Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Train travel to become more expensive again: ticket prices rise by nearly 5 percent
NS train tickets will increase in price by 4.7 percent starting January 1 due to inflation and rising operational costs. To support passengers, the company is maintaining current pricing for children'...
Sylvia (52) receives large inheritance and spends 73,000 euros within a year: I don't understand it
After inheriting a large sum of money following her mother's death, 52-year-old Sylvia was shocked to discover that she had spent 73,000 euros in just one year. She has now enlisted the help of budget...
Videoland receives ACM approval to acquire Viaplay
The Dutch competition authority (ACM) has approved Videoland's acquisition of Viaplay Netherlands, concluding the deal will not harm consumers or market competition. Videoland will now control various...
Trump allocates billions to compensate farmers for high diesel prices
Donald Trump has announced a multi-billion dollar compensation program to help American farmers manage the impact of record-high diesel prices. The payments, managed by the Farm Service Agency, are in...
Most Dutch people dislike it when others wear video glasses: 'People are scared by them'
A large majority of Dutch people feel uncomfortable when others wear smart glasses with cameras due to privacy concerns and the fear of secret recordings. Despite Meta's insistence on the technology's...
Companies are investing mainly in machinery, defense equipment and computers
Business investments in the Netherlands rose by 1.8 percent in August, driven primarily by expenditures on machinery, defense equipment, and computers. Despite this growth, Statistics Netherlands warn...
Thuisbezorgd and Uber Eats to provide clear information on mandatory extra fees
Thuisbezorgd and Uber Eats have agreed to display all mandatory service fees upfront following pressure from the Dutch Consumers Association regarding hidden costs and misleading discounts. To compens...
PostNL seeks 80 million euros in additional compensation for mail delivery
PostNL is seeking 80 million euros in government compensation for 2025 due to the high costs of fulfilling legal mail delivery obligations. The company contends that current regulations are outdated a...
Vincent (45) earns 4,500 euros a month and saved up 240,000: 'It has made me more confident'
Freelance journalist Vincent Kouters has saved 240,000 euros on a monthly salary of 4,500 euros. He states that this financial milestone has improved his self-confidence and allowed him more freedom t...
Albert Heijn parent company had to make a decision 'within 15 minutes': 'No time to consult CEO'
Ahold Delhaize proactively took the websites and apps for Albert Heijn and Etos offline after detecting suspicious server activity, acting in under fifteen minutes. Although the move caused temporary ...
Cunning criminals insert chip into gadget to plunder bank accounts: Coolblue and Bol take action
Dutch retailers such as Coolblue and Bol.com have suspended the sale of Ledger cryptowallets after criminals tampered with the devices by installing hidden chips to steal cryptocurrency. Although manu...
Jumbo recalls pulled chicken due to possible raw chicken content
Jumbo is recalling its pulled chicken product because it may contain raw poultry, which carries a risk of salmonella or campylobacter infection. Customers can return the product to any Jumbo store for...
Albert Heijn parent company files police report following cyber incident: 'Malicious act'
The parent company of the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn has filed a formal police report following a cyber incident. The company has officially characterized the event as a malicious act.
Chinese economy grows faster again due to strong AI exports
China's economy grew by 4.5 percent in the third quarter, meeting government targets thanks to a significant boost in high-tech and AI-related exports. While this growth helps counteract weak domestic...
AI developer Anthropic invests billions in social impact fund
AI developer Anthropic is establishing a major social impact fund, initially backed by 48 billion dollars in equity, to address societal concerns related to the rapid advancement of artificial intelli...
Potential contraction could cost German industry over half a million jobs
Germany's industrial sector lost nearly 500,000 jobs between 2019 and late last year due to high costs and rising global competition. While manufacturing declined significantly, the service sector gre...
Greenwheels and Check to collaborate and double fleet size
Mobility company Pon is integrating its shared vehicle brands Greenwheels and Check to streamline user access and expand its fleet. The companies aim to double their total number of vehicles to twenty...
Lindt CEO steps down following disappointing sales
Lindt & Sprüngli CEO Adalbert Lechner has resigned after 33 years with the company due to poor sales performance and rising cocoa costs. Vice-chairman Dieter Weisskopf will serve as interim CEO while...
New strike in regional transport: fewer buses and trains on Thursday
Regional transport workers in the Netherlands are set to hold another strike this Thursday, leading to reduced bus and train services. This action is part of an ongoing dispute over a new collective l...
Schiphol passport control running smoothly again after outage
Passport control at Schiphol Airport experienced significant delays on Sunday morning due to a technical failure that disabled automated scanning gates. The issue, which lasted until mid-afternoon, ca...
Not selling out is not a death blow for festival: 'But be careful not to price yourself out of the market'
Festival organizations in the Netherlands faced a challenging summer marked by extreme weather, rising operational costs, and fluctuating ticket sales. Despite these significant hurdles, industry prof...
French shopkeepers fear millions in losses after looting and destruction
French retailers are bracing for millions in damages after widespread looting and vandalism struck numerous cities, including Paris and Bordeaux, during recent riots. The government has promised to ex...
Gall & Gall and Etos websites back online, apps remain unreachable
The websites for Gall & Gall, Etos, and Albert Heijn are back online following a recent cybersecurity incident at Ahold Delhaize, though some app features and delivery services remain restricted. Whil...
From near extinction to a thriving fishery: how Portugal’s sardine population was saved
After facing near-extinction due to overfishing, Portugal's sardine population is recovering thanks to a successful management plan. This restoration has revitalized the local fishing industry while e...
Number of cybersecurity companies more than quadrupled in five years
The number of registered cybersecurity companies in the Netherlands has quadrupled since 2021, reaching 962 by October 2024. This rapid growth is driven by increasing cyber threats and regulatory chan...
Low incomes spend more on childcare: can make a ten-euro monthly difference
Childcare organizations in the Netherlands are increasingly charging rates that exceed government subsidies, placing a greater financial burden on low-income families. Experts warn that these rising c...
Looking, looking, and fake buying: the dopamine hit without the costs
New online shopping platforms are gaining popularity by allowing users to curate collections of products without the ability to actually purchase them. Experts suggest these sites serve as a psycholog...
Not just IDFA: Amsterdam’s wider cultural sector hit by rising hotel costs as tourist tax hike drives away key visitors
Amsterdam's cultural sector, including major events like IDFA, ADE, and the Holland Festival, is struggling due to rising tourist taxes and hotel VAT. These increased costs are forcing organizers to r...
Sunny (55) has a racy job but is looking for a career change: ‘How can I phrase my work experience?’
A 55-year-old woman named Sunny is seeking career advice on how to professionally reframe her years of experience as a sex worker while transitioning to a new field. She is consulting with Anne-Marije...
Cause of illnesses during Grolsch brewery tour still unclear: 'Terrible'
Eleven people were hospitalized after falling ill during a brewery tour at Grolsch in Enschede on Saturday. While investigations are underway to identify the cause of the nausea and vomiting, the brew...