Amsterdam Times

Prime Minister Rob Jetten Warns of Rising Online Hatred While Backing LGBTQI+ Rights at WorldPride and Hockey Events

Prime Minister Rob Jetten has used high-profile public appearances to emphasize Dutch support for LGBTQI+ rights, including at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference and the FIH Hockey World Cup, as his government seeks to counter growin...

Dutch Athletes Win European Championships Gold and Bronze in Discus and 800 Metres

Jorinde van Klinken won a historic European title in the discus, becoming the first Dutch athlete to take the championship in the event, while Femke Broeders-Bol claimed bronze in the 800 metres on her European debut.

Booking.com Faces Growing Scam Threat After Major Data Breach Exposes Reservation Information

Cybersecurity analysts warn that criminals are using stolen reservation data from a major Booking.com breach to target travelers with increasingly convincing scams, intensifying scrutiny of data security across Dutch digital platforms an...

Dutch Companies Warned They Are Unprepared for Summers Reaching 40 Degrees Celsius

A new climate adaptation report says many Dutch companies lack adequate heat protocols and cooling infrastructure as increasingly severe summer temperatures raise risks for workers and business operations.

Schiphol Noise Falls as Airlines Shift Toward Quieter Aircraft, Dutch Ministry Says

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management says Schiphol’s noise-reduction strategy is lowering local disturbances, with about forty percent of aircraft operating at the airport now belonging to the quietest generation fol...

Dutch Logistics Robot Maker Otto AI Raises €85 Million to Expand Warehouse Automation

Amsterdam-based warehouse robotics company Otto AI has secured €85 million in late-stage funding as it expands deployments across Dutch e-commerce and grocery platforms, targeting labor shortages in warehousing and distribution.

Amsterdam-Based Lunit Raises €120 Million to Expand AI Medical Imaging Across Europe

Medical imaging company Lunit has raised €120 million to expand its artificial intelligence diagnostic systems across Europe after establishing its European headquarters in Amsterdam, with the technology already deployed in forty-seven D...

The Hague Security Delta Launches €15 Million AI Accelerator for Peace and Security

The Hague Security Delta has launched a €15 million accelerator for artificial intelligence startups working on international law, defense and treaty monitoring, including technologies for documenting war crimes and securing communications.

Dutch Government Pledges €7.5 Million a Year to Counter Online Hatred and Anti-LGBTQI+ Disinformation

Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced annual government funding of €7.5 million for community safety and public education campaigns against online hatred and political disinformation while speaking at the WorldPride Human Rights Conference...

Dutch Government Warns Farmers After Tractor Protest Blocks A2 Highway

The Dutch government has issued a strong warning to agricultural protesters after about fifty tractors occupied the A2 despite police appeals, following a fatal traffic accident on a blocked road and renewing tensions over nitrogen-emiss...

TenneT Manages 1.3 Gigawatt Solar Drop During Near-Total Eclipse in Dutch Grid Stress Test

Dutch grid operator TenneT successfully balanced a sudden 1.3 gigawatt fall in solar generation during a near-total eclipse through forecasting and cross-border market coordination, testing the flexibility of a power system with about th...

Explosion at Rotterdam Fuel Terminal Kills Worker and Triggers Major Safety Investigation

An explosion at Gunvor Energy’s refinery and fuel storage facilities in Rotterdam’s Europoort area killed one worker and injured several others, prompting investigations after contractors were working on pipelines and operations were dis...

Amsterdam Home Prices Reach €658,000 as Housing Shortage Keeps Middle-Income Buyers Under Pressure

The average transaction price for a home in Amsterdam has reached €658,000 despite elevated mortgage rates, while chronic shortages and strong international demand continue to fuel competition and worsen affordability for middle-income h...

Schiphol Security and Cleaning Workers Strike Over Heavy Workloads and Sick Leave

Trade unions have launched short-notice strikes and work slowdowns at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport after disputes over workloads and sick-pay arrangements, raising the risk of delays for international passengers during a period of persiste...

Dutch AI Startups Raise Record €2.8 Billion as Healthcare and Logistics Investment Accelerates

Artificial intelligence startups in the Netherlands attracted a record €2.8 billion in venture capital during the first half of the year, with health technology and autonomous warehouse robotics among the leading areas for investment.

Dutch Economic Growth Forecast at 1.4% as Persistent Inflation Limits Purchasing Power

The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis expects the Dutch economy to grow 1.4% this year, supported by exports and higher defense spending, but warns that inflation near three percent will continue to weigh on real wages and ...

ASML Raises 2026 Revenue Forecast to €43 Billion–€45 Billion as AI Chip Demand Drives Dutch Semiconductor Expansion

ASML has raised its full-year revenue outlook to between €43 billion and €45 billion and plans to expand extreme ultraviolet lithography capacity by thirty percent as demand for advanced chips used in artificial intelligence accelerates.

Schiphol Deploys Automated Baggage Robots to Reduce Holiday Disruptions

Royal Schiphol Group is deploying automated, artificial intelligence-powered baggage-handling robots at its main terminals to address labor shortages and reduce the risk of disruption during peak travel periods.

Zeeland Tests AI Drones to Monitor Netherlands’ Delta Works Defenses

The Dutch Ministry of Defense and Rijkswaterstaat are testing drone surveillance along the Zeeland coast to monitor the condition of Delta Works infrastructure and assess risks associated with rising sea levels.

