Economy News in English

More social housing for regular seekers in Zuid-Kennemerland and IJmond, share of urgent seekers lower than in rest of country

In the Zuid-Kennemerland and IJmond regions, a larger proportion of social housing is being allocated to regular house hunters compared to other parts of the Netherlands. According to the 2025 Housing...

US blocks access for Iranian airlines

The United States will block Iranian airlines from accessing landing sites, refueling stations, and ticket sales as part of an ongoing economic campaign. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated t...

Dutch government to appeal airport nitrogen rulings

The Dutch government is appealing court rulings regarding nitrogen emissions at the Eindhoven, Rotterdam, and Lelystad airports. Minister Jaimi van Essen stated that the appeal aims to provide legal c...

Jetten: door remains open for talks with employers and unions

Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that the Dutch cabinet remains open to continuing negotiations with trade unions and employers regarding social security reforms. The statement follows the unions' dec...

Low wind in Germany: Dutch hourly electricity price spikes to 60 cents per kWh tonight

Dynamic electricity prices in the Netherlands are set to spike to nearly 60 cents per kilowatt-hour this Thursday evening. The price surge is driven by a combination of low wind power generation in Ge...

Newspaper: Staff pushed for $250 bill featuring Trump

Internal pressure within the US government was exerted to design a $250 bill featuring President Trump, according to a report by The Washington Post. A senior staffer who opposed the proposal was repo...

Unions on collision course with cabinet, talks halted after Catshuis meeting

Negotiations between labor unions, employers, and the Dutch cabinet regarding proposed social security budget cuts have collapsed without an agreement. Union leader Hans Spekman announced that talks h...

Slight increase in sick leave and 10% more accidents at GVB last year

Amsterdam public transport operator GVB reported a 9% employee sickness rate and a 10% increase in traffic accidents in 2025, totaling 965 incidents. Despite operational challenges like staff shortage...

Criticism of period tracking apps asking about unprotected sex and masturbation: ‘A lot of intimate information’

A study commissioned by Bits of Freedom highlights that menstrual cycle tracking apps collect highly intimate data, such as sexual activity and masturbation habits, often without users knowing how it ...

Temu fined 200 million euros for selling illegal products

The European Commission has fined the Chinese online retailer Temu 200 million euros for selling illegal products, including baby toys that fail to meet European safety standards. The commission deter...

ING also limits interest-only mortgage options

ING is joining other banks in restricting interest-only mortgages by lowering the financing limit to 30 percent of a property's value. This policy change will take effect on July 23.

Unrest in city council over rising costs for Waternet split: ‘Who will pay for this multi-million blunder?’

Two more car brands allow electric cars to feed power back to the grid

Kia and Hyundai are joining Renault in launching a pilot project that allows electric vehicles to feed electricity back into the power grid. The trial currently involves eighty vehicles from the two S...

Ukrainian parliament approves major EU loan deal

The Ukrainian parliament has approved an agreement with the European Union to secure a loan of 90 billion euros. A significant majority of lawmakers voted in favor of the proposal to accept the financ...

Time for ‘Brainsterdam’? Amsterdam wants to collaborate with Brainport in a ‘tech corridor’

Amsterdam is proposing a collaboration with Brainport Eindhoven to create a "tech corridor" aimed at positioning both regions at the top of the European high-tech sector. The initiative, which origina...

Ukraine claims new attack on Tuapse oil refinery

The Ukrainian military has claimed responsibility for a new strike on an oil refinery in the Russian port city of Tuapse. This facility has been targeted several times since early April, resulting in ...

ACM fines auction website Ticketveiling.nl for price inflation via automatic bids; thousands of consumers misled

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has fined the auction website Ticketveiling.nl 270,000 euros for misleading thousands of consumers. The company used a custom-built algorithm ...

Malfunction at newly renovated Cruquius bridges, roads closed for investigation

A malfunction at the Cruquius Bridges has disrupted shipping traffic since last Friday, preventing the bridges from being operated for unknown reasons. The N201 road between Spieringweg and Javalaan w...

Fatbike company La Souris receives 6.5 million from ING and targets international expansion

The fatbike retailer La Souris has received a 6.5 million euro investment from ING to support its international expansion plans. Currently operating branches in the Netherlands and Belgium, the compan...

Landlords also dumped rental homes en masse in the first quarter: 'The Netherlands is on the brink of a housing market collapse'

Landlords in the Netherlands continued to sell off rental properties in large numbers during the first quarter of the year. While this trend persists, the Kadaster predicts that the pace of these sale...

Renewed concerns over Lokhorsterduin social housing: 'Are those prices correct?'

Political parties in Bloemendaal have raised concerns regarding the progress and high rental prices of planned social housing at Park Lokhorsterduin in Bennebroek. PRO Bloemendaal and Hart voor Bloeme...

Italians outraged over new electric Ferrari: 'Destroys legend'

Ferrari has unveiled its first fully electric sports car, sparking outrage among some Italians and former company executives who fear the move undermines the brand's heritage. Critics argue that trans...

TikTok shopping coming soon, but Consumentenbond is critical

TikTok is launching TikTok Shop in the Netherlands on June 15, allowing users to purchase products directly through the app's videos. The Dutch Consumer Association (Consumentenbond) has expressed con...

End of war out of sight: oil prices rise again after new US and Iran attacks

Oil prices increased significantly on Thursday morning following new military attacks between the United States and Iran. These escalations, which included a strike on a U.S. airbase, have further dim...

Fire service, municipalities and VNG call on government to revise building regulations

Dutch municipalities, provinces, and the fire department are calling on the national government to modernize building regulations to keep pace with social and technological changes. A study by TNO rev...

Dutch economy grows faster, but finding work gets harder

The Dutch economy grew by 1.8% last year, an increase from the 1.1% growth seen in 2024. Although all provinces recorded economic expansion, Friesland saw the highest growth rate while Limburg experie...

Explainer | Artists stay in one place: why fans now have to go on 'tour'

Always entitled to a new device under warranty? Reader asks Ombudsman for clarification

A customer is seeking legal clarification after retailer Bol.com provided a refund instead of a replacement for a defective Philips hair removal device. The 269 euro device broke within two months of ...

Ban on US takeover of DigiD fits tougher stance against Big Tech

The Dutch government has blocked the American acquisition of the company behind DigiD to maintain national control over its crucial digital infrastructure. Experts support the decision as a move towar...

Deeper cuts at Spaarne Werkt: Snuffelmug, youth work and giant Cruquius building at risk

Participation company Spaarne Werkt is undergoing significant budget cuts affecting the Snuffelmug thrift store and youth programs to restore its financial stability. The municipalities of Haarlem, He...