News

The Netherlands is facing continued drought, with little rain forecast for the rest of August and the national rainfall deficit expected to exceed 300 millimetres. Dry conditions are also affecting neighbouring countries, prompting measures to manage water shortages and transport disruptions.

Inflation in the Netherlands increased to 3.2% in July, slightly higher than initially estimated. Rising fuel, energy and import costs pushed prices up, while slower growth in housing costs helped limit the increase.

Police found 586 kilos of drugs in a residence in The Hague and arrested nine men. Eight suspects will appear before the examining magistrate this week, while investigators continue to examine their involvement. Authorities are releasing only limited details because the case is still active.

ING economist Rico Luman says the Netherlands can cope better with low Rhine water levels because it has more navigable routes. Germany faces major disruption, with ships loading only a fraction of their capacity and industries struggling to stay supplied. Dutch companies are improvising with ships, rail, and road, but delays and higher costs continue to rise.

Firefighters expect to work all week to put out the fire in the Boschhuizerbergen nature reserve. Crews are watching smouldering spots and keeping stop lines wet to prevent new outbreaks. The safety region says it may never determine the cause.

Bijenkorf customers now face delivery dates in early September after a security incident at CEVA Logistics. The same leak has disrupted operations at bol, Ace & Tate, and Ajax, with some orders cancelled and others delayed. Several companies warn that unauthorised persons may have accessed customer data.

Train services between Boxmeer and Venray restarted on Monday after several days of disruption caused by a wildfire. Arriva stopped trains twice last week as the fire intensified and firefighters worked in the area. Buses helped travellers while the route remained closed.

Institutional investors are buying thousands of homes, yet the private rental supply keeps shrinking. CBRE warns that most purchased homes end up being sold instead of rented out, leaving students and young first‑time buyers with fewer options. The trend is likely to continue for years.