Business

The number of European patent applications filed by universities, research institutes, and research hospitals has more than doubled over the past two decades. According to the European Patent Office, the Netherlands is among the strongest growth markets, with TNO leading Dutch institutions in patent filings.

Websites and digital services operated by municipalities, provinces, water boards, and national agencies are back online after precautionary shutdowns linked to vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language. Authorities say there is no evidence that the vulnerabilities were exploited or that any misuse occurred.

Supermarket group Ahold Delhaize has filed a formal police report after a malicious cyber incident disrupted operations for more than a week.

Dutch petrol prices have fallen by nearly 5 cents this week to €2.684 per litre following a record peak last Saturday, bringing unleaded costs back below diesel forecourt rates. While raw crude prices eased slightly to just over $105 a barrel, pump prices remain severely inflated as ongoing Middle East conflict and shipping restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt global supply lines.

A broad alliance of Dutch municipalities, regional transport authorities, and business groups has warned that the cabinet's recent infrastructure plans fall short, insisting that significant additional funding is needed to tackle deteriorating road, rail, and waterway networks. Pointing to major bottlenecks at key bridges and dikes that force long detours and stifle economic growth and housing development, the coalition is urging ministers to establish a long-term investment strategy and enter formal talks with industry leaders by early 2027.

Dutch Design Week returns to Eindhoven from 17 to 25 October, bringing together 2,500 designers, exhibitions and events centred on this year’s theme, R.A.W.

Driven by a recovery in German steel production and high natural gas prices, coal throughput at the Port of Rotterdam rose by 15.3 per cent in the first nine months of the year. While low river levels hindered inland transport for iron ore and scrap metal, Europe's largest port recorded modest overall growth of 0.9 per cent to 323.2 million tonnes, further supported by a 31.9 per cent surge in refined oil exports amid ongoing energy market disruptions.

Despite Albert Heijn's assurances that stores were being fully replenished following a major cybersecurity incident, empty shelves remained visible across multiple Dutch locations on Friday morning. Fresh produce, meat, and dairy lines have been particularly hard hit, while online delivery services and mobile apps remain offline as the supermarket giant gradually restores its systems and works to clear distribution backlogs nationwide.