Economy News in English

Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.

Tenfold increase in penalty for ICL fertilizer plant accused of 'calculating' behavior
parool

Tenfold increase in penalty for ICL fertilizer plant accused of 'calculating' behavior

Ajax talent Sean Steur (18) joins Newcastle United for a massive fee
ad

Ajax talent Sean Steur (18) joins Newcastle United for a massive fee

18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur is transferring to Newcastle United in a deal worth approximately 27 million euros including bonuses. The English Premier League club reached an agreement with A...

Trade with Russia and a gambler with tons of cash: how ABN Amro went (again) expensively wrong
ad

Trade with Russia and a gambler with tons of cash: how ABN Amro went (again) expensively wrong

ABN Amro has been fined 8.5 million euros by De Nederlandsche Bank for recurring anti-money laundering failures. The regulator cited the bank's over-reliance on client statements and its failure to pr...

Parcel delivery service ordered to halt operations by Labor Inspectorate
nu

Parcel delivery service ordered to halt operations by Labor Inspectorate

A package delivery service in North Holland has been ordered by the Labor Inspectorate to halt operations for one week. The inspection found that the company was employing individuals from outside Eur...

Inheritance tax is the most hated tax, people find it inherently unfair
ad

Inheritance tax is the most hated tax, people find it inherently unfair

While the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis reports public support for higher inheritance taxes, 50Plus senator Martin van Rooijen argues that the tax should be abolished entirely. He de...

Energy consumption has dropped significantly over the past quarter-century, but the decline has stagnated in recent years
ad

Energy consumption has dropped significantly over the past quarter-century, but the decline has stagnated in recent years

Energy consumption in the Netherlands has decreased significantly over the past 25 years despite population growth. However, this downward trend has stagnated in recent years, with little change in co...

Pump prices rise again due to escalating violence between Iran and US, fueling significantly higher costs in Belgium
ad

Pump prices rise again due to escalating violence between Iran and US, fueling significantly higher costs in Belgium

Fuel prices in the Netherlands increased on Thursday following a sharp rise in global oil prices. This surge was triggered by escalating tensions between Iran and the United States in the Middle East.

Government cushioned small businesses from major financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic
nu

Government cushioned small businesses from major financial problems during the coronavirus pandemic

During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dutch government provided the primary financial support for small businesses, rather than banks. The internal financing provided by business owne...

More choice in the Amsterdam housing market, but real estate agents warn of structural shortages
parool

More choice in the Amsterdam housing market, but real estate agents warn of structural shortages

Average house price rises to 506,000 euros despite record supply
nu

Average house price rises to 506,000 euros despite record supply

In the second quarter of 2026, the Netherlands saw a record number of houses put on the market, resulting in increased sales. Despite this high supply, the average price of an existing home rose by 3....

Sellers can no longer ask top price for homes: ‘Expectations must be adjusted’
ad

Sellers can no longer ask top price for homes: ‘Expectations must be adjusted’

Home sellers in the Netherlands are finding it harder to achieve high asking prices as market conditions shift. Properties with lower energy efficiency or poor maintenance are remaining on the market ...

Fewer cars but more mopeds stolen in the past six months
nu

Fewer cars but more mopeds stolen in the past six months

During the first half of 2026, the number of car thefts in the Netherlands decreased compared to the same period last year, resulting in lower insurance claims. However, there was a recorded increase ...

ABN AMRO fined 8.5 million euros for inadequate anti-money laundering controls
nu

ABN AMRO fined 8.5 million euros for inadequate anti-money laundering controls

The Dutch central bank has fined ABN AMRO 8.5 million euros due to significant shortcomings in its anti-money laundering controls. The regulator specifically cited failures in monitoring clients categ...

Multimillion-euro fine for ABN Amro over flawed anti-money laundering controls
ad

Multimillion-euro fine for ABN Amro over flawed anti-money laundering controls

The Dutch Central Bank (DNB) has imposed an 8.5 million euro fine on ABN Amro for structural shortcomings in its anti-money laundering controls regarding high-risk clients. The bank failed to properly...

World's largest meat processor significantly lowers climate targets
nu

World's largest meat processor significantly lowers climate targets

JBS, the world's largest meat processor, has abandoned its goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, citing the target's complexity. Instead, the company has announced a new commitment to re...

