Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
How contaminated oil tainted baby food worldwide: new production line misled Nestlé
A Nestlé factory in Nunspeet contaminated baby milk powder with toxic substances due to issues with a new production line and contaminated oil. Despite implementing extra quality controls, the compan...
It often remains a mystery who is discharging polluting chemicals into the sewer
Chemical pollutants are being discharged through sewer systems, making them difficult to detect and impossible to filter out of the water supply. This practice is causing a decline in water quality an...
Pregnant women to lose out significantly under cabinet plans: ‘Affects 25,000 women’
The Dutch government plans to significantly reduce the maximum daily wage for social security benefits, impacting approximately 25,000 women. This measure will lead to lower payouts for maternity and ...
Amsterdam Economic Board Director: Without boldness in tech investment, the Netherlands misses out on its future
Local taxes in Haarlem up 21 percent in four years
Local taxes for homeowners in Haarlem have increased by 21 percent over the past four years, according to data released by Vereniging Eigen Huis. This year, an average household with an owner-occupied...
Minister Heinen wants to amend Box 3 law before summer: ‘Concerns among the public are not good’
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen announced plans to pass an amended wealth tax (box 3) bill through the House of Representatives before the summer. During a television appearance, he emphasized the need ...
US court halves mega-fine for Greenpeace
A United States court has reduced a fine against Greenpeace by half to $345 million. The environmental organization was originally penalized for its role in protests against the construction of an oil...
Paramount acquires Warner Bros in $110 billion deal
Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to an acquisition by Paramount Skydance in a deal valued at 110 billion dollars. This major merger combines two of the largest entertainment and media conglomerates i...
Concerns over looming Warner takeover: CNN falls into hands of Trump ally
Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to be acquired by Paramount Skydance, pending approval from U.S. regulators. The deal would transfer ownership of CNN to a billionaire with close ties to Donald Trum...
Cities raise tourist tax: 'Just a few extra euros won't deter people'
European cities, including Amsterdam, are increasing tourist taxes in an effort to manage overcrowding and generate revenue. Despite Amsterdam having the highest tax rate in Europe, the additional cos...
Vijlbrief retracts remark, will scale back state pension plan
Minister of Social Affairs Hans Vijlbrief announced he will weaken the coalition's proposal to accelerate the increase of the state pension age, retracting an earlier denial. Vijlbrief admitted follow...
European Commission implements Mercosur deal without parliamentary consent
The European Commission is implementing the Mercosur trade treaty without the consent of the European Parliament. This move signals the Commission's urgency to establish trade ties with the South Amer...
Parties push for alternative state pension plan after Vijlbrief statement
Dutch political parties SGP and Groep Markuszower are urging the cabinet to revise plans that would accelerate the increase of the state pension age starting in 2033. Supported by the governing partie...
Zelensky invites Slovak PM Fico to Kyiv for energy talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to Kyiv to discuss their ongoing dispute regarding energy supplies. The invitation follows a phone call between the...
Chaos over US import tariffs, but limited impact on the Netherlands
New US import tariffs are expected to have a generally favorable impact on the Netherlands, with some exports potentially becoming cheaper. However, certain sectors like beer brewing and horse trading...
Cutting Schiphol in half would benefit the economy, Delft study finds
A study by research firm CE Delft suggests that the Dutch economy could benefit if Schiphol Airport were reduced to half its current size. The report, commissioned by the Social Council Schiphol and r...
Public Prosecution Service appeals Stint case
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) has filed an appeal against the court's verdict regarding the fatal Stint accident in Oss. The prosecution stated it disagrees with the court's reasoning and ...
Economic concerns leave wine glasses half-empty in Germany
Wine consumption in Germany decreased significantly over the past year. This decline is attributed to consumers being more frugal as a result of the country's faltering economy.
Arthur noticed strong reactions to scents: now he ensures businesses have the right fragrance
Arthur Stuivenberg, an entrepreneur based in Baarn, helps businesses and institutions improve their first impressions by implementing specific scents in their facilities. He asserts that 75% of the em...
Sluisplein apartments emerge from scaffolding: A completely new look for Old IJmuiden
The 95 new apartments at Sluisplein in IJmuiden are nearing completion as the scaffolding has been removed, significantly altering the local landscape. Buyers are expected to receive their keys in Aug...
Fewer counterfeit euro banknotes in circulation: decline continues
The number of counterfeit euro banknotes intercepted in the Netherlands decreased by 26% in 2025, with 17,900 forgeries found compared to 24,100 in 2024. The 50 euro note remains the most frequently c...
Chaos over Box 3: what is the current status of wealth tax?
The Dutch government is facing significant uncertainty regarding 'Box 3' wealth tax legislation due to conflicting decisions between the House of Representatives and the new cabinet. This political in...
Dutch prison service DJI hit by data breach
The Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI) has confirmed a data leak involving the personal information of its staff members. According to a spokesperson, the breach exposed employee email addresse...
Number of young people on welfare still growing faster than older people
The number of young people receiving welfare benefits in the Netherlands is growing faster than the rate for older individuals, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Local municipalities report t...
'Unacceptable': after DigiD, Dutch Tax Authority also wants to put VAT software in US hands
The Dutch Tax Authority is considering outsourcing the management of the national VAT system to an American IT company, raising concerns about national sovereignty. Experts warn that this move could a...
Odido hackers leak another million lines of customer data online
The hacker group ShinyHunters has released an additional one million lines of customer data stolen from the Dutch telecom provider Odido. This marks the second consecutive day of leaks, a tactic inten...
Put simply, the state pension row is about 2.7 billion: these are the alternatives for Jetten
Prime Minister Rob Jetten is considering alternatives to raising the state pension age while still needing to secure 2.7 billion euros for the national budget. Although several options for cutting cos...
Writers demand Meta stop using their work for AI
Representatives of Dutch writers, translators, and journalists have formally demanded that Meta stop using their copyrighted works to train artificial intelligence models. The group calls for an immed...
The Housing Crisis Sightseeing Tour takes you past 'expensive yuppie flats and exploited rentals'
Protesters in Amsterdam will hold a "Wooncrisis City Sightseeing Tour" this Sunday to highlight the city's ongoing housing shortage and rising living costs. The event marks five years since the first ...
More 18-year-olds in Haarlem bought a car in 2025 than in 2010
In 2025, more 18-year-olds in Haarlem purchased cars compared to 2010, with all transactions involving second-hand vehicles. Data from RDC indicates that Peugeot was the most popular brand among these...