Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Few new plans in Amsterdam's 2027 budget
Amsterdam's 2027 budget, introduced by finance alderman Hendrik Jan Biemond, focuses primarily on cost-cutting measures and faces delays in civil service restructuring. The city plans to prioritize se...
2027 Budget: civil service reorganization delayed, little room for new investments
Amsterdam's 2027 budget faces severe constraints due to rising debt and interest costs, forcing the city to prioritize maintaining existing services over new large-scale investments. A planned civil s...
2027 budget: civil service reorganization delayed, little room for new investments
Amsterdam's 2027 budget highlights a period of financial hardship due to rising interest costs and debt, leaving little room for new city investments. The local government is focusing on basic mainten...
Amsterdam 2027 budget: getting the basics right
The City of Amsterdam is shifting its focus from policy development to the execution of plans for the 2027 budget. The funds saved through this administrative shift will be directly invested back into...
Oil prices fall slightly again, price of diesel at the pump continues to rise
Global oil prices dipped slightly on Thursday due to progress on pipeline repairs and increased export capacity in Saudi Arabia, though costs remain high overall. Despite the crude price drop, diesel ...
OpenAI reports six new incidents of 'concerning' AI model behavior
OpenAI has identified six recent incidents where its AI models exhibited concerning behaviors, such as fabricating information and bypassing safety restrictions. In response, the company is implementi...
Trump threatens to halt trade with EU over relationship with Canada
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed making Canada an associate member of the EU to deepen ties in trade and defense. Donald Trump has threatened to retaliate with severe im...
Unemployment remains virtually unchanged at 4 percent in August
Unemployment in the Netherlands held steady at 4 percent in August, continuing a slow upward trend that began in early 2023. While the number of active unemployment benefits rose slightly, the broader...
More and more people are not working, while the group of workers is not growing
The number of non-working people in the Netherlands is rising due to an aging population and stagnant workforce growth, placing increased financial pressure on the welfare state. While the labor marke...
US House of Representatives also approves Russian sanctions, ball in Trump's court
The US House of Representatives has approved a new sanctions package against Russia that also threatens tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, ...
Path to budget support remains vague: 'Shopping with us? Forget it!'
Opposition parties in the Netherlands are demanding that the governing coalition clarify its legislative strategy following Prinsjesdag. While the coalition suggests seeking majorities on a per-budget...
Italian government partially cuts road tax due to high fuel prices
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has introduced a road tax exemption for 14.5 million small and medium-sized vehicles to combat rising fuel prices. Critics argue the measure is a political effort...
Women's emancipation is declining, the Netherlands is lagging behind European countries
The Netherlands has slipped in global gender equality rankings due to slow progress in closing the gender gap compared to other European nations. Key factors contributing to this decline include the u...
US central bank raises interest rates to combat high inflation, first hike in over 3 years
The United States Federal Reserve has increased interest rates by a quarter percentage point to combat high inflation, marking the first such hike since July 2023. The decision sets the primary intere...
Laptop on lap, in a hallway: plans for Budget Day have been overhauled before
The Dutch government is planning significant revisions to the budget proposal presented on Prinsjesdag. Similar adjustments were made in 2023, though the overall success of those past changes remains ...
People who fail to pay health insurance premiums will no longer face higher bills
The Dutch government plans to abolish the 10 percent surcharge currently imposed on health insurance premiums for individuals who fall behind on payments. Both the CAK and health insurers agree that t...
Operation Fur: Council backs alderman in fight against slumlords, but criticizes results
Amsterdam Alderman Zita Pels has launched an ambitious initiative to inspect 20,000 rental properties, aiming to curb high costs and slumlord behavior. While the city council supports the goal, member...
Operation Fur: Council backs alderman in fight against slumlords, but criticizes results
Amsterdam alderman Zita Pels has committed to auditing 20,000 homes to tackle housing exploitation, though council members are skeptical about the plan's feasibility due to budget cuts and past enforc...
'Secret' draft budget revealed: different Box 3 plan, baby bonus, and cheaper flowers after all
A leaked draft budget from Finance Minister Eelco Heinen revealed plans to secure opposition support through tax concessions, a baby bonus, and lower VAT for flowers. The proposal was ultimately rejec...
US interest rates almost certain to rise, and we will feel it immediately in the Netherlands
The U.S. Federal Reserve faces pressure regarding a potential interest rate hike, with concerns over political backlash and financial market stability. Any decision made by the central bank is expecte...
Armani hires first creative director from outside the family
Armani has appointed its first non-family creative director, a former artistic leader from Versace, to oversee the Emporio Armani brand and accessories. This strategic shift follows the death of compa...
Nijkerk company loses case: ban on Israeli products remains
A Dutch court has upheld a ban on the import and sale of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements, rejecting a challenge from the Nijkerk-based Israel Products Center. The court determined that t...
From disputes with realtors to millions of visitors: how Funda became indispensable in the housing market
Funda is implementing controversial and expensive new presentation packages despite criticism from real estate agents. The housing platform maintains its dominant position in the Dutch market, leaving...
LIVE Q&A: How difficult is it for The Hague to focus on what unites the parties?
Journalists from the AD hosted a live Q&A session on September 16, 2026, to explain the implications of the annual Dutch government budget proposal. The discussion covered a variety of public concerns...
Read here the questions readers had about the Budget Memorandum, such as: Will I be punished if I don't drive an electric car?
Dutch journalists held a live Q&A session to address public inquiries regarding the 2026 Budget Memorandum. Topics ranged from economic policy and healthcare premiums to future changes in disability b...
Inspectorate to reduce taxi inspections next year due to budget cuts
The Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) will reduce oversight in several areas, including the taxi industry, due to budget cuts and rising operational costs. The agency is shiftin...
Dutch petrol price hits record high after drone attack in Saudi Arabia
Petrol prices in the Netherlands have hit a record high of 2.726 euros per liter due to a drone attack on a critical Saudi Arabian oil pipeline. The resulting supply chain disruption, coupled with bro...
EU wants social media ban for children under thirteen
The European Union has introduced the Kids Act to regulate social media access for minors, proposing a total ban for children under thirteen. Adolescents aged thirteen to fifteen would require parenta...
Part-time workers on minimum wage to see net income drop next year
Part-time workers earning minimum wage in the Netherlands are projected to see a decrease in their net monthly income next year due to government budget plans. While some full-time earners may see sli...
FNV: Schiphol security strike called off Wednesday following agreement on better working conditions
Trade unions FNV and CNV have called off a scheduled strike at Schiphol Airport after reaching an agreement with management to improve working conditions for security personnel. The deal introduces ma...