Economy

DHL Express says a strike by FNV and CNV may cause delays for customers on Monday. The unions argue that the company’s wage offer is too low, while DHL Express insists its proposal is reasonable. The company wants the unions to resume talks.

A new autonomous robot is helping nurses spend more time with patients by taking over delivery tasks in busy hospitals. The innovation has earned a nomination for a major national award, with the public now invited to vote for the winner.

ASML has officially broken ground on its new campus at the Brainport Industries Campus North following a rapid approval process. The project will create up to 20,000 jobs and includes significant investments in local infrastructure and ecological protection.

Tensions in the Middle East continued to influence financial markets on Friday. The AEX closed slightly higher as rising oil prices and takeover speculation around Besi trading. Meanwhile, companies warned that the conflict highlights Europe’s need for greater energy independence.

Meta plans to cut thousands of jobs as it shifts more investment into artificial intelligence. Sources say the reductions could reach one‑fifth of the workforce, though no final decision has been made. The move reflects a wider trend in the tech sector as companies rely more heavily on AI tools.

The Dutch government is taking the unprecedented step of tapping into emergency electricity reserves to prevent a total freeze on new power connections in the Flevopolder, Utrecht, and Gelderland regions. State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat announced that existing cables will be pushed to heavier loads to accommodate new homes and businesses, a move he admits significantly increases the risk of power cuts and system failures. While high-voltage operator TenneT must still assess if these high-risk measures are enough to solve the "exceptional" congestion in the central Netherlands, the government has declared there are "no taboos" in its effort to keep the grid open, even if the solutions prove painful or expensive.

A group of six EU nations, led by the Netherlands, Germany, and France, has urged the European Commission to fast-track the introduction of a digital euro to bolster the bloc's global competitiveness. In a joint letter, the finance ministers argued that a digital currency is essential for a "sovereign and resilient" payments landscape that reduces dependence on non-EU systems. Beyond the digital euro, the proposals call for a more integrated capital market, unified EU-level supervision of major stock exchanges, and improved funding for start-ups. These recommendations are intended to set the agenda for next Thursday’s EU summit, where leaders will discuss how to strengthen Europe's economic independence and long-term growth potential.

Eindhoven is changing at high speed. It has transformed into the engine of the Brainport region, one of Europe’s most innovative tech hubs. The...