Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
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...
Halving of subsidy threatens future of Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek: 'Only in the Bollenstreek are we just scraping by'
The Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek foundation is facing a significant budget cut, with subsidies nearly halving for 2026 and 2027. Consequently, the organization has warned that activities such as th...
Minister Sjoerdsma to China to strengthen trade relations
Dutch Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma is traveling to China for a three-day trade mission accompanied by seventeen companies from the Netherlands. This visit occurs five years after Beijing placed Sjoerdsma...
Wibra saw turnover and store count grow significantly last year
Budget retailer Wibra experienced a record year in 2025, opening 63 new stores to reach a total of 360 locations. The company reported that its revenue grew by over 25 percent, amounting to 362 millio...
Spain expects 100 million foreign tourists despite fires and heat
Spain expects to welcome 100 million foreign tourists this year, according to Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu. Despite concerns regarding rising summer temperatures and wildfires, the country continues t...
Diesel is flowing from the pump for less than 2 euros per liter again here and there
The price of diesel has fallen below 2 euros per liter at some locations in the Netherlands. This follows a significant price increase that occurred after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
Sales of new owner-occupied homes fall sharply
The sale of new owner-occupied homes in the Netherlands has declined for the third consecutive quarter. During the first three months of this year, only 5,126 new properties were sold.
EasyJet agrees to takeover bid from investment firm
British airline easyJet has agreed in principle to a new acquisition bid from investment firm Castlelake. Previous takeover attempts by the investment company had been rejected by the airline.
Number of new-build homes sold drops sharply
New-build home sales in the Netherlands declined by 19 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. This data was released by the national statistics office CBS ...
The pear has an image problem: ‘When you think of a poke bowl, you think of mango, why not pear?’
Pears are facing a significant decline in popularity among younger consumers and families, leading to concerns about market consumption. This issue is not limited to the Netherlands but is a broader t...
Haarlemmermeer gives positive advice on new data center in Schiphol-Rijk: 'Height is significant in relation to homes, but acceptable'
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has issued a positive recommendation for the construction of the AMS13 datacenter in Schiphol-Rijk. Local authorities approved the plan under specific conditions, su...
Cutting prize money: is it really necessary, Kim Lammers wonders
The ATP is considering significant changes to the men's doubles format at Wimbledon, including a reduction in participants and prize money starting in 2028. These proposed adjustments aim to reallocat...
Future of SRO at risk, say Haarlem and Velsen councilors: 'Concerns about survival'
Dozens of council members from Haarlem and Velsen have expressed concerns regarding the future of the municipal sports company SRO following a multi-million euro fraud scandal discovered in late June....
Richard grows with Gobanna at the port of IJmuiden: I don't need a prime location because customers come here specifically to visit
Richard van Leeuwen transitioned from a career as a civil servant to founding Gobanna, a successful company specializing in the production of compact, custom-made caravans. Despite operating from a sh...
Vunzige Deuntjes festival stands on its own again: "We still exist because we never gave up"
The urban festival Vunzige Deuntjes successfully held its first independent edition in the Amsterdamse Bos after the organization bought itself back from parent company Superstruct. Despite uncertaint...
Vunzige Deuntjes festival stands on its own again: "We still exist because we didn't give up"
The urban festival Vunzige Deuntjes successfully held its first edition as an independent event in the Amsterdamse Bos after managing to buy itself back from parent company Superstruct. Despite previo...
Power temporarily cut in Tilburg due to risk of overload
Approximately 18,000 customers in the Tilburg region experienced a brief power outage on Sunday morning. Grid operator Enexis intentionally shut down power to prevent the electricity network from beco...
8,000 euros for playground renovation in Beverwijk and 4,400 euros for sustainability at Sportclub Velsen: 26,000 euros from Area Fund distributed
The Gebiedsfonds Windpark Spuisluis has distributed 26,000 euros in grants to five local organizations. Among the recipients are a playground in Beverwijk, which received 8,000 euros, and Sportclub Ve...
Oil cartel OPEC+ increases oil production again in August
Seven member countries of the OPEC+ oil cartel have decided to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels per day in August. This follows similar production quota increases that were implemented for b...
No trains from Rotterdam to the south on Monday either
Train services from Rotterdam to the south will remain suspended on Monday due to setbacks in repair work following a fire. Rail operator ProRail apologized for the ongoing disruption and the need to ...
New rules could cost surviving relatives thousands of euros in pension: 'Those who don't arrange this in time leave their partner with a major shortfall'
New pension regulations in the Netherlands require couples to take proactive steps to secure their survivor's pension. Failure to prepare under the new system could result in significant financial los...
Where can entrepreneurs and recreationists go now that the Alkmaarder- and Uitgeestermeer Recreation Board is dissolving? Three questions and answers
The recreational board Recreatieschap Alkmaarder- en Uitgeestermeer (RAUM) is set to be dissolved following a recent decision. Stakeholders and business owners are now seeking clarity on which organiz...
The two faces of the ANWB: ten thousand volunteers and a CEO earning 600,000 euros
The ANWB, an organization with over 5 million members in the Netherlands, is facing scrutiny over its business model and executive compensation. Despite generating significant revenue and profits, que...
Inge (37) quits her office job to pursue pilates dream in Heemskerk: I am riding the hype
Entrepreneur Inge van der Meij is opening a new pilates studio in Heemskerk this September. She believes the move reflects a growing societal focus on health and wellness, capitalizing on the rising p...
Motorists pay through the nose for gas despite falling oil prices: here is why
Despite falling global oil prices and de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz, fuel prices for motorists in the Netherlands continue to rise. Experts warn that consumers will not benefit from lower oil ...
'Aggressive' home battery sellers exploit fear of power shortages: 'Consumers are being blindsided'
Regulators at the ACM are reporting an increase in complaints regarding aggressive telemarketing tactics used to sell home batteries to Dutch consumers. Salespeople are allegedly exploiting fears of p...
110,000 euro bonus for Tata management sparks storm of reactions, including from employees: 'Three more years of being demotivated working for those greedy suits, I'm counting down the days'
A recent survey indicates that 92 percent of respondents believe Tata Steel directors should return a 110,000 euro bonus. Employees and the public have expressed significant criticism, describing the ...
May we buy your land? The hunt for campsites to turn into luxury parks is in full swing, but who benefits?
Real estate developers are actively pursuing owners of traditional campgrounds in the Netherlands to purchase their land for multi-million euro deals. The proposed plan involves redeveloping these sit...
BMW concerned about illegal 'bootleg' BMWs built in Russia
BMW has issued a warning regarding the unauthorized production of vehicles in Russia using abandoned parts and locally sourced materials. These so-called 'bootleg BMWs' are being assembled by former e...
Resumption of train traffic in Rotterdam delayed for the fourth time
ProRail has delayed the resumption of train services from Rotterdam to the south for the fourth time. The operator now aims to restore full service by 5:00 a.m. on Monday after failing to meet the ori...