Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Good news for savers: interest rates are rising slightly
Savers in the Netherlands are benefiting from rising interest rates following the European Central Bank's decision to increase its base rates. While major banks continue to offer relatively low return...
On sunny days, panels switch off: why solar farms are barely generating anything anymore
Solar parks in the Netherlands are becoming less profitable as electricity prices often turn negative on sunny days, forcing operators to shut down panels. Local energy cooperatives are now facing fin...
Could AI wipe out humanity very soon, as Anthropic researchers claim? Smart people have been wrong before
Researchers at the AI company Anthropic have warned that advanced artificial intelligence could potentially pose an existential threat to humanity. Experts in the field remain divided on the severity ...
Large-scale European fraud with slaughter and sport horses, NVWA conducts raids
Authorities across four European countries, including the Netherlands, have launched a crackdown on a major fraud network involving the illegal slaughter of sport horses. The operation involved 24 rai...
Ryanair denies passenger was sucked out of window
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has disputed claims that a passenger was sucked out of a plane window during a flight that suffered a suspected bird strike upon departing Greece. While the airline maintai...
Employers will soon be banned from deducting rent from migrant workers' minimum wage
The Dutch government plans to ban employers from deducting rent from the minimum wage of migrant workers to prevent exploitation. The measure, set to take effect by July 2028, will be implemented alon...
Cabinet will not file complaint over data vault: 'Shutters will come down'
The Dutch cabinet will not file a criminal complaint regarding a newly rediscovered digital vault containing 25 million documents related to the child benefit scandal. While opposition parties demand ...
Why expensive energy is currently barely affecting the economy and when that could change
Although high energy and fuel prices are causing frustration, the Dutch economy has not yet suffered significant negative impacts. Experts are currently analyzing when and how these rising costs might...
Bijenkorf customer names and phone numbers stolen by criminals: Be alert for suspicious messages
Bijenkorf customers have had their personal details, including names and phone numbers, stolen following a cyberattack on their logistics partner, Ceva Logistics. While financial data remains safe, th...
Personal data of Bijenkorf customers stolen in cyberattack
A cyberattack on the logistics firm CEVA has resulted in the theft of personal data from Bijenkorf customers, including names, contact information, and payment method details. While no login credentia...
ECB raises key interest rate in eurozone to 2.5 percent
The European Central Bank has increased its key interest rate to 2.5 percent to combat inflation, which recently reached 3.3 percent due to rising energy costs. This policy aims to stabilize prices by...
ECB raises interest rates for the second time this year after three years without adjustments
The European Central Bank has raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point to 2.5 percent to combat inflation, which hit 3.3 percent in August. This second hike of the year reflects ongoing con...
Moving from city to village does not automatically mean cheaper living
Recent research from the NVM indicates that houses in villages are often more expensive than in cities, averaging 503,000 euros compared to 487,000 euros. Affordability is largely dependent on a villa...
Very expensive: Apple quietly raises prices of older iPhone models by 100 to 350 euros
Apple has unexpectedly raised the prices of its older iPhone models by 100 to 350 euros following the release of its latest devices. The increases, which affect even budget-friendly options, are attri...
US investigates controversial multi-billion dollar deal between NVIDIA and AI company Groq
U.S. regulators are investigating a controversial multi-billion dollar licensing agreement between NVIDIA and AI firm Groq over potential antitrust concerns. Lawmakers fear the deal, which saw Groq ex...
Cabinet wants more green gas, but Parliament is concerned about the costs
The Dutch government is proposing a mandatory green gas blending requirement to reduce CO2 emissions, aiming to double production by 2031. While the industry supports the move, Parliament is concerned...
ProRail expects more than 520 malfunctions again this year
ProRail anticipates over 520 rail malfunctions this year, driven by higher train density and increasingly frequent extreme weather events. A projected 3.1 billion euro budget shortfall through 2040 is...
Massive layoff wave at Amsterdam municipality: 2500 full-time jobs at risk, internal document reveals
The Amsterdam municipality plans to cut 2,500 full-time jobs by 2030 as part of a 300 million euro reorganization effort. Internal documents outline significant staffing reductions across numerous dep...
Basic-Fit buys clubs in Germany and Austria for 26 million
Basic-Fit has acquired 26 fitness clubs across Austria and Germany for 26 million euros. The company plans to rebrand these locations to match its existing club model and strengthen its market presenc...
Devastating clear-cutting in Malaysia, but RWE and NEA call biomass ‘sustainable’
Energy giant RWE faces criticism for sourcing biomass from Malaysian forests where clearing has caused severe environmental and social disruption. Although the Dutch Emissions Authority identified iss...
Minister questions two years of continued wage payment during illness
Dutch Minister Aartsen is considering limiting mandatory wage payments during sickness to six months to incentivize faster returns to the labor market and reduce costs for employers. While the proposa...
Manufacturing shows best growth figures in four years
Dutch industrial production surged by 9 percent in July compared to the previous year, marking the sector's strongest growth in four years. This record-high output is driven by increased foreign deman...
Dutch manufacturing growth hits four-year high in July
Dutch industrial production reached an all-time high in July, recording a 1.6 percent increase from the previous month. The growth was driven largely by strong foreign demand, particularly from the Ge...
Italy overtakes US as destination for Dutch exports
Dutch exports to the United States dropped by 25 percent in the first half of 2026, largely due to new US import tariffs and supply chain constraints. As a result, Italy has overtaken the United State...
Here it is: Apple's foldable iPhone, but how innovative is this device?
Apple has officially launched the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, which will be available on October 23 with a starting price of 2,339 euros. Alongside this new device, the company announce...
Gas price above 1.70 euros: heating becomes extremely expensive
Gas prices for new energy contracts in the Netherlands have surpassed 1.70 euros per cubic meter, marking a significant increase since the start of the year. Rising global demand and market volatility...
Apple to launch foldable phone that will be too expensive for most people
Apple is launching its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, which supports the Apple Pencil and is priced between 2,339 and 3,839 euros. The company also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro series, featurin...
ASML pumps another 400 million euros into European AI hopes
ASML has invested an additional 400 million euros into the French AI company Mistral. This investment is part of a broader effort to strengthen Europe's competitive position within the technology sect...
Trump's aggressive trade policy drives Canada into the arms of the EU
In response to a deteriorating trade relationship with the United States, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is pursuing closer strategic ties with the European Union. Although full Canadian membersh...
Odido CEO 'very happy' company did not pay ransom to hackers after data breach
Odido CEO Soren Abildgaard stated he is satisfied with the decision not to pay a ransom to hackers who stole the personal data of 6.2 million customers. Although the refusal led the group ShinyHunters...