Economy News in English

Cash remains widely accepted, but card-only is on the rise in major cities

While cash remains widely accepted for daily transactions in the Netherlands, the number of businesses transitioning to card-only payments is increasing in larger cities. Despite this trend, physical ...

NATO countries invest tens of billions in drone defense

NATO countries are investing 40 billion dollars over the next five years to improve drone defense systems. Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced the initiative in Ankara, citing the increasing freque...

How Nike suddenly lost its cool: ‘It has become your parents’ shoe’

Nike is currently facing a significant decline in popularity and financial performance as younger consumers shift their preferences toward rival brands like Adidas and New Balance. The once-dominant s...

Bali tightens visa rules: influencers risk fines or even deportation

Bali is implementing stricter enforcement against foreign influencers and content creators who produce commercial work while traveling on a tourist visa. Individuals who generate income through online...

Heat puts agriculture under pressure, but Dutch harvest holds up for now

Despite an approaching heatwave, the Dutch agricultural sector reports that crops such as potatoes, onions, and wheat are currently holding up well. While similar extreme heat has caused visible damag...

Dutch petrol prices rise by another cent, refuelling across the border can save twenty euros

Gasoline prices in the Netherlands have slightly increased again, reversing a recent downward trend. Motorists are advised that filling up their tanks across the border could result in savings of up t...

Microsoft cuts 4,800 jobs in major Xbox reorganization

Microsoft is cutting approximately 4,800 jobs globally as the company shifts its investment focus toward artificial intelligence. The Xbox gaming division will be most significantly impacted, with rou...

Low incomes hit hardest by high energy prices: 'Paying much more tax'

New research from TNO indicates that government compensation for high energy bills is significantly less effective than investing in home insulation and sustainable energy alternatives. The study high...

Netherlands recruits 29 top scientists who left the US under Trump

Twenty-nine top scientists have moved to the Netherlands from the United States following political tensions in the academic sector under Donald Trump. The move was facilitated by a specialized fund d...

Renovation of Rustenburgerlaan becomes costly affair due to steel slag foundation

The renovation of the Rustenburgerlaan in Haarlem has become significantly more expensive because the existing foundation contains steel slag. As a result, the entire foundation must be replaced durin...

Tanker attacked near Strait of Hormuz

An oil tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, causing a fire to break out on board. The incident was reported by the British maritime organiza...

Monique Koorn (63) earns 2441 euros a month with three jobs, her adult children still live at home: 'They have nowhere to go'

Southeast Amsterdam to get mega data center: heavy user of power and drinking water, but with space for local startups

Majority of Dutch people support higher inheritance tax on large estates

A study by the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis indicates that a majority of Dutch citizens support higher inheritance taxes on large estates. The research highlights growing public bac...

WEF founder Schwab files police report after discovery of listening device

World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has filed a police report in Geneva after discovering a listening device in his home office. The investigation into the security breach is currently underway.

Living small, dreaming big: 4 properties you can get for under 300k in Amsterdam

Finding an affordable home in Amsterdam is often challenging due to high property prices. This article highlights four available properties priced under three hundred thousand euros, offering tips on ...

Rutte: arms industry cannot handle even higher defense budgets

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the European defense industry has reached its capacity to process orders due to the rapid increase in defense spending by member states. He noted that the...

Wedding costs have risen significantly this year compared to last year

Wedding costs in the Netherlands have risen significantly this year compared to the previous year. Expenses vary depending on the municipality and the day of the week, with weekend weddings being the ...

Tilburg power outage caused by faulty meter, not overload

Approximately 18,000 customers in the Tilburg region experienced a power outage on Sunday due to a faulty meter that incorrectly signaled an overload. As a precautionary measure, a medium-voltage subs...

Rutte: Europe and Canada now spending around 4 percent of GDP on defense

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that European member states and Canada are currently investing approximately 4 percent of their GDP in defense and security. He noted that these nations are on...

New rescue attempt for black-tailed godwit: 35 areas and 35,000 hectares to save national bird from extinction

Dutch Minister of Nature Jaimi van Essen and seven provinces have launched a new conservation initiative to prevent the extinction of the black-tailed godwit. The project aims to restore 35,000 hectar...

Motorcycle sales rise significantly again: 'It's a practical means of transport'

New motorcycle sales in the Netherlands increased significantly in the first half of the year, with 14,062 units sold. This represents a growth of over 15 percent compared to the same period in the pr...

Zijlstraat, Cronjé and Kleverpark shopping areas partly excluded from higher parking rates: 'Benefits local economy'

The Haarlem city council has decided to exempt parking areas and garages in the Zijlstraat, Cronjé, and Kleverpark shopping districts from planned rate increases. The current 'stop and shop' rate of ...

Russian banks pressured to issue risky loans

A European intelligence report reviewed by Reuters indicates that Russian banks are under pressure to issue increasingly risky loans. This practice raises concerns about a potential explosive banking ...

Government did not want to buy Solvinity itself, company claims

Solvinity, the manager of the DigiD platform, approached the Dutch government with an offer to be acquired, but the government declined the proposal. Lawyers representing the company disclosed this in...

Halving of subsidy threatens future of Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek: 'Only in the Bollenstreek are we just scraping by'

The Greenport Duin- en Bollenstreek foundation is facing a significant budget cut, with subsidies nearly halving for 2026 and 2027. Consequently, the organization has warned that activities such as th...

Minister Sjoerdsma to China to strengthen trade relations

Dutch Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma is traveling to China for a three-day trade mission accompanied by seventeen companies from the Netherlands. This visit occurs five years after Beijing placed Sjoerdsma...

Wibra saw turnover and store count grow significantly last year

Budget retailer Wibra experienced a record year in 2025, opening 63 new stores to reach a total of 360 locations. The company reported that its revenue grew by over 25 percent, amounting to 362 millio...

Spain expects 100 million foreign tourists despite fires and heat

Spain expects to welcome 100 million foreign tourists this year, according to Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu. Despite concerns regarding rising summer temperatures and wildfires, the country continues t...

Diesel is flowing from the pump for less than 2 euros per liter again here and there

The price of diesel has fallen below 2 euros per liter at some locations in the Netherlands. This follows a significant price increase that occurred after the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.