces a difficult challenge in navigating the ongoing controversy surrounding box 3 taxation. He must find a solution while balancing political pressure from his own part...

Homebuyers get less square footage for the same money with new construction
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Homebuyers get less square footage for the same money with new construction

The number of new-build homes for sale in the Netherlands has reached its highest level in nearly eleven years, yet buyers are receiving less living space for the same price due to shrinkflation. Expe...

Global trade growing faster than expected despite Iran war
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Global trade growing faster than expected despite Iran war

The WTO has raised its global trade growth forecast to 3.9 percent for this year, citing resilient supply chains and significant investments in AI despite the ongoing war in Iran. While goods trade re...

KLM to cancel flights due to high number of aircraft requiring repairs
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KLM to cancel flights due to high number of aircraft requiring repairs

KLM will cancel flights from late October through early March to manage fleet availability issues caused by unexpected maintenance and repair delays. The airline aims to increase its reserve of interc...

End to intake freeze at Levvel, youths with severe issues can once again be admitted in Amsterdam
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End to intake freeze at Levvel, youths with severe issues can once again be admitted in Amsterdam

Care organization Levvel has ended its intake freeze for Amsterdam youth following successful negotiations to secure more beds for those in need of severe residential care. While access has been resto...

Politicians in Southeast oppose higher tourist tax: "This is annexed territory"
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Politicians in Southeast oppose higher tourist tax: "This is annexed territory"

Local politicians in Amsterdam Zuidoost have unsuccessfully requested an exemption from the city's planned increase in tourist tax, arguing that their district does not face the same tourism-related i...

Restaurant bills to rise further next year
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Restaurant bills to rise further next year

The FoodService Institute Netherlands expects restaurant prices to rise by 4.5 percent next year, driven by inflation and economic uncertainty. Although total revenue in the hospitality sector is stil...

IKEA enters second-hand market with its own platform for used furniture
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IKEA enters second-hand market with its own platform for used furniture

IKEA will launch a dedicated second-hand marketplace in the Netherlands by mid-2027 to allow IKEA Family members to buy and sell used home products. The platform aims to extend product lifespans and s...