Dow to cut around 600 jobs in the Netherlands

Chemical company Dow plans to cut around 600 jobs in the Netherlands.

The job cuts are part of a wider global restructuring plan. Worldwide, about 4,500 jobs are expected to disappear.

Dow says it wants to reduce costs by cutting management layers and automating more processes.

The company has 3 factories in the Netherlands: Terneuzen, Delfzijl and Dordrecht. The largest site is in Terneuzen, where Dow employs around 3,200 people. That makes the company a major employer in Zeeland.

It is not yet clear which locations will be most affected or which roles will disappear. Employees have been informed about the total number of planned job cuts in the Netherlands, but many details are still unknown.

The works council says the number came as a shock. The uncertainty now lies in where the cuts will fall and what the social plan will look like.

The case matters because large industrial employers can shape entire regional economies. When a company like Dow cuts jobs, the effect can reach beyond direct employees. Suppliers, contractors, local shops and families may also be affected.

The job cuts also fit a wider pattern in industry. Companies are trying to reduce costs, simplify structures and invest in automation. At the same time, the chemical sector faces pressure from energy prices, global competition, climate rules and changing demand.

Unions say the cuts are a major blow, especially during a difficult economic period. The next step will be talks with the works council and further details about the social plan.

For Terneuzen and the wider Zeeland region, the main question is how many jobs will disappear locally and how quickly.

The announcement creates clarity about the scale of the restructuring, but not yet about the people and teams affected.