Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

India can sell more steel to Europe, but CO2 tax remains
India has secured a trade deal allowing a fixed quota of its steel to enter the European Union under favorable terms. However, all steel exports, regardless of this quota, remain subject to EU carbon ...

More and more container ships are sailing through the Suez Canal again
Container shipping companies are shifting their routes back to the Suez Canal after having navigated around Africa to avoid Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea. This change allows for faster delivery ...

Climate goals remain out of reach: 'Momentum lost in the transition to sustainable energy'
The Netherlands is currently off track to meet its 2030 climate goals, with the PBL projecting a significant shortfall in greenhouse gas reduction. Experts warn that without an aggressive new policy p...
PBL climate advisor: burning Malaysian rainforest unnecessary for climate goals
The Netherlands' climate agency, PBL, has stated that burning wood pellets from rainforests is unnecessary for reaching climate neutrality. Meanwhile, the country is struggling to meet its ambitious e...

Petrol in Germany is more expensive than ever
Fuel prices in Germany have hit record highs following a recent spike in crude oil costs caused by supply chain disruptions in Saudi Arabia. Despite these increases, fuel remains significantly more ex...

FNV demands 5.5 percent wage increase and warns cabinet again about WIA and unemployment benefits
Dutch trade unions FNV and CNV are demanding wage increases of up to 5.5 percent, citing inflation and corporate profitability as key drivers. Additionally, the FNV is pressuring the cabinet to scrap ...
FNV wants 5.5 percent wage increase plus 80 euros next year
The FNV trade union is demanding a 5.5 percent wage increase plus an additional 80 euros per month for the upcoming collective labor agreement period in the Netherlands. The union also plans to push f...
Opinion from Amsterdam's Research and Statistics department: ‘The image of 2025 as a record year for migration in Amsterdam is incorrect’
Amsterdam's Research and Statistics department clarifies that 2025 was not a record year for migration, as reported figures were inflated by administrative backlogs cleared for other municipalities. B...

Schiphol shrinkage a step closer, but protection for local residents needs to be clearer
The Dutch government has proposed capping annual flight movements at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 478,000 to reduce noise pollution for local residents by 2029. While the Council of State supports th...
New strike announced: week-long walkout by cleaners at Schiphol, stations and other locations
Cleaners represented by the FNV union are launching a five-day strike across the Netherlands, impacting Schiphol Airport, train stations, and various educational institutions. The action follows the r...

Cleaners to strike for a week at locations including Schiphol and train stations
Cleaning staff represented by the FNV union have launched a week-long strike across the Netherlands to demand a better collective labor agreement. The workers are protesting at key locations including...

Online bank Revolut misled by cybercriminals posing as government officials
Online bank Revolut has admitted to mistakenly providing sensitive customer data to cybercriminals who posed as government officials. The breach, which affected customers in various countries includin...
The die is cast: Schiphol will definitively shrink and noise limits will finally be enforced
The Council of State has approved government plans to implement stricter noise regulations and flight caps at Schiphol Airport starting November 1. These measures aim to significantly reduce noise pol...

Oil prices rise again due to closed oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia
Global oil prices have reached their highest levels since May after a drone attack forced Saudi Arabia to close a key pipeline. The disruption is tightening oil supplies, leading to significant price ...

Amazon temporarily suspends work with air freight carrier after fatal plane crash
Amazon has suspended its contract with air freight provider 21 Air following a fatal plane crash that killed five people on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the in...

Energy bills to rise significantly due to power grid expansion: 140 euros extra per year
Dutch households will face an average annual energy bill increase of 140 euros next year due to rising grid tariffs. The surge is primarily driven by the need for extensive investments in power infras...
New climate lawsuit against the State: Malaysian rainforest disappears into Dutch power plants
Comité Schone Lucht has launched a lawsuit against the Dutch government, claiming that wood from Malaysian rainforests is being incorrectly certified as sustainable biomass for energy plants. Despite...
Hospitality leader Pim Evers: ‘Amsterdam is driving away the visitors who spend the most and cause the least nuisance’
Amsterdam hospitality leader Pim Evers warns that current municipal policies are damaging business confidence and alienating high-spending corporate travelers. He argues that the industry is unfairly ...
Cuban tobacco industry smoked out: rationed even in the Netherlands
The Cuban cigar industry is suffering from a major crisis caused by global shortages and skyrocketing prices. Retailers in the Netherlands are now rationing these luxury items to manage limited supply...
Shop theft damages increase today from 181 to 242 euros
The fixed compensation fee for shoplifting in the Netherlands has risen from 181 to 242 euros starting today. The increase, implemented by the Service Organization for Direct Liability (Soda), aims to...

Trump dismisses plan to slow down AI development: 'Wants to maintain lead'
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected calls to slow down artificial intelligence development, insisting that maintaining a technological lead over China is a national priority. While industr...

Small restaurants struggling with no-shows: "Can be the difference between profit and loss"
Small restaurants in Amsterdam are increasingly struggling with guests who fail to honor reservations without notifying the staff. This issue creates significant financial strain and operational chall...

OpenAI will not go public this year; company focuses on 'safety' first
OpenAI has postponed its plans for an initial public offering this year to focus on improving the safety of its AI models. The decision follows recent technical incidents and growing industry-wide con...

Chinese competition increasingly penetrating Dutch industry
Dutch industries are facing rising competition and supply chain dependencies on Chinese products, spanning sectors from electronics to chemicals. Experts warn that while affordable imports currently b...

The greenhouse | To govern is to foresee, and that certainly applies to climate policy
Decades after early parliamentary warnings, climate change remains a complex political issue where personal experience with environmental disasters does not consistently guarantee public support for c...

Is the construction of the East Bridge up for political debate? Not for PRO, VVD has doubts
Debate over the construction of the Oostbrug in Amsterdam has reignited after budget estimates for the project rose significantly from 325 million to 850 million euros. While some political parties ca...

Super El Niño is emerging on a warming planet and here is what that means
A record-breaking El Niño event is currently emerging, with ocean temperatures significantly higher than average, potentially lasting until 2027. This phenomenon is expected to drive global temperatu...
Minister Heleen Herbert: ‘To me, negotiation is synonymous with political failure’
Heleen Herbert has transitioned from the corporate world to serve as the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate in the Netherlands. In a recent interview, she discussed her political philosophy, inc...

Anthropic CEO also wants AI model development slowed down
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is calling for a slowdown in the development of artificial intelligence, citing concerns over safety risks like potential loss of control, cyberattacks, and economic instabi...

Income tax for workers to rise by 4 billion euros net
Dutch workers are set to face a net income tax increase of 4 billion euros next year despite a partial mitigation package. While the overall purchasing power is expected to decline slightly, retirees ...