News

Consumers can now cancel telecom contracts more easily after the ACM's action. An investigation found widespread barriers, including the need to cancel by phone. Providers have since introduced online cancellation and clearer information.

Economic inequality between Dutch households is increasing, and the tax system may play a role, the CPB says. High earners often pay less tax by using private limited companies, while wealth gaps continue to grow. The agency warns that equal opportunities could come under pressure if the trend persists.

Dutch consumer spending rose in March after earlier declines, driven by higher spending on durable goods and services. Cars, household goods, and healthcare saw growth, while food and hospitality spending fell. CBS warned that consumption conditions weakened again in April.

Dutch scale-up QuantWare has secured €152 million to build a major quantum processor factory in Delft. Backed by Intel and Invest-NL, the move will increase production twentyfold and solidify the Netherlands' status as a global technology hub.

The Dutch packaging industry is introducing cash lotteries to convince consumers to return more deposit bottles and cans. This initiative aims to meet strict 90 per cent recycling targets and help the industry avoid heavy regulatory fines.

The World Health Organization is tracking a hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship that has killed three people. Medical teams are now evacuating the most seriously ill patients to the Netherlands as the ship heads toward the Canary Islands.

Writer and presenter Splinter Chabot questioned the meaning of freedom in his May 5 lecture at the Domkerk in Utrecht. He spoke about growing intolerance and unseen social pressure, but argued that hope still persists. Through stories of three women from different centuries, he urged each generation to protect peace and freedom.

The Netherlands has donated twenty decommissioned prison buses to Ukraine to help ease pressure on its prison system during the war. The first vehicles were officially handed over in Lviv by State Secretary Claudia van Bruggen. The buses will be used to address a shortage of prisoner transport capacity.