Business

Following its historic, record-breaking IPO, SpaceX surged over 19 percent on its first day of trading to reach a market value of more than $2 trillion. This investor optimism coincided with a broader stock market rally and falling oil prices, driven by news that Iran and the United States have reached a peace agreement.

Despite having similar approval rates to men at most lending institutions, female entrepreneurs in the Netherlands receive just 26 per cent of all awarded business finance because fewer women apply and those who do receive smaller average loans. According to a study by Code-V, women are granted nearly 25,000 euros less per standard business loan, a disparity that widens to an average of 750,000 euros less within the high-growth venture capital sector. This funding gap is being described as a major systemic flaw rather than a simple diversity issue, with research from ABN AMRO and McKinsey estimating that failing to fully support female-led businesses costs the Dutch economy up to 139 billion euros a year in lost growth.

The number of corporate bankruptcies in the Netherlands fell by 19 per cent year-on-year in May, with 287 companies declared insolvent compared to 353 during the same month last year. The national bankruptcy rate dropped to 7.7 failures per 100,000 businesses, down from 9.6 a year earlier, with the transport and storage sector suffering the highest relative losses at 22.6 failures. While business closures had been rising steadily up until 2024, the latest figures confirm that the national bankruptcy rate has stabilised and maintained a gradual downward trend since the autumn of 2024.

The Amsterdam stock market hit a new record high on Friday as shares rose across Europe, driven by hopes for peace in the Middle East and major business news. Investor confidence surged after US President Donald Trump cancelled planned attacks on Iran and hinted at a weekend peace deal, while markets also rallied ahead of the historic stock market debut of Elon Musk's SpaceX. As the threat of a wider war eased, oil prices fell below 90 dollars a barrel, which dragged down oil giant Shell by 2 per cent but sent airline Air France-KLM soaring by 6 per cent due to cheaper fuel. Meanwhile, digital payment firm Adyen led the day's corporate gainers, jumping 4 per cent after announcing a 290 million euro takeover of American platform Orb.

The Dutch central bank expects the government's budget deficit to breach the European Union's 3 per cent limit this year for the first time since 2020, reaching 3.3 per cent due to a one-off €8 billion military pension reform, high healthcare spending, and slowing economic growth caused by the war in the Middle East. Although the deficit is projected to drop to 2.6 per cent next year, the central bank has urged the government to exercise strict fiscal caution to maintain a financial cushion against future global shocks. To avoid further emergency austerity measures, the bank advises the coalition government to successfully implement its current financial agreements and suggests reviewing tax discounts for homeowners and self-employed workers, while hoping ministers can resolve disputes with trade unions currently striking over proposed cuts to unemployment and disability benefits.

Ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are dampening Dutch economic growth by inflating energy prices and disrupting global trade. While economists at Rabobank do not predict a full recession, they have downgraded overall growth forecasts to just 1 per cent this year and 0.8 per cent next year. Major sectors like manufacturing, construction, and transport are facing stagnation due to high fuel costs and falling investment, while inflation and tax rises squeeze consumer spending in retail and hospitality. Conversely, the technology and digital services sectors remain largely unaffected, continuing to grow strongly as businesses invest heavily in artificial intelligence and automation to boost productivity.

Fixed energy contract rates in the Netherlands are now 13% higher than before the start of the Iran war, according to new figures from the Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM). Variable tariffs have not yet risen, but many suppliers traditionally adjust prices on 1 July. Reduced oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up wholesale gas prices, while more Dutch households are opting for fixed‑rate contracts.

Dutch semiconductor startup Qualinx has established the first fully European production chain for microchips by manufacturing at GlobalFoundries' secure facility in Germany. The breakthrough ensures that all data, manufacturing processes, and physical logistics for critical defence and aerospace components remain entirely under European control. This milestone aligns with recent European Commission proposals to fast-track regional self-reliance and reduce dependence on foreign technology providers.