Business

After an EU justice ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Justice Minister David van Weel warned the Netherlands is vigilant about likely Iranian cyberattacks that could target US and Israeli interests and possibly spread to other targets.

Dutch Railways (NS) recorded a transport profit for the first time since 2019. Higher ticket and season‑pass prices, along with a slight increase in passenger numbers and ongoing cost savings, contributed to the €11 million result in 2025. Despite the improvement, NS continues extensive work on the rail network, meaning passengers should brace for face further disruptions in the coming period.

Developers have reached a deal to build a new 24-storey residential tower at the historic Strijp-S site in Eindhoven. The PULSE project will feature 176 rental homes and creative workspaces designed to honour the area’s industrial heritage.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority is calling for urgent government action to regulate artificial intelligence and protect citizens from discrimination. The watchdog warns that current oversight is insufficient to manage risks such as deepfakes, fraud, and the impact of chatbots on young users.

Enexis invested a record-breaking €1.9 billion in the electricity grid throughout 2025, laying over 1,600 kilometres of cabling and constructing hundreds of substations across the northern and southern Netherlands. However, the operator warns that demand is still outstripping the pace of expansion, leaving the network at full capacity in many areas and resulting in a business waiting list of over 10,000 applications. Chief Executive Rutger van der Leeuw has cautioned that households may also face delays in the future, as the immense cost of these upgrades—exceeding daily tariff income by over €2 million—continues to place significant strain on the company’s finances.

About two thousand ASML employees held a walkout to protest against planned layoffs and a lack of transparency from management. Union leaders and international staff expressed deep concerns over increased workloads and the specific residency challenges facing the expat community. The scale of the protest is intended to pressure the company into reconsidering its current reorganisation strategy.

The police briefly stated that passwords may have been stolen in the Odido hack, despite Odido confirming that login details were not compromised. The claim was removed after the company contacted the police. The police have not yet responded publicly about the correction.

European email services are gaining popularity as secure alternatives to traditional providers like Gmail. These companies, based in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, offer encrypted communication and strict data protection. Users can choose from various plans that prioritise either personal privacy or professional productivity.