Economy News in English

Pensioner Henk (71) receives 2680 every month and knows he is lucky: I feel for the youth

1 in 20 households owns a caravan: Dutch people remain loyal to the camper lifestyle

The demand for caravans in the Netherlands has grown by 10 percent in the first half of the year, defying a previous trend toward campers. The Netherlands remains one of the few European countries whe...

China begins production of advanced chip machines

China has started production of its own advanced chip manufacturing equipment. This development challenges the long-standing market dominance of the Dutch company ASML in the chip production sector.

Budget fashion chain Primark lowers prices to stay ahead of competition

Budget clothing retailer Primark is permanently lowering prices on hundreds of popular items to maintain its competitive edge. This move is intended to challenge rising competitors like SHEIN and Temu...

Rijkswaterstaat enforces truck ban on Merwedebrug

Rijkswaterstaat is actively enforcing a truck ban on the Merwedebrug starting Saturday, July 18. This measure was implemented after inspections revealed that the bridge's steel arch structure has weak...

Prince Bernhard sells all his real estate and other business interests

Prince Bernhard of Orange is selling all of his real estate holdings and business interests, including hundreds of properties in Amsterdam, to his business partners. The Prince stated that he intends ...

The Russian economy is creaking but still standing

The Russian economy is facing significant strain due to the high costs of the war in Ukraine and frequent drone attacks on critical infrastructure. Despite a widening budget deficit and internal turmo...

Prince Bernhard sells all business interests, including real estate and Zandvoort circuit

SHEIN suffers under US import rules and threatens with more expensive products

The online fashion retailer SHEIN has warned that its clothing prices in the United States may increase due to disappointing financial results and stricter import regulations. These regulatory changes...

Liander expands power grid but cannot yet keep up with growing waiting list

Grid operator Liander provided 1,389 businesses with new or upgraded electricity connections during the first half of this year. Despite these efforts, the organization currently faces a growing backl...

Oil and gas prices drop sharply due to ceasefire in Iran conflict, effect at the pump expected in a few days

Oil and gas prices fell significantly on Monday following the suspension of United States military attacks on Iran. Traders are optimistic that this pause will ease tensions in the Middle East and res...

Gasoline price half a cent below record but may drop due to lower oil price

Gasoline prices in the Netherlands are currently just half a cent below record levels. However, falling oil prices and a weaker dollar suggest that prices at the pump may soon decrease.

Supermarket owner Marco is fed up with thieves: It really brings tears to your eyes

The fine for shoplifters in the Netherlands will increase from 181 to 242 euros starting in September. Despite this policy change, supermarket owner Marco Vos expresses skepticism, stating that the hi...

Farmers feel cornered by new cow standards: 'Nearly impossible task'

The Dutch government has proposed a new regulation limiting farmers to a maximum of 2.6 cows per hectare as part of a package to address nitrogen emission issues. Many farmers have expressed concern, ...

Still more manual cars despite rapid rise of automatics

Nearly half of all cars in the Netherlands are now automatic, a doubling of the figure from ten years ago. This trend is primarily driven by the rising popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles, whic...

Patty Brard fears she won't have enough money for her retirement

Dutch television presenter Patty Brard has expressed concerns regarding her financial future and retirement. As a result, the 71-year-old intends to continue working for the foreseeable future to ensu...

More and more buildings at risk of subsidence due to foundation problems

Nearly half a million buildings in the Netherlands are at risk of foundation-related subsidence damage by 2035. Without intervention, the total cost of damages is projected to reach 54 billion euros, ...

Addiction help via your employer: ‘That 5,000 euros is nothing compared to the costs of long-term absenteeism’

Large organizations in the Netherlands are increasingly helping employees with addictions by connecting them to specialized mental healthcare services. This initiative aims to reduce long-term absente...

Dentists sound alarm: We are heading for a dental care crisis

Dentists in the Netherlands are warning of an impending crisis in dental care due to an aging population and a decrease in the number of elderly patients with dentures. The professional association st...

Never flown a meter yet headed for the shredder: Boeing chooses to scrap new 777X

Boeing has decided to scrap a brand-new 777X aircraft that never performed a single flight. This decision comes as the 777X project continues to face significant delays and challenges for the American...

Fire department works to stay ahead of blazes in parched Veluwe region

Due to persistent drought conditions, the fire department is taking proactive measures to prevent wildfires in the Veluwe region of the Netherlands. Although the country has avoided major fires seen i...

Caregivers face increased workload as healthcare staff go on vacation

Caregivers in the Netherlands are facing an increased workload during the summer holiday period. As professional care staff take leave, family members must take over additional responsibilities to ens...

HR prioritizes Charlotte's (55) office colleagues for summer bonus: 'They went that extra mile'

Charlotte, a 55-year-old employee, discovered that her summer bonus was significantly lower than that of her office-based colleagues. HR explained the discrepancy by citing the additional effort and p...

Explainer | Banknotes get a makeover: these birds and celebrities are featured on them

Last summer of Formula 1 kicks off: "We are going to miss it"

The Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort is beginning its final summer of racing, as organizers have decided to end the event after six years due to financial concerns. While the races have brought significa...

Why the Netherlands is still a long way from being a cashless society

Despite the widespread use of digital payment methods in the Netherlands, cash remains a vital part of the economy. Experts suggest that a cashless society is unlikely to be realized in the near futur...

Driving an electric vehicle is not always cheaper than refueling in holiday countries

Travelers driving abroad face significant price variations in both fuel and electricity costs depending on the destination. Consequently, driving an electric vehicle is not consistently cheaper than u...

Public Prosecution Service seizes 433 million in cash and assets from criminals, a new record

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service confiscated a record 433 million euros in criminal assets and goods in 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the total value of seizures has increased.

Screen Time | Soulless or not, director Neill Blomkamp sees a future in AI films

Tech reporter Rutger Otto explores the future of AI-generated films in his weekly column, Schermtijd. He specifically examines the perspective of director Neill Blomkamp on whether AI can create meani...

US government withdrew subsidies for states that did not vote for Trump in 2024

The U.S. government cut billions of dollars in subsidies in October 2025 to states that did not vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. According to court documents reported by The Ne...