A German court decision highlighted the need for AI music platforms to obtain licences before using copyrighted music for training, marking the first EU ruling on AI training that took place in the United States. The judgment, welcomed by Dutch rights organisation BumaStemra, underscores the importance of European copyright rules for generative AI.
Catawiki has broadened its live‑auction platform, Catawiki Live, by adding four new categories that reflect rising collector interest: fashion items, minerals, coins and toys. The move follows strong demand growth in Q1 2026 for these segments and builds on the platform’s existing livestream auctions, which have already attracted tens of thousands of users and sold thousands of items.
A Dutch pilot lets e‑car drivers earn about 10% of their charging cost by using smart‑charging apps to shift charging to quieter periods on the grid, aiming to reduce peak load and improve grid utilization
Dutch‑US medtech startup Xeltis secured an additional €20.5 million, led by Horizon 3 Healthcare, to push forward its living‑tissue vascular implants, complete a pivotal US trial, and scale European commercialization and manufacturing.
The Dutch mobile bank bunq expanded its services by offering local Belgian IBANs and rolling out the Wero payment system in Belgium and France, aiming to simplify cross‑border payments for its users and support its international growth strategy.
Glampings.com, a European online platform for luxury camping experiences, announced the acquisition of Conservio.com, a South African‑based booking platform for nature lodges, safari camps and eco‑retreats. The deal allows Glampings.com to expand into a new segment and geographic region while keeping existing Conservio bookings unchanged.
A Dutch analysis by Floowy.ai and DGTLbase reveals that young adults struggle to recognise AI‑generated images, underscoring the importance of the EU AI Act’s new labelling rules for AI‑created content.
Havas has taken over the Dutch sport‑marketing firm SportVibes, bringing it into the Havas Play network. SportVibes, founded in 2003, is known for connecting fans with brands and organizing campaigns for major events such as the Olympic Games and Formula 1. The acquisition also includes Track Record, SportVibes’ digital commerce unit. The deal strengthens Havas Play’s position in sport, entertainment and cultural marketing across the Benelux region.
adpaq introduced a new MCP server that enables agentic AI to set up, target, link creatives and report on programmatic audio campaigns via natural language. The solution is being piloted with Abovomaxlead to assess speed, reliability and user control before a broader release.
The Dutch online supermarket Picnic achieved a positive EBITDA of €4 million and positive operating cash flow in the Netherlands for the first time, while its overall 2025 results showed a net loss of €272 million due to continued investment in growth, including new distribution centres in Germany. Revenue grew 24% to €1.9 billion and the company now serves 3.6 million customers across the Netherlands, Germany and France.