Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Amsterdam designer Joost Grootens in the running to design new euro banknote
Amsterdam-based designer Joost Grootens has been selected as one of ten finalists to design the new series of euro banknotes. His proposed designs, which focus on humanizing European icons, are compet...
Labor market remains tight despite fewer job vacancies
The labor market in the Netherlands tightened slightly in the second quarter, with 95 vacancies for every 100 unemployed individuals. Meanwhile, the number of self-employed workers has declined for th...
To spray with salt water or not to spray? Potato farmers struggle with drought
Potato farmers in the southern part of North Holland are struggling with drought and rising salt levels in irrigation water, forcing them to choose between using harmful water or letting crops wither....
Sellers with asking prices that are too high forced to lower them: average price drop of 41,551 euros
In the past quarter, one in eight home sellers in the Netherlands were forced to lower their asking prices, marking the highest rate in two and a half years. On average, these sellers reduced their pr...
More homes offered and sold in Amsterdam at a lower average transaction price, but a turnaround seems imminent
High number of sick leave reports in healthcare sector costs at least 5.8 billion euros annually
The healthcare sector in the Netherlands faces annual costs of at least 5.8 billion euros due to high employee absenteeism. With an average absence rate of 7.5 percent, healthcare workers have the hig...
Will the plane you take on holiday have folding wings in a few years?
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is set to test folding wingtips on narrowbody aircraft designed for short to medium-haul flights. This technology, which allows wings to fold, could be implemented on comm...
Beer market slumps, but enthusiasts remain thirsty for unique and foreign brews
While the overall Dutch beer market is currently facing a downturn, some entrepreneurs are finding success by focusing on niche online sales of unique and alcohol-free specialty beers. Businesses like...
Train tickets and subscriptions are generating profit for NS again
NS reported a modest profit in the first half of 2026, supported by an average 6.5 percent increase in ticket prices. Despite the higher costs, the Dutch national railway operator saw a slight rise in...
Millions of Europeans have voted on new banknote designs
Six million Europeans have participated in a vote regarding the designs for new euro banknotes, according to the European Central Bank. The bank recently unveiled ten potential designs for the public ...
Tax authorities save nearly 2 million euros on letters and blue envelopes
The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration is saving nearly 2 million euros in printing and mailing costs as fewer blue envelopes are being sent. This decrease is due to nearly four million citizens opt...
Revolution in Dutch festival scene: hunting for dirt-cheap tickets becomes harder
TicketSwap has introduced a new feature allowing festival organizers to set minimum price limits on secondary ticket sales. This change aims to end the practice of dumping tickets at extremely low pri...
Oil prices rise after new escalation in the Middle East
Oil prices increased on Wednesday following a new escalation in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia reported conducting targeted strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, carried out in coordination wit...
KLM maintenance division under enhanced supervision since May
Since May, KLM's maintenance division has been under enhanced supervision by the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). An airline spokesperson confirmed this regulatory development on We...
BMW to cut thousands of jobs starting next year
BMW has announced plans to cut 8,000 jobs worldwide starting next year. The company intends to implement these reductions through natural attrition and voluntary severance programs.
Hurry up with foundation repairs, experts say: Entire neighborhoods at risk of collapsing
Experts warn that nearly 780,000 homes in the Netherlands could face foundation failure within the next 25 years. They urge immediate action to address this nationwide problem, noting that it affects ...
More than half of cars sold will be electric next year
Economists at ING expect that more than half of all new cars sold in the Netherlands next year will be fully electric. This forecast highlights a significant shift in the automotive market towards ele...
Working as a reservist during office hours: it's possible at more and more companies
The Dutch Ministry of Defence has signed covenants with 57 organizations, up from 12 two years ago, to encourage employees to serve as military reservists during working hours. These companies are com...
Brewers sell less alcoholic beer, while non-alcoholic beer grows rapidly
Dutch consumers are purchasing less beer containing alcohol as the trend toward non-alcoholic alternatives grows. The shift indicates that drinking alcohol-free beer is becoming increasingly common ac...
Pressure on maternity care even greater during summer months: 'Quality care no longer possible'
Maternity care in the Netherlands is facing increased pressure during the summer months due to long-standing staffing shortages. This issue is being felt nationwide, with some healthcare providers in ...
Tech hubs Amsterdam and Eindhoven must collaborate to remain digitally sovereign from the US and China
Apple market value breaks 5 trillion dollar mark
Apple's market capitalization has surpassed $5 trillion for the first time, joining chipmaker NVIDIA as the only companies to reach this valuation. Apple recently overtook NVIDIA to become the world's...
Designer Joost on the eternal fame of a banknote: It was truly a puzzle
Amsterdam-based designer Joost Grootens has been shortlisted to design the new euro banknote. He stated that while the project offers little financial gain, he is motivated by the prestige associated ...
'Unprecedented' drought set to cause pain: irrigation bans for farmers and saltwater intrusion for Boskoop growers
Severe drought conditions in the Netherlands have prompted officials to warn that upcoming water usage restrictions could significantly impact farmers and plant nurseries. Authorities are currently at...
ING scanner unable to handle new iDEAL technology
Starting in October, ING customers who rely exclusively on the bank's physical scanner will no longer be able to use iDEAL for online payments. The bank stated it cannot implement the technology requi...
Tech stocks fall worldwide amid growing doubts over AI hype
Global tech stocks are experiencing a significant decline as investor confidence in the artificial intelligence hype begins to wane. This downturn marks a sharp reversal from the earlier strong perfor...
Over 24 hours in the air: new Airbus aircraft immediately sets unprecedented record
The first Airbus A350-1000ULR has set a record by completing a non-stop flight lasting over 24 hours. The aircraft traveled from Melbourne, Australia, to Toulouse, France, during this historic test fl...
Judge corrects minister: decision on Lelystad Airport permit by 2027
A judge has ordered Agriculture Minister Jaimi van Essen to make a decision regarding the nature permit for Lelystad Airport by the end of this year. This ruling overturns the minister's previous plan...
Persistent heat puts pressure on Rhine freight transport
Persistent heat in Europe is causing water levels on the Rhine to drop to historic lows, severely impacting the transport of goods like coal and fuel. This situation is creating significant logistics ...
Coca-Cola revenue grows thanks to higher soft drink sales
Coca-Cola reported increased revenue in the last quarter, driven by higher soft drink sales during the World Cup and the implementation of price hikes. As a major sponsor of the tournament, the compan...