Amsterdam Times

Injured Dutch Tourists Repatriated After Fatal Swiss Bus Crash

Medical flights have begun returning survivors of a bus crash in Switzerland that killed five Dutch nationals, while authorities continue investigating the circumstances of the accident.

International Criminal Court Navigates Complex Proceedings Over Arrest Warrants

The International Criminal Court in The Hague is handling diplomatic and legal challenges arising from high-profile arrest warrants for international state actors, keeping the Dutch city at the center of major international legal proceed...

Heineken Opens Automated Dutch Distribution Center to Streamline European Supply Chain

Heineken has inaugurated a large automated logistics facility in the central Netherlands using robotics and artificial intelligence to reduce operating costs and emissions across its European distribution network.

Shell Redirects European Spending Toward North Sea Wind and Industrial Decarbonization

Shell is reallocating European capital toward integrating offshore wind with its Dutch refining operations as it balances shareholder returns with climate requirements imposed by Dutch courts and European regulators.

Dutch Government Shifts Nitrogen Policy Toward Farm Technology

The Agriculture Ministry is moving away from forced farm buyouts and toward subsidies for emissions-reduction technology, seeking to lower agricultural pollution while easing political tensions in rural areas.

Amsterdam Approves Tourist Tax Increase to 20% by 2031

Amsterdam’s municipal council has authorized a phased increase in the city’s tourist tax to 20% within five years as authorities seek to curb mass tourism, restrain short-term rentals and improve conditions for residents.

Philips Expands AI Diagnostic Software Across European Hospitals

Royal Philips has secured procurement agreements with several European public health systems for its artificial intelligence imaging tools as the Dutch company expands its medical software and automated diagnostics business.

NXP Expands Automotive Chip Output as European EV Demand Rises

Eindhoven-based NXP Semiconductors is increasing production of automotive microcontrollers in response to stronger demand from electric vehicle manufacturers in Germany and France.

Eindhoven AI Chip Startup Euclyd Seeks €100 Million in New Funding

Dutch semiconductor startup Euclyd is seeking €100 million in venture funding to expand its artificial intelligence chip designs and scale European production.

EU Import Taxes Cut Dutch Parcel Volumes From Temu and Shein

Dutch customs and logistics operators are reporting a substantial decline in parcels from Chinese platforms Temu and Shein following tougher European Union import taxes, reshaping cargo flows through Schiphol and domestic distribution ce...

Accell Group Enters Insolvency Proceedings as Bicycle Demand Weakens

Dutch bicycle group Accell, owner of brands including Raleigh and Batavus, has entered insolvency proceedings after failing to secure a private equity buyout amid excess inventory and weaker post-pandemic demand.

Booking.com Faces Tougher EU Requirements Under Digital Markets Act

Amsterdam-based Booking.com is adapting its business practices after being designated a gatekeeper under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, including changes to hotel pricing arrangements required by Brussels.

TenneT Accelerates Grid Expansion for Brabant Technology Hubs

Dutch transmission operator TenneT is fast-tracking new high-voltage substations in North Brabant after congestion raised concerns about power availability for ASML and surrounding high-technology industrial sites.

Port of Rotterdam Secures Investment for Green Hydrogen Expansion

The Port of Rotterdam has agreed new investment partnerships with European energy groups to expand green hydrogen import and processing capacity, supporting plans to decarbonize heavy industry in the Netherlands and neighboring Germany.

Dutch Rents Rise 4.4% as Housing Shortage Deepens

Residential rents across the Netherlands increased by an average of 4.4%, with Rotterdam recording the sharpest gains, adding pressure on the government to accelerate homebuilding amid persistent supply constraints.

Schiphol Security Workers Threaten Strikes Over Pay and Workloads

Security unions at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol have warned of targeted strike action unless wages and working conditions improve, raising the prospect of renewed disruption at one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.

Amsterdam and Utrecht Introduce Daytime Water Restrictions After Record Heat

Water authorities in parts of the central and western Netherlands have imposed daytime restrictions on non-essential water use after record summer heat and drought strained supplies, increasing pressure for greater investment in freshwat...

Jetten Government Finalizes Budget Agreements Ahead of Prinsjesdag

Prime Minister Rob Jetten’s minority government has concluded fiscal negotiations ahead of the September budget presentation, seeking to keep the deficit below 2% of GDP while balancing healthcare cuts with spending on defense, technolog...

Netherlands Commits Additional €500 Million in Military Support for Ukraine

The Dutch Defence Ministry has approved another €500 million package of military equipment and intelligence support for Ukraine, extending the Netherlands’ financial and logistical backing for Kyiv.

Dutch Intelligence Warns of Russian Cyber Reconnaissance Against Energy Infrastructure

The AIVD intelligence agency says Russian state-backed actors have intensified digital reconnaissance targeting North Sea energy grids and liquefied natural gas terminals, increasing concern over threats to critical Dutch infrastructure.

Dutch Central Bank Moves 86 Tonnes of Gold From North America

De Nederlandsche Bank has transferred 86 tonnes of sovereign gold reserves from the United States and Canada to British and domestic vaults, citing geopolitical uncertainty and the need to strengthen European financial security.

