Amsterdam Times

ASML's Strong Rally Highlights Both Its Market Strength and Technology Risks

ASML's fifty-five percent share gain this year reflects continued confidence in demand for advanced semiconductor equipment, while reports of progress in Chinese deep-ultraviolet lithography have exposed investor concerns about the long-...

Dutch Growth Remains Solid While Inflation Continues to Pressure Households

The Dutch economy is expanding on the back of exports, government spending and strong household financial buffers, but the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis expects inflation to remain around three percent through 2027, lim...

Rotterdam Disruptions Highlight Risks to Europe's Major Energy and Logistics Hub

The fatal refinery explosion, power outage and transformer fire at Rotterdam's port demonstrate how separate industrial incidents can disrupt operations across Europe's largest maritime logistics hub, increasing attention on infrastructu...

Schiphol's Aircraft Tariffs Show How Airport Charges Can Drive Environmental Change

Schiphol's increase in the share of its quietest aircraft from twenty-nine percent to thirty-eight percent in one year shows how differentiated airport charges can encourage airlines to deploy newer, quieter fleets as the Netherlands tig...

Dutch Gambling Authority Orders Six Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Euros in Penalties Over Illegal Casino Promotion

The Dutch gambling regulator has ordered three international holding companies to pay a combined six hundred and seventy-five thousand euros in penalty payments over the illegal CasinoScout online gambling promotion network.

Schiphol Accelerates Shift Toward Quieter Aircraft With Higher Charges for Noisier Fleets

Thirty-eight percent of aircraft operating at Schiphol are now classified among the quietest available models, up from twenty-nine percent a year earlier, as differentiated airport charges encourage airlines to use newer and quieter airc...

Nearly Three Hundred Dutch Citizens Repatriated Through Schiphol From Doha

Nearly three hundred Dutch citizens arrived at Schiphol from Doha on a Qatar Airways repatriation flight as the Dutch government works to assist more citizens stranded by suspended Middle Eastern routes and sharply higher ticket prices.

Middle East Conflict Cuts Schiphol Traffic and Reduces Financial Results

Disruption caused by the war in the Middle East reduced international traffic through the Netherlands and led Schiphol to offer temporary discounts on airport charges, contributing to a thirty-seven million euro reduction in financial re...

Schiphol Passenger Numbers Reach Thirty-Seven Point Three Million Despite Flight Caps

Schiphol handled thirty-seven point three million passengers across its Dutch airports in the first half of 2026 even as total flight movements declined, with airlines using larger and fuller aircraft to maintain passenger capacity.

Schiphol Invests Eight Hundred and One Million Euros in Infrastructure During First Half

Royal Schiphol Group invested eight hundred and one million euros in terminal quality and operational infrastructure during the first half of 2026 as part of a ten billion euro renewal program extending through 2035.

Morningstar Raises ASML Valuation Forecasts on Strong Orders and AI Demand

Morningstar has raised its long-term forecasts and fair value estimates for ASML after stronger-than-expected financial results and order intake, citing the Dutch company's central role in supplying equipment for advanced semiconductor p...

Analysts Say Chinese Deep-Ultraviolet Lithography Poses No Immediate Threat to ASML

International analysts, including researchers at Morningstar, have played down concerns that reported advances by a Chinese state-owned company in immersion deep-ultraviolet lithography could quickly challenge ASML's position in advanced...

ASML Shares Rise Fifty-Five Percent This Year as AI Chip Investment Drives Demand

ASML shares have gained fifty-five percent since the start of 2026, outperforming major semiconductor peers as demand for the company's extreme ultraviolet lithography systems remains closely tied to global investment in artificial intel...

Dutch Inflation Expected to Stay Near Three Percent Through 2027

The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis expects inflation to remain around three percent in both 2026 and 2027, with energy and fuel costs continuing to pressure household purchasing power and retail consumption.

CPB Forecasts Dutch Economic Growth of One Point Four Percent in 2026

The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis expects the Dutch economy to grow one point four percent this year, supported mainly by strong exports and higher government spending on defense.

Dutch Economy Grows One Point Three Percent in Second Quarter as Recovery Continues

Statistics Netherlands confirmed that the Dutch economy expanded one point three percent year on year in the second quarter of 2026, with strong household financial buffers helping the economy absorb external shocks.

Port of Rotterdam Hit by Fatal Refinery Explosion and Major Power Outage

A fatal explosion at the Gunvor Energy refinery and a separate power outage with a transformer fire disrupted operations across Rotterdam's port industrial zones, prompting emergency evacuations and an investigation into whether pipeline...

Amsterdam Tourism Restrictions Show Early Signs of Reducing Nuisance

Municipal data indicates that tighter short-term rental rules, earlier closing times in the red-light district, and international campaigns against nuisance tourism are beginning to reduce pressure on Amsterdam's historic center.

Rotterdam Rave Festival Sells Out Ahoy as City Prepares for Thousands of Visitors

The 2026 Rotterdam Rave Festival has sold out the Ahoy arena for August twenty-ninth, bringing international electronic music fans to the city and adding to Rotterdam's large-scale events and tourism activity.

International Criminal Court in The Hague Prepares Major Jurisdictional Rulings

Legal and diplomatic circles in The Hague are awaiting rulings by the International Criminal Court on jurisdiction in ongoing conflicts, with the decisions expected to test the reach of international humanitarian law.

Jetten Government Reaffirms Long-Term Military and Financial Support for Ukraine

Prime Minister Rob Jetten has pledged continued Dutch military and financial assistance to Ukraine, including air defense systems and artillery ammunition, maintaining the Netherlands' strong support for Kyiv.

