Economy News in English

Arty Upholstery on Spaarnwoudestraat closes after 71 years: ‘My biggest competitor is new furniture getting cheaper and cheaper’

Stoffeerderij Arty, a furniture upholstery shop on Spaarnwoudestraat, is closing after 71 years of operation. Owner Leonard Koelemij cited the declining cost of new furniture as a major factor in the ...

Blue bins threaten SV Wijk aan Zee income: ‘Waste paper is one of our main sponsors’

The sports club SV Wijk aan Zee is facing a significant financial threat as the municipality of Beverwijk introduces blue bins for paper waste collection. Although the club has relied on paper collect...

Malaysia discounts flight tickets due to Iran war fuel crisis

Malaysia has allocated approximately 1.1 million to provide discounts on flight tickets to support its aviation sector. The initiative aims to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices resulting from ...

Preparatory work during first Velsertraverse weekend closure: 'A lot happening in a small space'

Preparatory work for the renovation of the Velsertraverse successfully began during its first weekend closure, involving tasks like moving signs and installing LED lighting. Project officials noted th...

The Greenhouse | Costs of CO2 emissions remain extremely unequally distributed

Climate reporter Jeroen Kraan discusses the impact of a new European CO2 tax in his weekly column. He argues that the levy will further increase the existing inequality in how carbon emission costs ar...

Tough times for small festivals: 'We really don't do this for profit'

Smaller festivals are currently facing financial hardships caused by rising operational costs and a trend of audiences delaying ticket purchases until the last minute. Organizers emphasize that these ...

Unions threaten action, but experts doubt massive strikes

Three Dutch trade unions have threatened national industrial actions starting May 30 unless the government cancels planned budget cuts to social security benefits. Despite the threat, experts remain s...

Cabinet feels support eroding as rising gas bills present new problem

The Dutch government faces declining public support as a new CO2 tax is set to increase gas bills for households. With energy prices already high and alternatives scarce, the additional costs are crea...

ASML to help India's Tata Electronics build first chip factory

ASML has partnered with India's Tata Electronics to assist in the construction of one of India's first semiconductor factories. The collaboration was announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Mo...

The city eyes the countryside: 'You can see the Green Heart is being gnawed at'

Urban development is increasingly encroaching on the Groene Hart region, specifically along the Hofdijklaan between Leiderdorp and Oud Ade. As farms are replaced by housing and holiday parks, local re...

Protesters block Rotterdam port railway again

For the eighth consecutive day, protesters from the group Geef Tegengas blocked a railway line in the Rotterdam port area on Saturday. The ongoing demonstration has halted freight train traffic travel...

Many Swatch stores closed worldwide due to chaos over new watch

Swiss watchmaker Swatch temporarily closed its stores in several countries, including the Netherlands, on Saturday due to overwhelming crowds for a new watch launch. Similar closures occurred in the U...

YouTube, Snap and TikTok settle case over social media addiction healthcare costs

YouTube, Snap, and TikTok have reached a settlement in a United States lawsuit regarding the addictive nature of their platforms. The case addressed allegations that social media addiction has led to ...

Everyone wants time off in May, payroll administrator Ronald (61) works flat out

While many employees take time off in May for holidays like Ascension Day and Pentecost, 61-year-old payroll administrator Ronald faces an increased workload. Anne-Marije Buckens, who runs a company h...

Netherlands beckons India: PM Modi eyes ASML, water expertise and new trade deals

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the Netherlands this weekend to pursue new trade deals in sectors including defense, water management, and technology. During his visit, he met with Kin...

Long queues for new watch, stores closed for rest of day

Police and security cleared hundreds of people from the Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam on Saturday morning. The crowd had gathered for the release of a new Swatch watch, leading to the store'...

Millions paid for lunch with investor Buffett and basketball star Curry

An anonymous bidder paid 9 million dollars at a charity auction for a lunch with legendary investor Warren Buffett and NBA star Stephen Curry. The proceeds from the significant donation will be used t...

FNV warns government: don't abolish the weekend through extended opening hours

The FNV trade union has urged the Dutch cabinet to maintain existing shopping hour regulations to protect weekends, evenings, and holidays for workers. FNV official Linda Vermeulen warned that expandi...

Marlboro under fire over ads encouraging youth smoking

Marlboro is facing backlash for advertising campaigns in regions including Asia, Morocco, and Germany that critics say encourage young people to smoke. These advertisements reportedly contradict the c...

Heemskerk focuses on senior housing in center: 'We desperately need those housing movements'

The municipality of Heemskerk plans to convert a former bank building on Burgemeester Nielenplein into 19 senior apartments to address high local housing demand. The project will include twelve social...

Screen Time | Does a black-and-white phone screen reduce your craving for TikTok?

Tech reporter Rutger Otto explores whether setting a phone screen to black-and-white can reduce the temptation to use apps like TikTok. Using an analogy involving Japanese potato chip packaging, the c...

Is €7.50 for a slice of apple pie acceptable in Amsterdam? ‘Outrageous, I say as a guest, but as a business owner I understand it’

Buckle up: Cabinet working on ‘nitrogen map’ 2.0, though no one says it out loud

The Dutch cabinet is reportedly developing a new version of the controversial "nitrogen map," which identifies areas where farmers must comply with stricter environmental regulations. Officials in The...

Experts on state aid for Tata: 'Amsterdam won't get a green port without those 2 billion'

Kees Flodder is not just about nostalgia: ‘It’s now also about AI and childcare costs’

Sharp losses on New York stock exchanges, oil prices significantly higher

Stock markets in New York closed with significant losses on Friday, reversing gains from the previous day. Technology and chip stocks were among the biggest decliners, while oil prices saw a substanti...

Long queue at Swatch store in P.C. Hooftstraat for exclusive watch: ‘I’m going to resell it immediately’

Reuters: SpaceX to join Nasdaq on June 12

Elon Musk's commercial space company, SpaceX, is expected to go public on the Nasdaq exchange on June 12. Sources familiar with the matter reported the news to Reuters, marking a significant developme...

China makes 'fresh start' with US dependent on handling of Taiwan

During a state visit to China, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the two countries reached significant deals and resolved numerous issues. However, Beijing emphasized that a successful future...

Environmental agency threatens to revoke permits for both coke gas plants

The North Sea Canal Area environmental agency has formally notified Tata Steel that it is preparing to revoke the operating permits for both of its coke gas plants. This notification was sent via lett...