ASML Begins Eindhoven Campus Expansion for 20,000 Additional Workers

ASML has started construction of its Brainport Industries Campus North near Eindhoven, an expansion backed by state infrastructure spending that is designed to accommodate 20,000 additional employees and keep critical semiconductor manuf...

Dutch Regulator Fines Uber $966 Million Over Automated Driver Suspensions

The Dutch Data Protection Authority imposed a $966 million penalty on Uber over algorithmic systems that automatically suspended European drivers without human oversight, marking a major enforcement action on automated decision-making.

Wetsus Researchers Develop Wastewater System That Produces Electricity, Hydrogen and Fertilizer

Scientists at Dutch water technology institute Wetsus and international university partners have developed microbial fuel cells that generate electricity while extracting hydrogen and agricultural fertilizers directly from undiluted wast...

Dutch Designers Turn Retired Wind Turbine Blades Into Public Playground

Rotterdam-based Superuse Studios has reused five decommissioned wind turbine blades to create a children’s playground and public infrastructure, with the project reporting substantially lower emissions than conventional construction.

Schiphol Begins Buitenveldertbaan Runway Maintenance Amid Aviation Capacity Debate

Schiphol has started annual maintenance on the Buitenveldertbaan runway, temporarily reducing operational flexibility as the airport faces continued scrutiny over aircraft noise, environmental limits and national aviation capacity.

Investors Reassess ASML Valuation as Semiconductor Demand Outlook Shifts

ASML is trading at more than 53 times earnings, prompting closer scrutiny from investors as strong long-term demand for extreme ultraviolet equipment is weighed against uncertainty over near-term chipmaking investment.

H2 Hollandia Green Hydrogen Project Reaches Financial Close in Drenthe

The five-megawatt H2 Hollandia project has secured financing to build an electrolyser connected directly to a regional solar park, allowing surplus electricity to be converted into hydrogen when solar generation is high.

Schiphol Invests €801 Million in Upgrades and Takes Control of Mobility Assistance

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol invested €801 million in infrastructure and service improvements during the first half of the year and will take direct control of assistance for passengers with reduced mobility.

ASML Begins Construction of Major New Eindhoven Campus

ASML has started work on a large new corporate campus in Eindhoven, expanding its presence in the Brainport region as the chip-equipment maker seeks to retain engineering and research talent in the Netherlands.

Rotterdam Advances Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Infrastructure

The Port of Rotterdam is expanding its hydrogen and decarbonization network with Shell’s 200-megawatt Holland Hydrogen facility, a 32-kilometer hydrogen pipeline and the Porthos carbon capture and storage project.

Netherlands Approves €450 Million Subsidy for Underground Hydrogen Storage

The Dutch government has authorized €450 million for Gasunie’s HyStock project in Zuidwending, which will use salt caverns to store up to 24,000 tonnes of hydrogen and provide additional flexibility for the renewable energy system.

ASML Expands High-NA EUV Partnerships With Intel, TSMC and Samsung

ASML is deepening collaboration with Intel Foundry, TSMC and Samsung Electronics on large-format photomasks for High-NA extreme ultraviolet lithography, a technology aimed at supporting high-volume production of advanced chips.

Dutch Budget Talks Stall as Fragmented Parliament Struggles to Secure Majority

Outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof and remaining cabinet ministers are struggling to build parliamentary support for the budget after the collapse of the right-wing coalition, raising the risk of delays to housing, nitrogen and infrastr...

Rising EU Obesity Rates Add to Long-Term Pressure on Dutch Healthcare

Eurostat data show obesity rates across the European Union have risen above 16%, with particularly strong increases among men, adding to concerns over future healthcare costs and workforce health in the Netherlands.

Dutch Agtech Startup Gravity Gardens Raises €2.6 Million for Chemical-Free Seed Technology

Netherlands-based Gravity Gardens has secured €2.6 million in seed funding to commercialise technology designed to activate seeds without chemicals and improve crop yields and climate resilience.

Jumbo Cuts Fresh Produce Prices as Dutch Grocery Competition Intensifies

Jumbo Supermarkten has reduced prices across major fruit and vegetable lines as it seeks to regain market share from Albert Heijn and discount competitors while Dutch households remain sensitive to food inflation and living costs.

Amsterdam Prepares to Host Major Technology and Offshore Energy Conferences

More than 8,000 technology executives are expected at TechEx Europe in Amsterdam, followed by the Offshore Energy Exhibition and Conference, bringing international attention to artificial intelligence, digital transformation and North Se...

Major Highway Closures Disrupt Freight Routes Across the Dutch Randstad

Infrastructure agency Rijkswaterstaat has begun extensive closures on the A27, A59 and A9 for widening and viaduct works, creating short-term disruption for freight moving between Rotterdam, Utrecht and European markets.

Ahold Delhaize and Shell Accelerate Major Share Buyback Programmes

Ahold Delhaize has completed €800 million of a planned €1 billion share repurchase programme while Shell is also carrying out substantial buybacks, reflecting continued capital returns by major Dutch-listed companies.

Dutch Justice Ministry Faces Scrutiny Over Failure to Test Proposed Laws

An NRC investigation found that the Ministry of Justice and Security has frequently failed to carry out required feasibility assessments for proposed legislation, contributing to implementation problems and staffing pressure across the l...