Business

Paulette Kreté has won the regional Woman in the Media Award for her advocacy in breast cancer screening and medical innovation. The award highlights the need for more female voices in the news, where women remain under-represented as expert sources.

Eelco Eerenberg is set to take over as the new State Secretary for Finance with a focus on overhauling the Dutch wealth tax system. The move follows the sudden withdrawal of the previous candidate and comes ahead of the new cabinet's official start on Monday. Investors remain watchful as the proposed reforms move toward the Senate for further debate.

The Dutch tax authority has defended its continued use of algorithms while promising to improve its ethical standards. The organisation recently received the infamous "privacy prize" for its digital practices, leading to a public discussion on how to balance efficiency with legal rights.

Dutch business investment fell by 2.6 per cent in December 2025, marking a third consecutive monthly decline driven largely by a slump in the aviation and road transport sectors. Despite reduced spending on lorries and vans, growth was recorded in passenger cars, buildings, and defence equipment. Looking ahead, the CBS "investment radar" suggests a less unfavourable climate for early 2026, bolstered by rising industrial capacity and stronger goods exports.

The Dutch chip-machine giant ASML is under investigation for allegedly breaching international labour guidelines after refusing to negotiate with an Irish trade union. The case highlights a growing conflict between the company and labour representatives in both Ireland and the Netherlands.

Investors are seeking to hold Philips CEO Roy Jakobs personally liable as part of an ongoing legal battle over the company’s sleep apnea device recall. The move comes as shareholders in both the US and the Netherlands pursue compensation for significant losses following a drop in share value.

Belgian firm Sparkx is set to launch Europe’s largest indoor sports amusement park in Nieuwegein next autumn. Covering over 7,500 square metres at De Beursfabriek, the site will offer visitors the chance to try fifty different sports, from basketball to wingsuit simulators. This expansion into the Dutch market follows Sparkx’s rapid success in Belgium and is expected to create 125 new jobs.

European markets rallied on Wednesday as UK inflation hit a near one-year low, boosting hopes for future interest rate cuts. While tech and steel stocks drove gains in Amsterdam, chemical and retail sectors faced pressure from geopolitical uncertainty and disappointing earnings reports. ——————————