Business

Education Minister Rianne Letschert has welcomed the government's plan to introduce a legally mandated internship allowance for vocational, professional, and university students, arguing that practical training deserves financial recognition. While the new legislation establishes the obligation to pay interns, it deliberately avoids setting a strict statutory minimum amount to prevent employers from cutting back on available placements, leaving sectors free to determine their own fair rates instead. Short-term placements and international internships will be exempt from the new rules, though Letschert warned that a legal minimum floor could still be introduced in the future if industry-set allowances remain too low.

Global food commodity prices dipped by 0.3% in June, marking a second consecutive monthly decline as geopolitical tensions eased following a provisional US-Iran ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the retreat was led by a 3.5% drop in grain prices and a 5.7% plunge in sugar, offsetting minor increases in meat, rice, and vegetable oils. With shipping lanes restored, market anxieties have shifted from conflict to extreme weather risks like Europe's heatwaves and El Niño; however, global food security prospects remain stable, with the FAO projecting 2026 global grain yields to hit nearly 3 billion tonnes—the second-highest harvest on record.

The Dutch government is allocating €450 million from its Climate Fund to construct an underground hydrogen storage facility in Zuidwending, Groningen, adapting four existing salt caverns to hold the gas. Crucial for storing surplus wind and solar energy, the project leverages the area's existing natural gas infrastructure and expertise to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. By stepping in with state funding, the Cabinet is absorbing key financial risks—such as volatile "pillow gas" pricing, low initial capacity utilisation, and permitting delays—that have currently kept private investors at bay.

The Eurozone economy managed to stabilise in June, avoiding a feared contraction to finish the month flat at the 50.0 growth-threshold mark, according to finalised data from S&P Global. Despite initial fears that Middle East conflict-driven price hikes and supply chain disruptions would trigger a slump, a stronger-than-expected rally in the services sector helped lift the economy from May's contraction of 48.5. Supported by steady growth in manufacturing, Chris Williamson, Chief Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, noted that the data marks a welcome stabilisation for the broader economy after two consecutive months of declining production.

The Ministry of Social Affairs warns that employers using insurers or premium pension institutions are not converting their pension schemes to the new system quickly enough. Only 32 percent of schemes had been transitioned at the start of the year, leaving tens of thousands still to be completed before the 2028 deadline.

A scan of more than 250 Facebook pages shows that many channels posing as news outlets actually spread anger‑driven content to generate advertising revenue. According to Justice for Prosperity, these pages fuel hatred, distort public debate, and undermine trust in Dutch society.

The Dutch manufacturing sector maintained strong momentum in June as a surge in new orders pushed the national purchasing managers' index to 55.5. Industrial growth found support from heavy corporate stockpiling ahead of expected price hikes and booming global demand for semiconductor equipment. While geopolitical conflicts raised supply costs, local factories successfully protected margins by passing price increases directly to buyers.

Sony has announced that it will cease production of physical PlayStation game discs by January 2028 as consumer demand shifts heavily toward digital downloads. The policy will require all future game releases to distribute exclusively via digital storefronts and download codes, though existing discs remain unaffected. The historic decision aligns with the upcoming closure of legacy PS3 and Vita digital stores, signaling a permanent end to traditional physical media ownership for the brand.