Business News in English
Latest business headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Shein under investigation in Europe over illegal products and ‘addictive’ design: ‘Aggressive marketing model’
The European Union has launched an investigation into the Chinese retailer Shein over the sale of illegal items, including reports of child sex dolls being listed on the platform. The probe also exami...
Not Laren, but this municipality is now the most expensive in the Netherlands
Blaricum has replaced Laren as the most expensive municipality for homebuyers in the Netherlands, with average house prices exceeding €1.1 million. According to data from the CBS and Kadaster, Bloem...
Hundreds of Odido customers switch after massive data breach: ‘What happened there is no small matter’
Hundreds of Odido internet customers have switched to competitors following a major data leak at the telecommunications company. According to the comparison platform Internetten.nl, the number of cust...
D66 member Nathalie van Berkel not to become state secretary due to CV inaccuracies
D66 Member of Parliament Nathalie van Berkel has withdrawn as the nominee for State Secretary of Finance due to inaccuracies regarding her educational background. She stepped down after it was reveale...
Welding robot becomes new colleague at regional shipyards: ‘Skilled workers for difficult jobs’
Neptune Marine in Hardinxveld-Giessendam is introducing advanced welding robots to address a critical shortage of skilled labor in the Dutch shipbuilding industry. These smart machines are designed to...
Pauline was back on the street after three weeks: 'I supposedly didn't pass onboarding'
Pauline, a 56-year-old employee, was dismissed from her new job after only three weeks despite initially passing the application process and assignments with high marks. Her employer claimed she faile...
Free digital security training
Small and medium-sized business owners in Haarlem are invited to a free "Digital First Responder" training on March 3, 2026, to improve their cybersecurity preparedness. The session at the 3D Makers Z...
Suddenly, ‘no-frills’ discounter Aldi has the wind in its sails: how is that possible?
Aldi is experiencing a significant business recovery after several years of financial setbacks and declining performance. The discount supermarket's turnaround is largely attributed to its consistent ...
Schiphol expects more travelers, pre-pandemic numbers in sight
Schiphol Airport expects passenger numbers to continue growing this year, nearing levels seen before the pandemic. The airport projects that between 68 million and 72 million travelers will pass throu...
Dog rescued, but privacy at stake? Controversy over Ring cameras in US: ‘Dystopian’
Amazon is facing criticism in the United States over a Ring doorbell feature that allows users to locate lost pets using their neighbors' camera footage. While the tool is intended to help animal owne...
Alderman postpones final decision on cruise ships: Bridges come first
Amsterdam Alderman Hester van Buren has postponed a final decision on banning sea cruises from the city, prioritizing the construction of bridges over the IJ over the current location of the Passenger...
Grand’Italia, which brought Italian cuisine to the Netherlands, could soon be in French hands
The pasta sauce brand Grand’Italia may soon be acquired by the French company Pimente Investissement, a subsidiary of the investor CVC. Current owner GBfoods Europe confirmed it is in advanced negot...
After a century, Gudde family quits herring trade: 'Rejected six times for a larger stall'
After four generations and nearly a century in the trade, the Gudde family is closing their Amsterdam herring stall as 69-year-old Lucien Gudde retires. The business will not be passed down to his son...
Power grid in three provinces reaching capacity, connection freeze looms
Grid operator TenneT announced on Thursday that the high-voltage power grid in the Dutch provinces of Utrecht, Gelderland, and Flevoland has reached its capacity limits. Consequently, the operator war...
No more raspberries and blueberries at Albert Heijn: ‘Extreme weather will hit all of Europe’
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn is experiencing a shortage of fresh raspberries and blueberries due to extreme weather conditions in Spain and Morocco. The retailer has placed signs in stores inf...
Spotify soaring despite disgruntled bands quitting: ‘You only make an impact if Taylor Swift leaves’
Spotify reached record-breaking audience numbers last year despite several bands leaving the platform in protest of the company's policies. The streaming service's growth continued even as it faced cr...
Heineken in a bind: beer prices rise but consumers refuse to pay more
Heineken is facing a crisis as rising beer prices meet strong resistance from both supermarkets and consumers, particularly in the European market. The brewer is struggling with declining performance ...
Officials: Ending sea cruises could jeopardize funding for bridge over the IJ
Amsterdam officials have warned that banning sea cruises by 2035 and canceling a new terminal could jeopardize state funding for major projects, including bridges over the IJ and new housing developme...
Ton developed an alarm system after his great-uncle spent 36 hours on the floor following a fall
Ton van Hekezen from Bunnik developed a new alarm system after his great-uncle spent 36 hours injured in a bathroom following a fall. The device is designed to prevent long delays in discovery and aim...
Ukrainian supermarket workers surprised by photo in Haarlem picture book
A supermarket owner in Haarlem-Noord honored his Ukrainian employees by featuring their group photo on the back cover of a new historical picture book about the city. The staff, who arrived as refugee...
Ray of hope for new Westeinder campsite owner: municipality issues permit after all
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has granted an operating permit to Kleen Estate for camping De Westeinder, reversing an earlier refusal based on past asbestos violations. While this is a legal vict...
Memarian family makes royal carpets: formerly in Iran, now in the Netherlands
Sadegh Memarian, who fled Iran in 1995 to escape political repression, has established a renowned carpet restoration studio in Cruquius, Netherlands. Continuing a multi-generational family craft that ...
Scent card to identify drug labs
Police and local authorities in Haarlem recently distributed specialized scent cards to business owners in the Waarderpolder to help them identify the anise-like smell associated with XTC production. ...
New halls and an underground entrance: this is the plan for the new Paradiso
The iconic Amsterdam music venue Paradiso has unveiled a €93 million renovation plan featuring two new halls, an underground entrance, and a sound wall to address long-standing noise complaints. The...
Business premises closed after discovery of drugs and fireworks
Mayor Jos Wienen has closed three business premises in the Waarderpolder industrial area of Haarlem after police discovered 666 hemp plants and nearly 1,100 kilograms of illegal fireworks. The illegal...
Zuidas Market started as a trial among the office towers: "Now 300 to 400 people visit during lunch"
The Zuidas Market in Amsterdam has evolved from a 2021 trial into a permanent weekly fixture at George Gershwinplein, securing a five-year permit in 2023. Every Thursday, the market attracts hundreds ...
Many nightlife businesses worried about the future: Fishing in the same pond
A survey of 26 Amsterdam nightlife businesses reveals that nearly half of entrepreneurs fear for their survival due to declining visitor numbers and falling revenues. This downturn is attributed to ri...
Mega cinema with screen three canal houses wide opens tomorrow in Houthavens
British cinema chain Vue is opening a new 15-screen mega cinema in Amsterdam’s Houthavens district tomorrow, featuring advanced laser projection and luxury seating. The facility, which is Amsterdamâ...
NXT Museum files for bankruptcy due to COVID debts and ongoing industry pressure
Amsterdam's NXT Museum has filed for bankruptcy, citing significant debts from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing financial pressure on the cultural sector. The museum plans to remain open until Decemb...
Council criticizes GVB over treatment of staff: GVB finds apologizing quite difficult
Amsterdam city council members have sharply criticized public transport operator GVB for its poor treatment of employees and a culture of intimidation, with several political parties calling for the i...