Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Cabinet may force companies to produce for defense if necessary
The Dutch government is introducing a new law that allows them to compel specific companies to produce essential goods for the military during emergency situations. Under this legislation, the cabinet...
Grid operators demand down payments from municipalities for construction projects, Amsterdam sounds alarm with G40
Mobile internet usage is declining, except at hacked Odido, which also seems to be gaining customers again
Recent research shows that smartphone data usage in the Netherlands slightly declined during the beginning of the year. However, Odido experienced an increase in data usage and a recovery in customer ...
From Waalre and Deurne to Barneveld: towns outside the Randstad to see fastest growth by 2050
The Netherlands is projected to reach 19.6 million inhabitants by 2050, requiring significant housing expansion. While cities in the Randstad will grow, rural areas and towns outside this region are e...
New forecast: 4,320 new homes in Haarlem over the next five years, thousands more needed by 2050
A new report from research firm ABF forecasts that 4,320 new homes will be completed in Haarlem over the next five years. To accommodate continued population growth, thousands of additional residentia...
Permit granted for new data center in Amsterdam Southeast
A building permit has been issued for the first tower of a major Equinix data center in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, as the application preceded a local construction moratorium. While the facility is slated fo...
Small business owner stops sustainability efforts: Investments often cannot even be recouped
Data from Statistics Netherlands indicates a decline in sustainability investments among Dutch businesses, falling to 61 percent this year. Small and medium-sized enterprises are primarily responsible...
From webshop to lender: bol launches its own buy now, pay later service
Bol has established a separate credit company to manage its 'pay later' payment option. The e-commerce retailer intends to offer this service to other online stores in the future to expand consumer pa...
German brewers produce record amount of non-alcoholic beer
German breweries produced a record amount of non-alcoholic beer last year according to data from Destatis. While overall production of alcoholic beer remains higher, its output experienced a decline.
Young people no longer prefer working in hospitality during the summer
As the summer holidays begin in Northern Netherlands, student seasonal jobs remain a popular solution to labor shortages. However, there is a noticeable shift in preferences as young people are increa...
Amsterdam extends solar panel subsidy until end of 2026 with stricter requirements
Malaise in our shopping basket due to soaring prices: we are buying less and are forced to choose cheaper brands
Dutch consumers are purchasing fewer groceries and opting for cheaper brands due to persistent high inflation over the past three years. Retail revenue growth is currently being driven by price increa...
Middle East conflict continues to disrupt global gas market
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global gas markets, leading to tighter supplies and higher prices. These conditions have resulted in decreased demand for gas, particularly...
ECB wants banks to create action plans against AI cyber threats
The European Central Bank is urging financial institutions to develop strategic action plans to counter the increasing cybersecurity risks posed by advanced AI systems. The regulator specifically high...
Cash remains widely accepted, but card-only is on the rise in major cities
While cash remains widely accepted for daily transactions in the Netherlands, the number of businesses transitioning to card-only payments is increasing in larger cities. Despite this trend, physical ...
How Nike suddenly lost its cool: ‘It has become your parents’ shoe’
Nike is currently facing a significant decline in popularity and financial performance as younger consumers shift their preferences toward rival brands like Adidas and New Balance. The once-dominant s...
Heat puts agriculture under pressure, but Dutch harvest holds up for now
Despite an approaching heatwave, the Dutch agricultural sector reports that crops such as potatoes, onions, and wheat are currently holding up well. While similar extreme heat has caused visible damag...
Dutch petrol prices rise by another cent, refuelling across the border can save twenty euros
Gasoline prices in the Netherlands have slightly increased again, reversing a recent downward trend. Motorists are advised that filling up their tanks across the border could result in savings of up t...
Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs in major Xbox reorganization
Microsoft is cutting approximately 4,800 jobs globally as the company shifts its investment focus toward artificial intelligence. The Xbox gaming division will be most significantly impacted, with rou...
Low incomes hit hardest by high energy prices: 'Paying much more tax'
New research from TNO indicates that government compensation for high energy bills is significantly less effective than investing in home insulation and sustainable energy alternatives. The study high...
Rotterdam train disruption resolved after over a week
The power failure that disrupted train services between Rotterdam and the south for over a week has been resolved. Train traffic was fully restored by 5:00 a.m. following repairs by ProRail.
Tanker attacked near Strait of Hormuz
An oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, causing a fire to break out on board. The incident was reported by the British maritime organiza...
Southeast Amsterdam to get mega data center: heavy user of power and drinking water, but with space for local startups
Ajax talent Sean Steur (18) set for big-money move to Newcastle United
18-year-old Ajax talent Sean Steur is nearing a transfer to the Premier League club Newcastle United. The deal is reportedly valued at approximately 27 million euros, including potential bonuses.
Rutte: arms industry cannot handle even higher defense budgets
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the European defense industry has reached its capacity to process orders due to the rapid increase in defense spending by member states. He noted that the...
NPO cuts its own flesh, axes two directors and support staff: 'Drastic and painful'
The Dutch public broadcaster NPO is reducing its management team by eliminating two director positions to improve organizational efficiency. These cuts are part of a broader cost-saving measure affect...
Motorcycle sales rise significantly again: 'It's a practical means of transport'
New motorcycle sales in the Netherlands increased significantly in the first half of the year, with 14,062 units sold. This represents a growth of over 15 percent compared to the same period in the pr...
Zijlstraat, Cronjé and Kleverpark shopping areas partly excluded from higher parking rates: 'Benefits local economy'
The Haarlem city council has decided to exempt parking areas and garages in the Zijlstraat, Cronjé, and Kleverpark shopping districts from planned rate increases. The current 'stop and shop' rate of ...
Russian banks pressured to issue risky loans
A European intelligence report reviewed by Reuters indicates that Russian banks are under pressure to issue increasingly risky loans. This practice raises concerns about a potential explosive banking ...
Government did not want to buy Solvinity itself, company claims
Solvinity, the manager of the DigiD platform, approached the Dutch government with an offer to be acquired, but the government declined the proposal. Lawyers representing the company disclosed this in...