Economy News in English
Latest economy headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Strait of Hormuz just safe enough to let oil prices fall
Oil prices have declined as shipping traffic gradually resumes through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this improvement, the region remains marked by significant security risks and ongoing uncertainty f...
End of mortgage interest deduction hits those without wealth hardest: here is how it works
Starting in 2031, individuals without assets in box 3 will be most affected by the expiration of mortgage interest deduction. Under the new tax system effective from 2028, wealthier individuals will s...
Amsterdam frees up more vacant homes: from 1,300 to 1,836 in one year
Amsterdam made over 1,800 homes habitable again last year
In 2025, the city of Amsterdam successfully returned over 1,800 vacant or fraudulently occupied homes to the housing market. These efforts are part of the municipality's ongoing strategy to combat hou...
Tripadvisor AI tool 'forgets' negative reviews and praises hotels as flawless
Research by the British consumer organization Which? has found that Tripadvisor's AI tool often excludes negative hotel reviews in its automated summaries. This leads to misleading descriptions, where...
Morocco, Curaçao and Mexico increasingly popular with Dutch tourists: ‘600 passengers per day’
While high costs are causing some Dutch residents to stay home this summer, many are choosing to travel abroad for their vacations. Spain remains the top destination, though countries such as Mexico, ...
Jan-Bert Vroege leaves Amsterdam politics for alderman role in Almere: "Time for something else"
After sixteen years in Amsterdam politics, Jan-Bert Vroege has been installed as a new alderman in Almere. He will oversee a diverse portfolio focused on the city's future, including economy, innovati...
Inland shipping stalled by neglected bridges: 'Days of delays or hundreds of kilometers in detours'
The inland shipping sector in the Netherlands is facing significant delays and logistical disruptions due to poorly maintained and broken bridges. Critical routes, including the standing mast route in...
Cabinet invests 450 million euros in underground hydrogen storage
The Dutch cabinet is investing 450 million euros from the Climate Fund into the construction of underground hydrogen storage facilities. This initiative aims to support the transition to renewable ene...
FNV welcomes ban on temporary agency workers in meat sector
The trade union FNV has welcomed Minister Hans Vijlbrief's decision to ban temporary workers in the meat sector starting in June 2028. While the union views this as a breakthrough against structural a...
Time is money in theater construction as costs threaten to soar: Every month of delay means 50,000 euros in extra costs
The renovation and new construction of the Stadsschouwburg Velsen are facing significant budget overruns, with delays costing an additional 50,000 euros per month. The local municipal council is now c...
DNB opens ATMs on Saba and Sint Eustatius
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) has opened its first ATMs on the islands of Saba and Sint-Eustatius this week. The initiative aims to improve access to cash withdrawals for local residents, business owner...
Going on holiday by electric car? Traveling to France is much cheaper than to Italy
Electric vehicle drivers planning a summer vacation face significant variations in charging costs across different European countries. Research indicates that travel costs differ depending on the dest...
Vijlbrief: Meat might be 'a bit' more expensive due to temp agency ban
Dutch Minister Hans Vijlbrief suggests that meat prices may increase slightly starting in June 2028 due to an upcoming ban on temporary employment agencies in the meat sector. He defends the policy as...
Court examines site of Rotterdam gold heist
The court visited a safe deposit company in Rotterdam to investigate a massive gold heist that occurred between 2018 and 2019. Prosecutors estimate the current value of the stolen gold, which remains ...
Global food prices drop slightly as Strait of Hormuz remains open
Global food prices decreased for the second consecutive month in June, falling 0.3 percent according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization. The decline was primarily driven by lower costs for ...
Mandatory internship compensation, but no minimum amount
The Dutch cabinet has decided that all students will be entitled to a mandatory internship allowance in the future. However, the government has not set a minimum amount, allowing for significant varia...
Gamblers get no refunds from unlicensed online casinos
The Dutch Supreme Court has ruled that gamblers who lost money at unlicensed online casinos are not entitled to a refund. This decision overturns previous lower court rulings and effectively ends atte...
Possible traffic fine increases may violate European law
The Advocate General has advised the Supreme Court that significant increases in traffic fines may conflict with European law. The advice argues that individuals who are unable to pay should not be su...
Reinier van Zutphen to step down as National Ombudsman
Schiphol expects 12.7 million passengers this summer, slightly more than last year
Schiphol Airport expects to welcome approximately 12.7 million passengers during the upcoming summer vacation period. This figure represents a slight increase compared to the 12.4 million travelers re...
Working longer hours, layoffs and delayed bonuses: thousands of Mercedes employees protest
Thousands of Mercedes-Benz employees are protesting against planned cost-cutting measures, including increased working hours without salary increases. The demonstrations also address broader job losse...
Heemstede council keeps purse strings tight despite healthy savings. Funds reserved for sports facilities, primary schools, and town hall
The municipal council of Heemstede has opted for financial restraint during the budget framework discussions, despite the town's currently healthy financial position. All proposals requesting addition...
Dutch people went on holiday almost 22 million times last summer
According to data from Statistics Netherlands, residents of the country went on vacation 21.9 million times last summer. Between late April and early October 2025, 72 percent of the Dutch population a...
IJmond receives most funding from traffic safety budget. 2.6 million from the province for safer roads
The province of Noord-Holland is awarding 5.8 million euros in subsidies to ten municipalities to improve road safety and develop cycling routes. The IJmond region will receive the largest share, tota...
Ymere can evict tenants from social housing after 33 years: they own seven homes and five business premises
AI craze swallows chip factories and we feel it in our wallets: iPhone also getting expensive quickly
Apple has significantly increased the prices of its iPads and MacBooks due to a global shortage of memory chips. The surge in demand for AI technology is contributing to these rising costs, which anal...
Will there be an asylum seekers' center in the horror apartment, and what will happen to the dog tax? Follow the live debate on Haarlem's finances here
The Haarlem city council is holding a debate on the framework memorandum, covering topics such as the dog tax, fireworks policies, and the potential establishment of an asylum seekers' center at Zijlw...
Cabinet to ban temporary workers in meat sector
The Dutch government plans to implement a ban on the use of temporary agency workers in the meat processing industry starting in mid-2028. This measure aims to address and eliminate labor abuses and t...
IJmuiden resident suspected of illegal fish trade, 57,000 euros in cash seized
On July 1, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) arrested an individual from IJmuiden on suspicion of illegal fish trading. During the operation, authorities searched a fis...