Economy

Dutch pension giant ABP plans to invest around €1 billion in European startups and scaleups over the next three years, beginning with a €250 million commitment to the Scaleup Europe Fund. The move aims to support innovation, AI, quantum technology, and other high-growth sectors while generating strong returns for pension participants.

KEA is set to expand its presence in the Netherlands with a number of smaller-format stores next year. The supermarket-sized locations will focus on home accessories such as tableware and lighting, making the retailer more accessible in areas further from its existing large stores.

Chinese automotive brands are steadily expanding their presence in the European market by attracting drivers who are not yet ready to switch to fully electric vehicles. With competitively priced hybrid models, brands such as BYD, MG, and Xpeng achieved a record market share of nearly 12 percent last month, highlighting their growing appeal among European consumers.

Dutch diesel prices are set to hit a record high of €2.824 per litre on Saturday, surpassing the previous peak of €2.819 set in April, according to tracking data from consumer group UnitedConsumers. Driven by months of elevated global crude markets amidst ongoing conflict with Iran and imminent supply cuts from Saudi Aramco to Europe, forecourt costs continue to surge across all fuels. With Euro95 petrol also hitting record levels earlier in the week, energy analysts warn that motorway pump prices could eventually breach the €3.00 per litre mark, though off-motorway stations continue to offer cheaper alternatives.

A renewed surge in semiconductor stocks helped steady the Amsterdam stock exchange on Friday morning, with the AEX creeping up to 1,101.01 points as key chipmakers like ASML, ASMI, and Besi gained around 2 per cent. While broader European markets drifted lower on rising inflation and global interest rate hikes—including an unprecedented triple-rate increase in the same month by the Bank of Japan, the US Federal Reserve, and the ECB—Amsterdam found support in its tech sector. Meanwhile, falling crude prices dragged down energy stocks such as Shell and SBM Offshore, while telecoms operator KPN anchored the index with a 1.7 per cent drop following an analyst downgrade.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten defends proposed social security reforms during Budget Day debates, refusing opposition demands to drop planned spending cuts before negotiations begin.

KLM has outlined four possible future scenarios for 2030, reflecting growing financial, political, and competitive pressures on the Dutch airline. The report signals that major strategic choices—potential restructurings, job cuts, or shifts in control—may be unavoidable.

For the first time in years, the number of employed people in the Netherlands is no longer rising, while the number of non‑workers is increasing again. CBS figures show a clear demographic shift, and labour market experts warn that aging and changing work culture will challenge the sustainability of the Dutch welfare state.