Netherlands Pushes European Union for Tougher Enforcement of Digital Markets Act

Dutch officials are leading a coalition of European Union countries seeking stronger enforcement of the Digital Markets Act against major technology companies, arguing that stricter application is needed to support competition and Europe...

Shell and Vattenfall Agree to Build Major Green Hydrogen Plant in Eemshaven

Shell and Vattenfall have signed a binding agreement to develop a large electrolyzer facility in the northern Dutch port, using renewable electricity from North Sea wind projects to produce hydrogen for industrial use.

Rijkswaterstaat Accelerates Dutch Coastal Defense Planning as Sea Levels Rise

The national water management agency is preparing faster reinforcement of dikes and storm surge barriers in response to updated climate projections indicating more rapid sea-level rise.

Dutch Agricultural Technology Firms Expand Water-Saving Exports to Middle East

Dutch companies are selling advanced water-efficient cultivation and vertical farming systems to customers in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, extending the country's agricultural technology exports into water-scarce markets.

Dutch Offshore Wind Projects Face Delays From Higher Costs and Supply Bottlenecks

Energy developers in the North Sea are warning that equipment shortages, limited specialist vessels, and rising raw material costs are delaying offshore wind projects and putting pressure on the Netherlands' renewable energy plans.

Utrecht Expands Car-Free Zones in Historic Center as Part of Sustainable Mobility Plan

The city is expanding permanent car-free areas and reallocating roads to pedestrians, cyclists, and electric public transport as it pursues a more sustainable urban mobility model.

TenneT Plans Billions in Grid Investment to Ease Dutch Electricity Bottlenecks

The state-owned transmission operator is expanding the high-voltage network as severe congestion prevents new businesses, housing projects, and renewable energy installations from securing connections in several Dutch provinces.

Amsterdam Tightens Property Rules to Limit Real Estate Speculation

The Amsterdam municipal government is introducing stricter restrictions on international investors and private equity firms buying homes for short-term rental or speculative purposes as the city seeks to improve housing availability for ...

Dutch Housing Construction Continues to Miss Government Targets

High interest rates, expensive materials, and nitrogen emission restrictions are contributing to falling building permits and project starts, making it harder for the Netherlands to address its severe shortage of homes.

Dutch Customs Deploys Artificial Intelligence to Detect Drugs in Rotterdam Port Containers

Customs authorities at the Port of Rotterdam are using artificial intelligence to analyze shipping containers and identify suspicious cargo, strengthening efforts to detect narcotics concealed within legitimate commercial shipments.

North Sea Port Gains Cargo as Rotterdam and Antwerp Face Capacity Constraints

North Sea Port, spanning Zeeland in the Netherlands and Ghent in Belgium, is attracting more bulk and breakbulk cargo as shippers seek alternatives to congestion, labor shortages, and higher handling costs at larger regional ports.

Red Sea Disruptions Keep Shipping Costs Elevated for Dutch Importers

Continued rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope is extending transit times for cargo bound for Rotterdam and keeping container freight costs high, adding pressure to Dutch importers and supply chains.

Rotterdam Advances Green Hydrogen Infrastructure to Maintain Its Role as Europe's Energy Gateway

The Port of Rotterdam is developing hydrogen import terminals and conversion facilities as it seeks to build new energy supply chains linking Dutch coastal infrastructure with industrial markets in the Netherlands and Germany.

Adyen and Dutch Fintech Firms Continue Global Expansion Despite Weak European Demand

Amsterdam-based payment company Adyen and other Dutch fintech businesses are expanding services in North America and Asia, providing an international growth channel as economic conditions remain weaker across Europe.

Amsterdam Financial Firms Expand Private Credit Lending to European Mid-Sized Companies

Banks and asset managers in Amsterdam's Zuidas financial district are increasing private credit activity as tighter traditional lending conditions push medium-sized European companies toward alternative financing for acquisitions and tec...

Persistent Dutch Inflation Keeps Pressure on Household Purchasing Power

Continued increases in food, energy, and service prices are weighing on consumer spending in the Netherlands, complicating government budget negotiations and adding pressure to retailers and hospitality businesses.

Imperial Brands Plans Major European Job Cuts Including Dutch Operations

The tobacco company is preparing thousands of job reductions across Europe and the United States as it seeks to lower operating costs, with human resources, finance, and supply chain functions among those affected.

Dutch Commercial Property Tax Rule Threatens Investment in Innovation and Sustainability

A tax rule introduced in 2019 prevents companies from depreciating commercial property below its assessed municipal value, creating higher tax burdens for some owners of older buildings and potentially reducing funds available for techno...

Dutch Data Center Industry Warns Artificial Intelligence Boom Is Straining the Electricity Grid

The Dutch Data Center Association is urging the government to accelerate grid investment and prioritize sustainable electricity supplies as rising artificial intelligence computing demand puts additional pressure on capacity around Amste...

NXP Expands European Research Into Artificial Intelligence for Electric and Autonomous Vehicles

Dutch chipmaker NXP is expanding research and development focused on artificial intelligence in electric and autonomous vehicles, seeking to strengthen its position in the European automotive semiconductor market.

Eindhoven Region Secures Billions for Housing and Infrastructure to Support Technology Expansion

North Brabant governments have agreed on a multi-billion-euro investment programme to build thousands of homes and improve public transport around Eindhoven as ASML, NXP, and other technology companies compete for skilled workers.

China's Advances in Deep Ultraviolet Lithography Raise New Concerns for ASML

Reports that China is beginning domestic production of immersion deep ultraviolet chipmaking equipment are increasing pressure on ASML and Dutch policymakers as Beijing seeks to narrow the technological gap with Western semiconductor sup...