Eindhoven Housing Shortages Threaten Continued Expansion of Brainport Technology Sector

Regional planners in Eindhoven are warning that severe shortages of housing and infrastructure could constrain the growth of the Brainport high-tech sector as companies seek to accommodate thousands of skilled international workers.

NXP Wins Multi-Year European Automotive Supply Contract for Radar and Connectivity Chips

Eindhoven-based NXP Semiconductors has secured a multi-year supply agreement with European automakers for advanced radar and connectivity chips, strengthening the role of the Brainport region in next-generation vehicles.

Amsterdam Police Examine Possible Link Between Missing Canadian and Unidentified Hospital Patient

Amsterdam police are investigating a possible connection between a missing Canadian citizen and an unidentified man who has remained in a local hospital for three years without being able to communicate his identity.

Utrecht University Investigates Professor Over Undisclosed Payments From Companies

Utrecht University has opened an internal investigation into a professor after revelations that he received undisclosed personal payments from Red Bull and Sen-Jam for research related to their products, raising questions about academic ...

Physical Books Still Account for 86 Percent of Dutch Publishing Market

Physical books continue to dominate the Dutch publishing market, accounting for 86 percent of sales, according to an ABN AMRO sector report that highlights continued demand for print despite wider digitalization.

Dutch Media Groups Protest Fines Over Coverage of Weight-Loss Drugs

Dutch media organizations are criticizing government fines linked to coverage of popular weight-loss drugs, intensifying a national debate over press freedom and rules governing pharmaceutical advertising.

Schoof Cabinet Apologizes to Dutch Parliament Over Delays in Childcare Benefits Data Disclosure

State Secretaries Sandra Palmen and Eelco Eerenberg have apologized to the Dutch House of Representatives for delays in communicating information about a newly discovered data safe connected to the childcare benefits scandal.

Dutch Supermarkets Prepare for Wider Range of Genetically Modified Foods

Major Dutch supermarket chains are adjusting supply chains ahead of a wider range of genetically modified food products after the European Union confirmed plans to relax genomic techniques rules by 2028.

Two-Month Drought Persists Across Netherlands Despite Recent Rainfall

Dutch water authorities say recent showers have not ended a prolonged two-month drought, requiring continued water conservation and raising concerns about agricultural yields.

Dutch Pension Funds Report Further Improvement in Funding Ratios

Dutch pension funds continued to improve their funding ratios in July, supported by stronger equity markets and more stable interest rates as the country moves through its new pension system.

AEX Closes Higher as ASML and Energy Stocks Lift Amsterdam Market

The AEX index ended higher as ASML and major energy stocks gained, with investors responding to improving European economic indicators and stronger corporate earnings.

Amsterdam Data Center Expansion Faces Opposition Over Grid Capacity and Climate Concerns

Environmental groups and local politicians are stepping up opposition to a proposed hyperscale data center in Amsterdam, citing pressure on the electricity grid and conflicts with the city’s climate objectives.

Avantium Opens Commercial Bioplastics Plant in Delfzijl

Dutch sustainable chemistry company Avantium has opened a commercial bioplastics factory in Delfzijl, advancing production of alternatives to fossil-based polymers and supporting the development of a circular economy.

Virgin Trains Wins Approval to Challenge Eurostar on Amsterdam-London Route

Virgin Trains has received regulatory clearance to compete with Eurostar on the Amsterdam-London rail route, potentially ending Eurostar’s long-standing dominance on the cross-Channel service.

Dutch Cabinet Moves to Simplify Nearly 100 Business Regulations

The Dutch government plans to remove or simplify almost 100 administrative regulations affecting small and medium-sized businesses as part of efforts to reduce bureaucracy and improve the business climate.

Dutch Cabinet Allocates Nearly €200 Million for Vocational Training and 6G Development

The Dutch government is releasing nearly €200 million from the National Growth Fund to support vocational education partnerships and the development of advanced sixth-generation mobile networks.

Germany Extends Border Checks With Netherlands for Six Months, Raising Trade Concerns

Germany has extended strict border checks along its frontier with the Netherlands for another six months, drawing criticism from Dutch transport groups concerned about disruption to cross-border trade and the Schengen system.

Netherlands Condemns US Threats and Sanctions Targeting International Criminal Court Officials

The Dutch government has strongly criticized US threats and proposed sanctions against officials at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, reaffirming its support for international law and independent judicial institutions.

Dutch Industrial Revenue Rises 8.4 Percent in Strongest Growth Since 2022

Industrial revenue in the Netherlands increased 8.4 percent, the strongest expansion since 2022, as manufacturing and high-tech companies posted stronger activity despite elevated energy costs.

Explosion at Rotterdam Energy Facility Kills Worker and Triggers Safety Investigation

An explosion at Gunvor’s energy storage facility in the Port of Rotterdam killed one worker and injured several others, prompting investigations into safety procedures and causing temporary fluctuations in flows at the nearby Gate LNG te...

Hapag-Lloyd Buys 25 Percent Stake in Rotterdam Maasvlakte II Terminal

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has acquired a 25 percent stake in a Maasvlakte II terminal at the Port of Rotterdam, strengthening its position in one of Europe’s key logistics hubs.

ASML Faces Intensifying Geopolitical Pressure as US Export Controls Reshape Dutch Semiconductor Strategy

ASML is navigating tighter US export controls on China as the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker balances global supply chains with changing transatlantic security requirements.

Ukraine's Ousted Defence Minister Calls for Wartime Presidential Election

Mykhailo Fedorov's appeal challenges President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as martial law continues to bar elections during Russia's full-scale war. "Democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia," he said.