Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Waiting times for disability benefits continue to rise
The waiting list for disability benefit assessments in the Netherlands has increased, with over 11,000 people waiting longer than six months by the end of 2025. This is a significant rise compared to ...
Province takes Noorder IJplas wind turbine case to Council of State
Alderman Hendrik Jan Biemond (Finance) presents €6.9 million bill for Afis just before debate
Energy prices peak due to blasting AC units: dynamic rate hits 1.10 euros per kWh
High temperatures across Europe have driven up electricity demand for air conditioning, causing dynamic power prices to spike significantly. On Wednesday evening, the price is expected to reach 1.10 e...
Broke. And the month isn't over yet. What now? Get free money!
A new report from Nibud highlights that an increasing number of Dutch households are facing financial difficulties. The institute is calling for political action on affordable housing and healthcare w...
Heatwave threatens European wheat harvest
Persistent heat and drought across Europe are threatening wheat harvests, causing concerns among traders in the grain market. On Monday, wheat prices reached their highest level in three weeks due to ...
Electricity prices below zero? You often still pay for your consumption
Households with dynamic energy contracts in the Netherlands are increasingly encountering negative electricity prices. However, consumers often still end up paying for their consumption because taxes ...
Special banknotes for Haarlem Pride: ‘The world’s first pride money’
Royal Joh. Enschedé in Haarlem has produced unique pink banknotes specifically for use during this summer's Haarlem Pride festival. Organizers claim the currency is a world first for a Pride event an...
Heemskerk home raid part of €20 million money laundering investigation: two suspects arrested
A police raid on a home in Heemskerk in early June has been revealed as part of a major money laundering investigation involving over 20 million euros. Two men were arrested during the operation on su...
Water boards: extra water supply and dike inspections due to drought
Dutch water boards are implementing extra water supply and dike inspections in response to extreme heat and drought conditions. These measures aim to prevent salinization in western regions and identi...
19 extra parking spaces enough for 65 new homes in Heemskerk, council says; parking pressure within guidelines
The Heemskerk municipality has approved the addition of 19 parking spaces for a new project involving 65 flex homes on Huibert Pootstraat. Despite concerns from local residents regarding potential par...
Two men from Beverwijk and Landsmeer suspected of laundering €20 million: police seize real estate and luxury vehicle
Extra breaks and shorter routes for delivery workers due to heat
Delivery services and supermarkets are implementing safety measures, including extra breaks and increased water supplies, to protect employees from upcoming extreme heat. These adjustments allow deliv...
VUmc to cease to exist as a hospital; all care tasks eventually transferred to AMC
No night trains around Amsterdam Central this weekend
This coming weekend, no trains will run to or from Amsterdam Central Station during the nights of Saturday to Monday due to maintenance work by ProRail. Additionally, fewer trains will operate on seve...
Dettol apologizes for sexist ad in China about 'tainted' women
British cleaning brand Dettol has apologized for an advertisement in China that was intended to address sexism but was widely criticized for being sexist itself. The video drew backlash for comparing ...
More volunteers to relieve Amsterdam teachers: city allocates €100,000 for extra education ambassadors
Why unions are shutting down public transport: ‘This is just the beginning’
Dutch trade unions FNV, CNV, and VCP have initiated strikes in the public transport sector to protest proposed government changes to social security. Union leaders warned that these actions are only t...
Amsterdam spent a one-off 13 million on cleaner streets – but what did it achieve?
Attention travelers: Public transport strike to have major impact Wednesday, what you need to know
A public transport strike organized by unions FNV, CNV, and VCP will cause significant disruptions across the Netherlands on Wednesday morning. The strike affects buses, trams, trains, and metros, imp...
SpaceX plummets: Elon Musk's company records astronomical daily loss of 400 billion dollars
SpaceX's market value plummeted by 400 billion dollars in a single day following a mass sell-off by investors on Wall Street on Monday. This significant decline comes after Elon Musk's aerospace compa...
155 million euros in weather damage in 2025, storms the main cost factor
Extreme weather in the Netherlands caused over 155 million euros in insured damage in 2025, which is approximately half the amount recorded the previous year. According to the Dutch Association of Ins...
Haarlem pays hundreds of thousands less than feared to Tax Authority over 'illegal' freelancers
The Haarlem city council expects to pay approximately 400,000 euros less in back taxes than originally budgeted for misclassified self-employed workers. The city had initially set aside 600,000 euros ...
Heineken appoints Brazilian coffee executive as new CEO
Heineken has nominated Rafael Oliveira, the former CEO of JDE Peet's, as its next Chairman and CEO starting October 1, 2026. Oliveira will lead the Dutch brewing company following his previous experie...
Heineken nominates Rafael Oliveira as new top executive
Heineken has nominated Rafael Oliveira as the company's new top executive. The announcement signals a key leadership transition for the Amsterdam-based brewing giant.
Direct solar power use will continue to save money next year
Solar panels will remain profitable in the Netherlands even after the phase-out of the net metering scheme. To maximize savings, homeowners should focus on consuming solar energy directly as it is gen...
Gambling industry sues Meta: 'Doing nothing about addiction issues'
The Dutch trade association for legal gambling companies, VNLOK, is initiating a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The organization claims that Meta fails to adequate...
Researchers find tens of thousands of shortcomings in digital accessibility
Researchers identified over 25,000 accessibility issues across 653 websites of Dutch organizations, revealing that none currently comply with European digital accessibility laws. The findings highligh...
Fewer Dutch people calling in sick, but duration of absence is increasing
Sickness absenteeism in the Netherlands dropped to 4.7% in May, though it remains at a higher level than in previous years. Data from occupational health services ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare indicate...
Government must invest in IJmuiden lock complex: Port of Amsterdam CEO sees negative impact on shipping flow
The CEO of the Port of Amsterdam is calling on the Dutch government to invest in the IJmuiden lock complex to ensure the port remains accessible. He warned that failing to provide funding could lead t...