Economy News in English

Barcelona gives outdoor workers heat bracelets: stop immediately if alarm sounds

In Barcelona, outdoor workers are being provided with heat-sensitive wristbands to monitor their health. These devices vibrate to alert individuals when they are at risk of overheating, prompting them...

Tesla surprises stock market with significantly higher global vehicle deliveries than expected

Tesla reported a significant recovery in the second quarter, delivering 25% more vehicles globally compared to the same period last year. This performance exceeded market expectations following a decl...

Thirty million euro subsidy for Oost neighborhood heating network: "Decisive turning point"

The residents' initiative MeerEnergie has received a 30 million euro government subsidy to develop a neighborhood heating network in Amsterdam's Middenmeer district. Although the project aims to conne...

Tax authority opens support center in Southeast

The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration is opening a new support center in the Zuidoost district of Amsterdam next Wednesday. Located at the Stadsloket on Anton de Komplein, the facility will provide...

FNV demands cabinet cuts be scrapped: 'Employers must foot the bill'

The FNV labor union has announced plans for increased strikes and actions starting in September to protest the cabinet's proposed cuts to social security. The union is demanding that the government re...

Gall & Gall employees get their way: higher wages and Sunday bonuses

Liquor store chain Gall & Gall has reached a new collective labor agreement with the CNV union, which includes salary increases and the preservation of Sunday surcharges for employees. This agreement ...

Aviation sector pleads with Brussels to delay new border control system

The European aviation sector is facing significant flight delays and disruptions due to the implementation of the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES). Industry representatives are urgently requesting ...

New caravans remain popular, used motorhomes suffer from higher costs

Sales of new caravans in the Netherlands increased during the first half of this year. Conversely, the market for used campers declined, largely due to rising costs for owners.

Thrift sector has enough goods but lacks money and manpower

Thrift store organizations in the Netherlands are facing significant financial pressure due to rising labor, energy, and housing costs alongside decreasing subsidies. Despite having an abundance of do...

Google loses appeal against EU billion-euro fine at top court

The European Court of Justice has rejected Google's final appeal against a 4.13 billion euro fine imposed by the European Union. The penalty was issued due to Google's abuse of its market power regard...

Government allocates 30 million euros for district heating network in Watergraafsmeer

SER advises on new organization to meet nitrogen targets

The Social and Economic Council (SER) has proposed the creation of a new organization involving both public and private parties to help achieve national climate and nitrogen goals. The initiative aims...

Health Council deems aircraft emissions carcinogenic

The Health Council of the Netherlands has officially classified emissions from aircraft engines as carcinogenic. This assessment aims to improve occupational health protections for ground staff at air...

Grolsch acquires Limburg brewery Gulpener

Dutch beer brewer Grolsch has acquired the remaining 85 percent of its competitor Gulpener, following an initial 15 percent stake. The financial terms of the deal regarding the Gulpen-based brewery we...

Housing construction remains stalled despite cabinet nitrogen intervention: 'New cities will not be built'

The Economic Institute for Construction (EIB) states that the Dutch government's recent nitrogen intervention will not resolve the ongoing deadlock in residential construction permits. Consequently, e...

Mandatory interim test could make driving lessons even more expensive, industry warns: 'We can charge whatever we want'

Dutch Minister Karremans has proposed making intermediate driving tests mandatory for student drivers. Industry organizations are warning that this change could lead to significantly higher costs for ...

Housing market to cool further, experts expect, with fewer mortgage applications: one group is performing well

Experts expect the Dutch housing market to cool down this year following significant price increases last year. Concurrently, De Hypotheker has reported the first decrease in mortgage applications in ...

Used electric cars popular: sales rise sharply

Sales of used electric vehicles in the Netherlands experienced a significant increase of over 54 percent during the first half of the year. A total of 70,547 secondhand electric cars were sold compare...

First 8.3 million final income tax assessments sent

The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration has sent 8.3 million final income tax assessments to citizens who filed their returns before April 1, 2025. Out of these, 5.3 million taxpayers are eligible fo...

Online supermarket Crisp acquires Buurtboer to provide company lunches

Housing market cools due to rising mortgage rates

The Dutch housing market is cooling down following a rise in mortgage interest rates. ABN AMRO predicts that home prices will increase by 3 percent this year and 4 percent next year.

ABN AMRO: housing market cools due to higher mortgage rates

The Dutch housing market is cooling down due to rising mortgage interest rates, according to a report by ABN AMRO. While income growth and limited housing supply continue to support prices, the bank e...

Calling a plumber for a leaking roof? You might soon get an AI voice on the line: 'This will quickly become the new normal'

KPN is introducing a new service that allows businesses, such as plumbers, to use AI voices to answer incoming customer calls. While this technology aims to streamline communication, it has sparked a ...

Average holiday home price fell slightly last year, sales also down

In 2025, the average price of a holiday home in the Netherlands fell slightly to approximately 240,000 euros, alongside a decrease in total sales. Research from the Land Registry shows that most new h...

Holiday parks continue to grow: 4,000 parks, 135,000 cottages, and buyers often paying in full immediately

The popularity of holiday parks in the Netherlands continues to rise, with an increase in the total number of parks and vacation homes. According to new data from the Kadaster, property prices are inc...

Van Essen: agriculture must remain possible around nature reserves

Agriculture minister Jaimi van Essen stated that farming should remain possible in areas surrounding nature reserves, despite the need for stricter nitrogen emission reductions in those zones. During ...

Rotterdam port seeks to unlock development and awaits funding for nature

Authorities involved in the Port of Rotterdam are developing measures to restore four Natura 2000 sites surrounding the industrial zone to resume stalled project permits. Permitting has been largely s...

SRO keeps major fixer of multimillion-dollar chaos out of the spotlight: 'All time focused on the work'

EY accountant Luc van Gils has been appointed to address the aftermath of a multi-million euro fraud scandal at the sports and real estate company SRO. The company stated that Van Gils will work in th...

Minister Sterk finds funds to reverse long-term care cuts

Minister of Long-Term Care Mirjam Sterk has secured funding to reverse proposed budget cuts in the long-term care sector. By reallocating resources more precisely, the sector will be able to maintain ...

Shipbuilder Damen unhappy with German withdrawal: 'Part was already finished'

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has expressed dissatisfaction following the German government's decision to cancel a contract for six frigates. The company stated that significant progress had already been ma...