Plus-size people face faster job rejection or worse: ‘Slimmer women get higher salaries’
ad

Plus-size people face faster job rejection or worse: ‘Slimmer women get higher salaries’

Research by the knowledge institute Movisie indicates that employees with a larger body size frequently face discrimination, bullying, or wage disparities in the workplace. Researchers express concern...

Voice of fake employee points to Dutch involvement in Odido hack
nu

Voice of fake employee points to Dutch involvement in Odido hack

Dutch police have identified strong evidence of local criminal involvement in a significant data breach at the telecommunications provider Odido. The security incident, which exposed the personal info...

Amsterdam tech firm Mews cuts 15 percent of jobs due to AI
parool

Amsterdam tech firm Mews cuts 15 percent of jobs due to AI

Empty shelves at Jumbo supermarkets due to distribution center issues
ad

Empty shelves at Jumbo supermarkets due to distribution center issues

Jumbo supermarket chain is experiencing supply chain issues originating from its distribution center in Veghel. Consequently, customers in the southern part of the Netherlands are facing product short...

Gas and oil prices back to pre-peace talk levels
nu

Gas and oil prices back to pre-peace talk levels

Gas and oil prices have returned to the levels seen prior to recent peace talks between the United States and Iran following a collapse in diplomatic negotiations. Consequently, stock markets in New Y...

Nearly 1000 more data breach reports in 2025: ‘Scammer emails look very real’
ad

Nearly 1000 more data breach reports in 2025: ‘Scammer emails look very real’

Data breach reports in the Netherlands increased by nearly 1,000 in 2025 as cybercriminals increasingly target corporate accounts to gain access. Experts warn that these sophisticated attacks, often i...

New national tax office support center in Stadsloket Zuidoost
amsterdam

New national tax office support center in Stadsloket Zuidoost

The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration has opened a new support center at the Stadsloket Zuidoost in Amsterdam. This facility provides assistance with national tax inquiries, benefits, and payment i...

East bridge must be wide enough for scooter riders and emergency services
rss

East bridge must be wide enough for scooter riders and emergency services

The proposed Oostbrug in Amsterdam is intended to accommodate a wide variety of users, including cyclists, scooter riders, and emergency services, while ensuring safety and accessibility. Despite risi...

Dutch crews dredge in Persian Gulf: 'No one is there against their will'
nu

Dutch crews dredge in Persian Gulf: 'No one is there against their will'

Dutch sailors continue to operate dredging vessels in the Persian Gulf despite rising tensions in the region. The workers remain on-site voluntarily to perform their professional duties.

European Parliament approves trade deal with Mexico: some import tariffs removed
nu

European Parliament approves trade deal with Mexico: some import tariffs removed

The European Parliament has approved a trade agreement with Mexico aimed at reducing import tariffs. This deal follows the European Union's importation of 34 billion euros worth of goods from Mexico i...

How Bol.com is copying Amazon's strategy and becoming a bank as well as a webshop
ad

How Bol.com is copying Amazon's strategy and becoming a bank as well as a webshop

Bol.com is expanding its business model by developing its own payment system, mirroring the strategy used by Amazon. By moving beyond retail, the Dutch e-commerce giant aims to increase its revenue st...

KHN hospitality association appoints another Amsterdam entrepreneur as chair
parool

KHN hospitality association appoints another Amsterdam entrepreneur as chair

Tata Steel in court, but what punishment do you give a company?
parool

Tata Steel in court, but what punishment do you give a company?

Inheritance tax must increase, professor argues: ‘It is the fairest tax we have’
ad

Inheritance tax must increase, professor argues: ‘It is the fairest tax we have’

Professor Bernard Schols argues that inheritance tax should be increased, describing it as the most equitable form of taxation. Public opinion in the Netherlands is shifting in favor of higher taxes o...

Unions to continue major strikes after summer: public transport to shut down again
nu

Unions to continue major strikes after summer: public transport to shut down again

Trade unions in the Netherlands are preparing for widespread strikes and large-scale industrial action following the summer break. The planned stoppages will affect multiple sectors, including public ...