Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Oil giants profit from Middle East unrest as profits soar
Major oil companies, including BP and Saudi Aramco, have reported significant increases in quarterly profits due to rising oil prices. These price hikes were driven by geopolitical tensions between Ir...
Slap on the wrist: Bloemendaal must enforce regulations at Vogelenzang campsite
The Bloemendaal appeals committee has advised the municipality to enforce zoning laws against the construction of 350 chalets at the former Vogelenzang campsite. The committee found that the project, ...
Olive oil prices set to rise again due to heat, drought and fires
Olive oil prices are expected to rise again this autumn due to extreme heat, drought, and wildfires affecting olive groves in Southern Europe. Additionally, these adverse weather conditions are impact...
Smaller Boeing 737 MAX finally cleared for takeoff after years of delays
The US aviation authority FAA has approved the 737-7, which is the smallest version of the Boeing 737 MAX. This certification follows years of delays and represents a significant step forward for the ...
The long wait is over: Ajax announces arrival of Marc-André ter Stegen
Ajax has officially reached an agreement to sign 34-year-old goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen on a one-year loan from FC Barcelona. The transfer, which had been previously delayed due to fiscal compl...
Rabobank invests 2 billion euros in AI following multibillion-euro profit
Rabobank has announced a plan to invest up to 2 billion euros over the next three years into artificial intelligence, data, and IT infrastructure. The initiative aims to modernize the bank's digital s...
Record number of building permits, but housing supply will not grow for now
The number of building permits for new homes in the Netherlands has reached record levels. However, experts at ING Research note that construction is not increasing due to labor shortages, high buildi...
Ridden and groped: bronze bull on Beursplein symbolises optimism and rising stock prices
European markets gain after reports of Middle East negotiations
European stock markets closed with significant gains on Monday, driven by a drop in oil prices following hopes for new negotiations in the Middle East. President Donald Trump announced that talks with...
Amazon worth more than three trillion dollars for the first time
Amazon has reached a market capitalization of over three trillion dollars for the first time. The company joins other major tech firms, including Nvidia, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Apple, in reaching th...
US strikes deal with companies to triple Patriot missile production
The United States Department of Defense has reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to triple the production of Patriot missiles. This initiative aims to increase the manufactur...
Port workers to strike over social security cuts
Hundreds of port workers in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Zeeland plan to strike on September 4th. This industrial action is a protest against the cabinet's proposed budget cuts to social security.
PostNL sees dip in parcels and aims for explosive growth in parcel locker network
PostNL reports a decline in parcel deliveries during the first half of the year, with domestic volumes falling by 4.2 percent and international by 15 percent. To counter this downturn, the company pla...
Shipping companies face challenges due to drought
Companies transporting goods via inland waterways in the Netherlands are facing significant disruptions due to persistent drought conditions. With no immediate relief in sight, these logistical challe...
Bol retail platform promises improvements following complaints from sales partners
Online retail platform bol has announced improvements to its communication processes following complaints from business partners. The company intends to offer customers more contact options beyond its...
British toy action figure Action Man to get live-action film
Toy manufacturer Hasbro is developing a live-action film based on the British action figure Action Man. The project is being produced in collaboration with the British film studio Working Title.
Linden tree misery in Haarlem continues: over 2,700 people sign petition
A conflict in Haarlem regarding the placement of linden trees in the Zijlstraat continues as over 2,700 people signed a petition to keep them. While a property owner argues the trees block the view of...
Mortgage rates are nearly half a percentage point higher than before the Iran war
The average ten-year fixed mortgage interest rate with National Mortgage Guarantee in the Netherlands has risen to 4.09 percent, the highest level this year. Financial advisor Van Bruggen reports that...
Shell sells European onshore renewable energy business
Shell has announced the sale of all its European onshore renewable energy operations to TotalEnergies. The oil company confirmed the decision on Monday.
Largest bank takeover in years completed as ABN AMRO acquires NIBC Bank
ABN AMRO has officially completed the acquisition of NIBC Bank, marking one of the largest banking takeovers in recent years. Customers of NIBC will not experience any immediate changes following the ...
PostNL delivers fewer parcels, mainly due to decline from Asia
PostNL reported a decline in parcel deliveries during the first half of the year, driven primarily by a reduction in orders from Asian webshops. Additionally, the volume of letters and postcards conti...
John Williams is co-owner of coffee shop in Gouda: 'It gives so much energy'
Presenter John Williams has opened a coffee shop called Nieuwe Buren in Gouda, where he personally assists with service. The business focuses on providing support and employment opportunities for indi...
Working past retirement age becomes the norm in collective labor agreements: 'How valuable are you still?'
Working beyond the official retirement age is becoming increasingly common in collective labor agreements across the Netherlands. By the first half of 2026, eleven collective agreements have already e...
Japan confirms US support for efforts to recover historic yen lows
Japan and the United States have conducted a joint currency market intervention for the first time in fifteen years to address the yen reaching a forty-year low. This measure was taken after the Japan...
Five-year contract ready for Ajax player Mika Godts at Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain
Ajax winger Mika Godts has been offered a five-year contract by Paris Saint-Germain, extending until 2031. The clubs must now negotiate an agreement on a transfer fee for the 21-year-old player.
Frontrunners | How much electricity does an AI query cost? Utrecht company shows it
The Dutch news outlet NU.nl is highlighting sustainable projects in its series 'Koplopers' this summer. This week's feature focuses on an Utrecht-based company developing a greener alternative to AI p...
Sharp increase in fully electric cars registered, total sales down
New passenger car sales in the Netherlands declined in July compared to the same period last year. Despite the overall decrease, the number of fully electric vehicles rose significantly, accounting fo...
Ozempic and protein type could significantly drive up baby formula prices
The rising popularity of high-protein diets and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic is driving up demand for concentrated whey protein. This trend is expected to increase production costs, potentially lead...
How Gerry won lawsuit against KLM: 'Earned less for the same work'
Haarlem-based KLM stewardess Gerry Bouma won a landmark legal battle in 1992 after discovering she and other female colleagues were paid significantly less than men for the same work. Her victory secu...
50 million for PSV, 38 million for Ajax and 300,000 euros for Telstar: this is how much the clubs earned this summer
Dutch football clubs experienced varying levels of financial success during the summer transfer window, with PSV leading earnings at 50 million euros and Ajax securing 38 million euros. In contrast, T...