Environment/sustainability

Oil prices plunged by approximately 11% on Friday following the announcement that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened to commercial shipping. The strategic waterway, which carries 20% of the world's oil, had been largely closed by Iran during recent hostilities, causing significant market volatility. This de-escalation led US crude to fall to $83.30 and Brent crude to $87.90 a barrel, while European gas prices also dropped by nearly 8% as fears of a prolonged energy supply crisis began to fade.

Dutch start-up Thorizon has signed an agreement to build Europe’s first commercial molten salt reactor in Zeeland, with plans to have it operational by 2034. Unlike traditional nuclear plants, this technology uses liquid salt as both fuel and coolant, which CEO Kiki Lauwers describes as a safer alternative that can even repurpose existing nuclear waste. The project, which has already secured tens of millions in funding from investors and regional authorities, is expected to cover an area the size of several football pitches and provide enough energy to power 250,000 households once connected to the grid.

The European Parliament has endorsed a sweeping reform of the EU’s customs union, aiming to tighten controls on the massive influx of low‑value parcels entering the bloc. The overhaul introduces new enforcement tools, harmonised sanctions, and a handling fee for all imports from outside the EU.

A sharp increase in Dutch wildfires highlights the impact of extreme weather cycles on national safety. While recent rain fueled vegetation growth, subsequent droughts have turned the landscape into a tinderbox, leading to record-breaking emergency interventions.

Security removed Extinction Rebellion protesters from ING's annual meeting after they challenged the bank's investment records. While activists questioned the bank's role in the fossil fuel industry and occupied territories, executives maintained that their policy focuses on helping clients transition to greener energy.

Waterschap Limburg says it can now remove more than 80 percent of pharmaceutical residues from wastewater, far more than with standard treatment. The new method has already improved water quality in the Eyserbeek, and the water board hopes it will support wider efforts to protect drinking water and aquatic life.

The amount of organic farmland in the Netherlands rose by 3.1% last year, bringing the total area to 86,900 hectares. While organic farming now accounts for 4.8% of all Dutch agricultural land and has grown consistently since 2015, the sector still faces a significant challenge in meeting the government’s ambitious target of 15% by 2030. On average, these organic farms are also expanding in size, reaching 45.3 hectares per holding as the industry continues to scale up.

Dutch industrial output fell by 0.7% in February compared to the previous year, with nearly three-quarters of all sectors seeing a contraction. While the machinery repair industry suffered a sharp 15% decline, other areas like machinery manufacturing saw growth, leaving overall production levels for 2024 relatively flat. Despite this monthly dip in output, business sentiment has shown signs of recovery, as producer confidence became less negative moving into March.