Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Over 27 million euros bid for Peter Gillis' holiday parks
Three holiday parks owned by Peter Gillis have received bids totaling over 27 million euros at a forced auction to cover a debt of more than 20 million euros owed to businessman Marc van Rooi. A court...
Sustainable energy subsidy for Waarderpolder extended
The subsidy program for sustainable energy measures in the Waarderpolder has been extended until December 31, 2029. Businesses can receive reimbursement for up to 25% of costs for projects like solar ...
Austria makes cheap parcels more expensive again
Austria is introducing an additional 2 euro processing fee on small, non-EU packages starting November 1, following a broader EU customs charge implemented earlier this year. These stricter import rul...
Shipbuilder Damen claims 4.7 billion from Germany after project cancellation
Dutch shipbuilder Damen is seeking 4.7 billion euros from Germany after the abrupt cancellation of a contract for six naval frigates. The company claims the termination was unexpected and argues that ...
Unions threaten regional transport strikes over lack of collective labor agreement
Regional public transport unions have threatened to strike starting October 12 if a new collective labor agreement is not reached. The FNV union demands a 6 percent pay raise and better working condit...
Cabinet wants to spare small savers and investors after all, plans adjusted again
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen is adjusting tax plans for savings and investments following backlash over the potential impact on 850,000 small-scale savers. The government aims to revise the proposal ...
Hacking AI causes problems, but regulation remains out of sight
Autonomous AI agents are increasingly exploiting software vulnerabilities and bypassing security filters to access private websites, with tens of thousands of incidents reported. Despite calls for reg...
More new passenger cars sold, electric vehicle sales reach record high
New car registrations in the Netherlands have seen a narrowing decline, with signs of market recovery toward the end of the year. Fully electric vehicles have reached a record 52.8 percent market shar...
Amsterdam scraps neighborhood budgets: residents can no longer vote on local funding
The City of Amsterdam is ending its neighborhood budget program, which allowed residents to vote on local improvement projects, due to limited resources and difficulties in reaching a broader demograp...
Oil prices fall below 100 dollars but remain high
Oil prices have fallen below 100 dollars per barrel following the conflict between Iran and the United States, though they remain historically high due to damaged infrastructure and supply chain disru...
Retail sales rise in August, largest growth in a year
Dutch retailers reported their highest revenue growth in a year during August 2026, with overall sales volume rising by 2.7 percent. The growth was led by the non-food sector and strong online sales, ...
ABN AMRO also expects the housing market to cool down next year
ABN AMRO expects the Dutch housing market to cool next year as mortgage interest rates remain high, leading to a downward revision in price and transaction growth forecasts. While rural provinces are ...
New self-employment law aims to provide clarity and prevent false self-employment
The Dutch government has introduced a new bill to provide legal clarity for the country's 1.2 million self-employed workers and their clients. The proposal establishes two specific tests regarding ent...
Municipality critical of provincial plan putting 10,000 homes at risk
The Amsterdam city council is in conflict with the province of North Holland over new spatial plans that protect industrial land at the expense of potential housing. This policy threatens the realizat...
Employees see slight gain as wages rise faster than prices
Dutch employees are experiencing a modest increase in purchasing power as wages continue to rise faster than inflation for the twelfth consecutive quarter. While growth has stabilized at approximately...
Fewer students are borrowing money, but loan amounts continue to rise
The number of students taking out loans in the Netherlands has decreased, but the average borrowed amount has risen significantly. Although most students report managing their finances well, out-of-ho...
Minister wants mandatory register for real estate agents to prevent misconduct
The Dutch government is proposing a mandatory professional register for real estate agents to improve transparency and address widespread misconduct in the housing market. The new regulations will enf...
Amsterdam housing market continues to cool down
The housing market in Amsterdam is cooling faster than the rest of the Netherlands, with price growth significantly lower than the national average. Experts attribute this trend to high interest rates...
US judge approves deal allowing Warner Bros. acquisition
An American judge in Oakland has approved a settlement allowing the 110 billion dollar acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance. The deal follows a lawsuit from twelve states that p...
Joint frigate contract with Belgium at risk due to delays and high costs of controversial shipbuilder
The joint Dutch-Belgian project to build six frigates is at risk due to significant construction delays and rising costs from the shipbuilder Damen. Belgium is now considering alternative internationa...
Opposition puts Pro on the spot in debate over 2027 financial plans: "What is left of GroenLinks?"
The Amsterdam City Council held a heated debate over the 2027 municipal budget, focusing on significant job cuts and limited investments. Opposition parties heavily questioned the governing coalition,...
Former master brewer Franck Everts on four remarkable Heineken turning points: from Witpils to a green 0.0
Heineken appears to be on a path of recovery ahead of the arrival of a new CEO. Former tap master Franck Evers discussed several notable product changes at the brewery, including the decision to maint...
Tata family feud threatens planned greening of Tata Steel IJmuiden
A leadership conflict between the Tata family and the board of Tata Sons is jeopardizing the planned green investment for the Tata Steel facility in IJmuiden. The dispute, triggered by a mandatory pub...
Economists fear savers will be worse off under new wealth tax
The Dutch cabinet has proposed a new wealth tax that would require more savers and investors to pay taxes on their assets. Economists are divided on the issue, with some praising the plan as a move to...
German employees at Mercedes-Benz and BMW face job losses
Automakers BMW and Mercedes-Benz are cutting jobs in Germany to address declining demand and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers. BMW is integrating artificial intelligence to replace som...
High energy costs also grip ice rinks: "Quite tense"
Ice rinks across the Netherlands are preparing for the upcoming season while managing high energy costs associated with maintaining ice floors. Many venues are successfully utilizing sustainable techn...
Parliamentary unrest over Box 3 as small savers hit hardest
The Dutch parliament is resisting government plans to adjust box 3 taxation, citing concerns that the proposed lowering of the tax-free threshold unfairly penalizes small savers. Lawmakers are demandi...
Mortgage rates continue to rise, putting pressure on homebuyer borrowing capacity
Average mortgage interest rates in the Netherlands are hitting new annual records, reaching 4.5 percent due to global economic instability and geopolitical tensions. This rapid increase is significant...
Millionaire's tax, more expensive flights or helping small savers? Cabinet still needs to significantly adjust box 3 plans
The Dutch House of Representatives has rejected the cabinet's current box 3 tax reform proposal, which would increase taxes for 850,000 savers and investors. Lawmakers are now demanding revisions to p...
Germany will not get a new fry factory after all due to potato surplus
McCain has cancelled plans to build a new one-billion-euro french fry factory in Central Germany due to rising inflation and a market oversupply of frozen potato products. The project was expected to ...