Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Jetten: EU cannot continue with 1990s budget
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called for a modernized EU multi-annual budget for 2028-2034, emphasizing a shift in focus toward competitiveness and security. Jetten argued that the current budgetary...
Gall & Gall employees strike again: dozens of stores could close
Employees of liquor store chain Gall & Gall are striking this Saturday and Sunday to demand a better collective labor agreement from parent company Ahold Delhaize. The industrial action is expected to...
Home battery sellers claim energy label improvements, but is it true? Here’s the deal
Home battery sellers are marketing the devices as a way to improve a property's energy label and value following recent regulatory changes. However, energy advisors and Milieu Centraal warn that these...
Pump prices slightly lower Friday, but refueling ‘still more expensive for months’ than before Middle East war
Fuel prices at the pump are expected to remain higher than they were before the conflict in the Middle East, despite a slight decrease on Friday. Experts predict that refueling will stay more expensiv...
Buying drinks for Oranje or Father's Day? Dozens of Gall & Gall stores closed this weekend
Dozens of Gall & Gall liquor stores across the Netherlands will remain closed this weekend as employees go on strike. The industrial action, announced by the FNV union, takes place during Father's Day...
More renewable energy from solar, wind and biomass consumed in 2025
The consumption of renewable energy from sources such as wind, solar power, and biomass increased by 11 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. This growth highlights a significant rise in the ...
Cleaners also to strike next week against social security cuts
Cleaners in the Netherlands are planning to strike next week to protest the government's proposed cuts to social security. The industrial action includes a 24-hour strike in Utrecht on Wednesday and w...
Various sectors continue to suffer from aftermath of Middle East war
According to a new sector forecast by ABN AMRO, various economic sectors in the Netherlands continue to experience the negative effects of the conflict in the Middle East. Despite recent steps toward ...
Haarlem hotel sector horrified by 'V&D hotel': 'The market is currently worrying'
The Haarlem hotel sector has sent an urgent letter to the city council expressing strong opposition to the development of a large hotel in the former V&D building at Verwulft. Existing hotel owners wa...
Behind this week's classroom heat lies a bigger (and more expensive) problem
Dutch schools are struggling with excessive heat in classrooms due to outdated building infrastructure that is not equipped for rising temperatures. Experts emphasize that the issue requires comprehen...
More detours due to lack of bridge managers? Municipalities: Technical staff shortage threatens bridge maintenance
Dutch municipalities are struggling to maintain traffic bridges due to a growing shortage of technical personnel, which is causing essential maintenance to fall behind schedule. This lack of staff pos...
Zandvoort to get four more public toilets. 'But why will it take three years? And aren't they very expensive?'
Zandvoort is set to install four new public toilets, though the project is facing scrutiny over its high costs and three-year timeline. Critics are questioning the delay in providing these facilities ...
Bloomberg: US says ASML machines may be in China despite export restrictions
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has raised concerns with ASML leadership that one of the company's advanced chip-making machines may have reached China despite existing export restrictions. The...
Interest in solar panels hits new low as financial benefits largely evaporate
Interest in solar panels among Dutch homeowners has reached a new low, with only 95,000 new installations on existing homes last year. This sharp decline is attributed to the fact that the financial b...
'Higher tourist tax? First look into the economic reality of the hotel sector'
EU extends sanctions against Russia by one year
European Union leaders have agreed to extend sanctions against Russia for an additional twelve months due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The decision was announced on Thursday by a spokesperson for th...
Katwijk council opens door for multi-billion Eli Lilly factory
The Katwijk municipal council has issued a preliminary positive recommendation for the construction of a major pharmaceutical factory by the American company Eli Lilly. A final decision is expected in...
Cuba presents list of measures to reform economy
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero has announced a series of significant measures aimed at reforming the nation's economy. These reforms were introduced in response to increased economic pressure and...
Iran: all ships quickly granted permits for Strait of Hormuz
Iran has announced it is expediting permits for all vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz following its reopening under an agreement with the United States. Iranian authorities advised ships ...
Last-minute Father's Day shopping? FNV announces strike at Etos and Kruidvat
Employees at Dutch drugstore chains Etos and Kruidvat will go on strike this Sunday, coinciding with Father's Day. Organized by the FNV union, the industrial action serves as a protest against employe...
US confirms lifting of Strait of Hormuz blockade
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced the lifting of its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. This decision allows all maritime traffic to resume to and from Iranian ports and coastal...
NS strike on June 24 to last 4 hours, says FNV
The FNV union has announced that NS train personnel will conduct a four-hour strike on Wednesday, June 24, from 04:00 to 08:00. No NS trains will operate during this period, as the union has slightly ...
At least three NATO countries still spending too little on defense
NATO sources report that the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Albania failed to meet their minimum defense spending commitments last year. This shortfall occurs despite the alliance's requirement for mem...
Property values in Haarlem see sharpest rise since 2023
The average WOZ property value in Haarlem has risen sharply to 548,000 euros, marking the largest increase since 2023. According to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the jump follows two years o...
Merz on EU long-term budget: No new European debt
German politician Friedrich Merz stated at an EU summit in Brussels that there should be no new European debt included in the 2028-2034 multi-year budget. Merz made these comments as EU leaders gather...
ICL shuts down plant for three weeks to address odor nuisance
The ICL fertilizer plant in Amsterdam will shut down for three weeks in August to install equipment aimed at reducing persistent odor and high hydrochloric acid emissions. The move follows years of co...
Reliability of mail delivery again below legal standard according to ACM
The reliability of mail delivery in the Netherlands fell significantly below legal standards in 2025, according to a report by the ACM. Additionally, PostNL removed nearly 800 mailboxes across the cou...
Fines for companies that abuse animals up 40 percent
The Dutch government is increasing fines for companies found guilty of animal abuse by 40 percent starting next year. Secretary of State Silvio Erkens announced that penalties for slaughterhouse viola...
Minimum age for social media in the Netherlands possible, but implementation proves difficult
The Netherlands is considering implementing a minimum age of fifteen for social media usage, which is legally possible. However, the practical implementation faces significant challenges, particularly...
South Holland: No nuclear plants in Rotterdam would be wise
The province of Zuid-Holland anticipates that Rotterdam's Maasvlakte has been ruled out as a potential site for two new nuclear power plants. Grid operator TenneT reportedly identified Eemshaven in Gr...