Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Bicycle brands Batavus, Koga and Babboe relaunch
Bicycle brands Batavus, Koga, and Babboe are set for a restart after being acquired by Dutech following the bankruptcy of parent company Accell. The deal includes the company's IT infrastructure, its ...
EU selects 46 raw materials projects to reduce dependence on China
The European Commission has launched 46 projects across sixteen countries to reduce reliance on China for vital raw materials like lithium and copper. These initiatives, supported by prioritized permi...
Regional bus drivers to strike all day Wednesday, impacting city public transport too
Regional bus drivers plan a one-day strike next Wednesday following stalled collective agreement negotiations, impacting several bus lines operating within Amsterdam. The unions are demanding higher w...
Haarlem takes financial risk with new Spaarne Gasthuis construction
Haarlem is assuming significant financial risk by providing a 100 million euro guarantee and committing to purchase the current hospital site for 25 million euros to keep the Spaarne Gasthuis in the c...
Virgin hopes to lure passengers away from Eurostar with luxury and comfortable train
Virgin has ordered twelve high-speed trains from Alstom to challenge Eurostar on international routes between cities including London and Amsterdam starting in 2030. The company aims to differentiate ...
EU removes Panama and Vietnam from tax haven blacklist
The European Union has removed Panama and Vietnam from its blacklist of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions following improvements in their transparency policies and tax cooperation efforts. Eight count...
Uncertainty over government policy hinders collective bargaining negotiations
Collective labor agreement negotiations in the Netherlands have reached a historical low due to disagreements between unions and employers and uncertainty regarding government policy. Employers remain...
ABN AMRO expects newspaper revenue growth due to willingness to pay for news
Dutch newspaper publishers experienced their sixth consecutive year of revenue growth, reaching 1.2 billion euros, largely driven by a surge in digital subscriptions. While advertising income has dwin...
Regional transport workers to strike one day a week until Christmas
Regional transport workers in the Netherlands are planning weekly strikes until Christmas to push for better working conditions, including lower work pressure and improved pay. Municipal city transpor...
This won't be a hit piece on people in the Zuidas, I say on the way to the Green Business Club Zuidas anniversary
The Green Business Club Zuidas recently celebrated its fifteenth anniversary of promoting sustainability efforts within the Zuidas business district in Amsterdam. While the organization has made signi...
Gasoline prices headed for record highs due to ongoing Middle East unrest
Gasoline prices in the Netherlands are nearing record levels due to supply chain disruptions caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz and regional violence ...
Belgian strike affects train passengers to and from the Netherlands
A 24-hour rail strike in Belgium is causing significant travel disruptions, including canceled train services to and from the Netherlands and approximately 140 flight cancellations at Brussels Airport...
Bus manufacturer Ebusco in financial trouble again and fears for its existence
Electric bus manufacturer Ebusco is facing a critical financial crisis and warns that it may not survive without an immediate influx of capital. Production has slowed significantly, and the company ha...
Pieter (64) could no longer afford high rent and ended up on the street: I was just surviving
After suffering a series of financial setbacks, 64-year-old Pieter Willems lost his home and was forced to live on the streets. He is now joining a protest in Amsterdam to raise awareness about the wo...
Dutch industry grows by 12 percent in August, largest increase in over four years
Dutch industrial production surged by 12 percent in August, marking its highest growth rate in over four years. This upward trend, following a 9.3 percent increase in July, is largely driven by a high...
Haarlem city treasury grew last year: nearly 380 million euros in cash
The municipality of Haarlem saw its financial reserves grow to nearly 380 million euros by the end of 2025, reaching its highest level since 2016. This growth is driven by higher-than-expected revenue...
Netherlands wants to curb EU budget, but Europe needs more money
The Netherlands is urging for significant cuts to the European Commission's proposed 2,000 billion euro long-term budget, favoring a shift toward innovation and defense. While the Commission aims to r...
City to grow to 1.08 million residents by 2050, with fewer families and a rapidly aging population
Amsterdam is projected to reach 1.08 million residents by 2050, driven primarily by international migration. However, the city faces challenges from a rapidly aging population and a housing market tha...
Heinen has enough ways out of the box 3 swamp, but they all hurt
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen faces a difficult challenge in navigating the ongoing controversy surrounding box 3 taxation. He must find a solution while balancing political pressure from his own part...
Homebuyers get less square footage for the same money with new construction
The number of new-build homes for sale in the Netherlands has reached its highest level in nearly eleven years, yet buyers are receiving less living space for the same price due to shrinkflation. Expe...
Everyone wants to spare small savers, but who should pick up the tab?
The Dutch government must revise its Box 3 tax proposals after parliament rejected plans to lower wealth tax thresholds for savers and investors. Lawmakers are currently debating alternative revenue s...
Global trade growing faster than expected despite Iran war
The WTO has raised its global trade growth forecast to 3.9 percent for this year, citing resilient supply chains and significant investments in AI despite the ongoing war in Iran. While goods trade re...
KLM to cancel flights due to high number of aircraft requiring repairs
KLM will cancel flights from late October through early March to manage fleet availability issues caused by unexpected maintenance and repair delays. The airline aims to increase its reserve of interc...
End to intake freeze at Levvel, youths with severe issues can once again be admitted in Amsterdam
Care organization Levvel has ended its intake freeze for Amsterdam youth following successful negotiations to secure more beds for those in need of severe residential care. While access has been resto...
Politicians in Southeast oppose higher tourist tax: "This is annexed territory"
Politicians in Amsterdam Zuidoost sought an exemption from the city's planned tourist tax hike, arguing that their district does not face the same tourism-related issues as the city center. The propos...
Politicians in Southeast oppose higher tourist tax: "This is annexed territory"
Local politicians in Amsterdam Zuidoost have unsuccessfully requested an exemption from the city's planned increase in tourist tax, arguing that their district does not face the same tourism-related i...
Restaurant bills to rise further next year
The FoodService Institute Netherlands expects restaurant prices to rise by 4.5 percent next year, driven by inflation and economic uncertainty. Although total revenue in the hospitality sector is stil...
IKEA enters second-hand market with its own platform for used furniture
IKEA will launch a dedicated second-hand marketplace in the Netherlands by mid-2027 to allow IKEA Family members to buy and sell used home products. The platform aims to extend product lifespans and s...
Public Prosecution Service was poorly protected against cyberattacks for years
An investigation has concluded that the Dutch Public Prosecution Service failed to adequately protect its ICT systems for years, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks. A security flaw in Citrix soft...
Uniqlo owner closes in on H&M and eyes Zara's throne
Fast Retailing, owner of Uniqlo, is aiming to surpass Inditex as the world's largest clothing retailer after reporting strong annual revenues. The company is actively expanding its European footprint,...