Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Amsterdam has few vacation rentals per neighborhood, but rules are still being tightened: ‘I won’t risk a fine’
‘Power will fail if we do nothing’: Liander must place 2,600 electrical substations in Amsterdam but nobody wants them in front of their door
Many Western companies have left, but new Spar stores are still opening in Moscow: ‘Difficult situation’
Despite EU sanctions against Russia, Spar supermarkets continue to operate and even open new locations within the country. The Dutch-based retail chain claims it is unable to terminate existing contra...
Shortage of ferry operators a major problem: 33 vacancies and staff departures looming
Public transport operator GVB is facing a significant shortage of ferry skippers, with 33 vacancies and an expected increase in departures due to retirement. This staffing crisis has recently caused s...
New Meta AI feature lets anyone create images with your Instagram photos
Meta has launched a new tool called Muse Image that allows users to create realistic images using photos from public Instagram profiles. While Meta plans to introduce settings for users to restrict th...
Supermarket chain Lidl hacked: customer phone numbers and email addresses stolen
Supermarket chain Lidl has confirmed that hackers gained access to customer data, including phone numbers and email addresses. The company has notified the Dutch Data Protection Authority, although th...
Housing shortage requires not just more homes but also better choices
While new housing construction in the Netherlands has reached its highest level since 2015, sales of these properties have declined by approximately 7 percent. Real estate experts argue that the natio...
Tensions in cabinet over taxes? Jetten says no, but irritation persists
There is speculation regarding potential disagreements within the Dutch cabinet over proposed tax increases on wealth. While Minister Rob Jetten denies any internal divide, conflicting statements from...
New advisory board must ensure higher national labor productivity
The Dutch government has established an independent advisory board tasked with increasing national labor productivity. This initiative aims to address economic efficiency across the country.
Cabinet wants 500-meter distance between houses and goat farms
The Dutch government has proposed a 500-meter buffer zone between new residential developments and goat farms to mitigate potential health risks. This decision follows a recommendation from the Health...
ING customers experience much less discrimination, but the problem is not solved
ING customers with minority ethnic backgrounds continue to report experiencing discrimination during bank compliance checks aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. However, the b...
Cooling mist from the Dom Tower: the remedy for urban heat?
As the Netherlands experiences high temperatures, researchers are debating whether spraying cooling mist from tall structures like the Dom Tower could serve as an effective solution against urban heat...
Instagram and Facebook are too addictive according to European rules
The European Commission has found that Meta's Instagram and Facebook apps violate European regulations due to their addictive design. The company faces potential fines unless it can demonstrate that i...
Potentially carcinogenic substance in squishy dumpling toys, bol stops sales
Online retailer bol and candy store chain Jamin have halted sales of popular squishy dumpling toys following research by a Flemish toxicologist. The study suggests the products may contain potentially...
Dozens of ships pass through Strait of Hormuz despite attacks
Despite recent attacks on vessels, dozens of ships continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz daily. While traffic remains significantly lower than levels recorded before the start of the conflict in th...
Foreigners to pay for Belgian roads: vignette becomes mandatory
Starting May 1, 2027, Belgium will introduce a mandatory vignette for all motorists using its main roads. This requirement will apply to all drivers, including those from the Netherlands who travel th...
Day of reckoning looms for Volkswagen: 100,000 jobs at risk and possible closure of German factories
Volkswagen is facing significant backlash after announcing plans to cut 100,000 jobs and potentially close four German factories to reduce costs. Hundreds of employees have staged protests against the...
End of textbooks in the recycling bin? Schools join new publisher en masse
Over 1,500 schools in the Netherlands have joined a new publishing cooperative called Neon to replace traditional textbooks. This initiative aims to reduce the significant amount of paper waste caused...
End of daily mail: PostNL to take two days from now on
Starting this weekend, PostNL will extend its standard delivery time for letters from one day to two days in the Netherlands. Customers who require faster delivery can still opt for a separate, higher...
Volkswagen to cut costs and aims to scrap half of its model range
Volkswagen plans to significantly restructure its operations by reducing its overall product range by approximately 50 percent. The strategy impacts brands within the Volkswagen Group, including Audi,...
Aviation sector aims to reduce number of unruly, intoxicated passengers
Dutch Minister Vincent Karremans is taking action against the increasing issue of disruptive and intoxicated passengers on flights. Proposed measures to address this problem include implementing fines...
Average rental home requires monthly income of 5,650 euros
Rental prices in the private sector in the Netherlands rose during the second quarter compared to last year. Data from housing platforms indicates that more than forty percent of these rental properti...
Danish fine for KLM of 400,000: they are not that green
The Copenhagen City Court has fined KLM 400,000 euros for misleading sustainability advertising. The court ruled that the airline's claims regarding environmentally friendly operations were not substa...
Queen Máxima and Minister Vijlbrief cycle through Southeast and speak with Amsterdammers in debt: 'Often the root of many problems'
New Eurostar trains must be able to withstand extremely high temperatures
Eurostar is modifying its new high-speed trains to withstand temperatures of up to 55 degrees Celsius. This measure is being taken to ensure service reliability as extreme summer heat becomes more com...
Shift in Haarlem labor market: most jobs now in business services
The labor market in Haarlem has undergone a significant shift, with the business services sector now providing the most jobs. This represents a change from a decade ago, when the healthcare sector was...
Queues in the heat: Greek airports issue urgent plea over European border control
Greek airports are raising concerns regarding long queues caused by the implementation of a new European border control system for non-EU travelers. This follows similar issues previously reported at ...
Digital euro one step closer after European Parliament support
The European Parliament has voted in favor of plans for a digital euro, moving the initiative a step closer to implementation. This support allows final negotiations between European Union member stat...
Neighborhood organization De Groene Hub receives 300,000 euro subsidy from municipality
The Amsterdam municipality has granted a one-time subsidy of 300,000 euros to the neighborhood organization De Groene Hub to prevent it from ceasing operations. The organization, which focuses on sust...
