Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Agricultural organizations urge EU to intervene in fertilizer crisis
Dutch and Polish agricultural organizations have called on the European Commission to intervene in the current fertilizer crisis. Prices have risen sharply across Europe following a blockade of the St...
CNV draws red line on social security: scrap billion-euro plan before talks
CNV chairman Hans van den Heuvel has announced that the trade union will refuse to negotiate with the Dutch cabinet until planned multi-billion euro cuts to social security are scrapped. He argues tha...
Schiphol Polderbaan runway out of service for over a week for maintenance
Schiphol Airport will perform annual maintenance on the Polderbaan runway from May 4 to May 12. The runway will be closed to air traffic on weekdays during this maintenance period.
European Parliament remains in Strasbourg despite energy crisis
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has rejected a request from several Dutch MEPs to temporarily halt monthly sessions in Strasbourg to save energy. The MEPs from various Dutch political pa...
Previously banned queer accounts return to Instagram
Several Dutch LGBTQIA+ Instagram accounts that were recently removed without explanation have been restored to the platform. Despite the accounts being back online, administrators report they have sti...
Economic growth disappoints, but no need to fear a recession yet
Economic growth in the Netherlands was lower than expected in the first quarter, partly due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While the economic outlook has worsened, experts believe there i...
ECB leaves interest rates unchanged despite higher inflation from Middle East war
The European Central Bank decided on Thursday to leave interest rates in the eurozone unchanged despite rising inflation caused by conflict in the Middle East. Policymakers in Frankfurt determined tha...
Brussels must investigate Chinese acquisition of MediaMarkt and Saturn
The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to investigate the potential acquisition of Ceconomy AG, the parent company of MediaMarkt and Saturn, by the Chinese firm JD.com. The move...
Subsidy for small cultural institutions
Small cultural institutions in Haarlem with fewer than three full-time employees can apply for a subsidy of up to €30,000 starting April 30, 2026. The city has allocated €500,000 for investments i...
Petrol more expensive than ever: over 2.60 euros per liter
The national recommended price for a liter of Euro95 gasoline in the Netherlands has reached a record high, exceeding 2.60 euros for the first time. According to the consumer collective UnitedConsumer...
Airfare prices surge due to fuel crisis; KLM and Air France seek 660 million from travelers
Inspectorate warns against benefit mediation agencies making mistakes
The Dutch inspection service is warning against benefit mediation agencies that frequently provide incorrect information, leading to errors in applications. These mistakes often result in young people...
Hundreds of ASML employees suffer health problems
A survey conducted by the FNV trade union reveals that hundreds of employees at chip machine manufacturer ASML are experiencing health problems attributed to wearing face masks. The complaints emerged...
Greenpeace activists storm world's largest meat company meeting
Greenpeace activists disrupted the annual shareholders' meeting of JBS, the world's largest meat processor, near Schiphol on Thursday. The protest caused attendees to flee the meeting room as activist...
Ban on extracting water from ditches in parts of Brabant due to drought
The Brabantse Delta water board has banned water extraction from streams and ditches in parts of Central and West Brabant due to ongoing drought. This ban, which took effect on Thursday morning across...
Government abandons wage freeze in new pay offer to civil servants
The Dutch government has issued a new collective labor agreement offer to civil servants, abandoning a controversial wage freeze that led to months of strikes. This updated proposal aims to address un...
Holiday pay is coming: one group of workers to receive hundreds of euros extra
Dutch employees will receive their annual holiday pay at the end of May, with part-time and minimum wage workers set to see a significant increase. According to calculations by HR service provider ADP...
Summit to move away from oil and gas has one key outcome: the summit itself
The first international summit for countries aiming to phase out fossil fuels concluded with a positive atmosphere but without any concrete new plans. Organizers highlighted that the event's most sign...
Belgium wants to take over 7 nuclear reactors from energy company Engie
The Belgian government is negotiating with French company Engie to take full ownership of seven nuclear reactors located in Doel and Tihange. Prime Minister Bart De Wever announced the move, which aim...
Economic growth disappoints due to uncertainty: 'Just short of stagnation'
The Dutch economy grew by only 0.1 percent in the first quarter of the year, narrowly avoiding stagnation according to figures from CBS. This lower-than-expected growth rate is attributed to ongoing e...
Air France-KLM fears $2.4 billion in extra fuel costs: The biggest blow is yet to come
Air France-KLM expects to spend an additional $2.4 billion on fuel this year due to the conflict in the Middle East. While the aviation group reported improved results for the first quarter, it warns ...
Papa Koenders’ fight against the legacy of colonialism: May 4 and 5 portraits
The exhibition 'Op zoek naar Papa Koenders' at the OBA in Amsterdam honors Julius Gustaaf Arnout Koenders, a key figure in the struggle for Surinamese cultural identity and language recognition. Koend...
Daily life slightly more expensive again: Middle East war hits our wallets
Inflation in the Netherlands rose slightly to 2.8 percent in April, up from 2.7 percent in March, according to preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase affects the cost of dail...
Labor market tightness eases slightly but remains high
The tightness in the Dutch labor market decreased slightly in the last quarter but remains at a high level. According to data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), there are currently 91 vacancies for ev...
Many employees get less holiday pay, part-timers receive tens of euros extra
Dutch employees will see significant variations in their holiday pay this year, with some receiving less while others, particularly part-time workers, see increases of up to 200 euros. The changes are...
ATM will not return; two suspects in Santpoorterstraat bombing quickly released
Two suspects arrested for the ATM explosion robbery at Santpoorterstraat last Tuesday have been released from custody. The destroyed ATM, which was located in an annex of a real estate office, will no...
Controversial Brazilian meat giant settles in the Netherlands as activist groups fight back
Sellers forced to compromise: 12.2 percent of homes reduced in price
A new trend report from housing platform Huispedia reveals that 12.2% of homes have seen price reductions as overbidding becomes less common. Sellers are increasingly forced to lower their asking pric...
Aartsen wants to expand entry-level job pilot for status holders
Minister of Work and Participation Thierry Aartsen is expanding a pilot program that provides "starter jobs" for newcomers with residence permits to more than 80 municipalities. The initiative aims to...
