Amsterdam News in English
Daily Amsterdam news translated from Dutch local newspapers into English for expats, international students, and digital nomads.
Weekend tips: things to do in Amsterdam (April 3 to 5)
Amsterdam offers a variety of activities for the weekend of April 3rd through 5th, including local markets, DJ sets, and spring blossom viewing. The city provides options for both those seeking a rela...
Record number of hospitality businesses forced to close immediately due to pests
A record number of catering establishments in the Netherlands were forced to close due to pest infestations during the first quarter of 2026. Inspectors expressed concern after a video of rats in an A...
New council debates: Big Left Energy sounds cute, but what about metro 53?
Following local elections, Amsterdam's city council debated the start of coalition negotiations between the PRO alliance and D66, while addressing a record-low voter turnout of 47.1 percent. Oppositio...
House in North closed due to illegal prostitution: "Constant stream of men"
Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered the three-month closure of a residence in Amsterdam-Noord that was being used for illegal prostitution. Neighbors reported constant nuisance, including noise and intimi...
Possible fourth suspect involved in Amsterdam jewelry store robbery
Amsterdam police are searching for four suspects involved in an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Osdorp neighborhood. The suspects fled on fatbikes after smashing display cases and stealing jew...
Psychiatric treatment demanded for man who stabbed 85-year-old with screwdriver
Prosecutors have demanded mandatory psychiatric treatment for a man who stabbed an 85-year-old victim multiple times with a screwdriver in Amsterdam. The attack occurred last July on Riekerweg, where ...
Record number of Easter baptisms in Catholic churches
Catholic churches in the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam are reporting a record 160 baptisms during this year's Easter celebrations. The increase is particularly significant among young adults who are re...
Information sessions on IJ tunnel closure: live and online
The IJ-tunnel in Amsterdam will be closed for major maintenance from July 1, 2027, until November 2028. Information sessions are being organized, both in-person and online, to inform the public about ...
Special stamp marks 25 years of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands
A special stamp was unveiled at De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam to celebrate the 25th anniversary of same-sex marriage legalization in the Netherlands. The country made history as the first in the world t...
Amsterdam turns orange for the new Queen of the Netherlands
On September 5, 1898, the city of Amsterdam celebrated the arrival of the 18-year-old future Queen Wilhelmina. The historic event, which saw the city decorated in orange, was captured in a painting by...
Stricter holiday rental rules from today: what changes in the city center and De Pijp
Amsterdam has halved the maximum number of nights allowed for vacation rentals in the city center and De Pijp neighborhood from 30 to 15 per year. Effective immediately, the measure aims to reduce tou...
'He is a great danger to society': Amsterdam man convicted of murdering ex in Spaarnwoude remains in custody
A 44-year-old man from Amsterdam will remain in custody while appealing his 20-year prison sentence for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in Spaarnwoude. The court determined that the suspect, who has b...
Atmosphere at the Stopera: new council installed, debate on scout's report
The new city council of Amsterdam is being installed today at the Stopera, where members will be sworn in for a four-year term. Following the ceremony, a debate will take place regarding a proposal fo...
Blossom Park Amsterdam Forest 2026: everything you need to know about the blooming season
The Bloesempark in the Amsterdamse Bos is preparing for its annual spring bloom in 2026, featuring the peak of the Japanese cherry blossoms. This natural event is short-lived, with the blooming period...
Delano Gouda is window cleaner and club top scorer at AFC in Amsterdam: ‘Someone from The Hague finds his way anywhere’
Delano Gouda, a striker from The Hague, has become the top scorer for the Amsterdam-based club AFC during his debut season in the second division. His contributions have been vital in keeping the team...
Tulips everywhere: Amsterdam is in bloom again in April (and yes, they’re even floating in Vondelpark)
The annual Tulp Festival returns to Amsterdam in April, featuring extensive tulip displays across the city's parks, squares, and streets. Notable locations like the Vondelpark are being decorated with...
You can slide down the stairs in this apartment complex: We wanted a building for families
The Cornelis residential project in Amsterdam has won the 2025 Zuiderkerkprijs and is now a finalist for the Amsterdam Architecture Prize (Gouden AAP). Designed specifically for families, the building...
Just like 25 years ago, the mayor married three same-sex couples last night
Mayor Femke Halsema officiated the marriages of three same-sex couples at Amsterdam's Stopera to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the world's first legal same-sex weddings. The ceremony included sp...
26 councilors bid farewell: "Thank you; I'll be back!"
Twenty-six city council members in Amsterdam officially stepped down today, concluding terms that ranged from a few months to more than twenty years. During the farewell ceremony, several departing me...
26 council members bid farewell: Thank you; I'll be back!
Twenty-six members of the Amsterdam city council officially departed today, with some having served for over two decades. The outgoing council members shared messages of gratitude and advice during th...
With his contract expiring and Ajax interested, Wout Weghorst is the talk of the town in Enschede again: these are the options for the Dutch super-sub
Wout Weghorst's expiring contract at Ajax has sparked rumors about his future, with potential options including staying in Amsterdam or moving to FC Twente. The Dutch international striker may also co...
Women found dead in Oud-Zuid and Nieuw-Vennep were ABN Amro colleagues: Huge shock
Police are investigating a potential link between two ABN Amro employees who were found dead in Amsterdam and Nieuw-Vennep. While the death in Nieuw-Vennep has been confirmed as a crime, the cause of ...
Amsterdam made history: 25 years of marriage for everyone
Amsterdam is celebrating the 25th anniversary of legal same-sex marriage, with Mayor Femke Halsema officiating weddings for three same-sex couples at midnight on April 1st. Former Mayor Job Cohen, who...
COC: The Netherlands must lead the way again on LGBTI+ rights
The LGBTQI+ advocacy group COC has called on the Dutch government and Parliament to ensure the Netherlands regains a global leadership position in human rights for the community. This appeal was made ...
Drawings by Fiep Westendorp, illustrator of Jip and Janneke, at the Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam will host an exhibition this summer featuring 150 original illustrations by Fiep Westendorp, the renowned artist behind Jip en Janneke. The display highlights Westendorp's...
Man who threatened Douwe Bob sentenced to ten months: 'Half of Amsterdam wants your head on a paving stone'
A 39-year-old man has been sentenced to ten months in prison, with three months suspended, for threatening Dutch singer Douwe Bob Posthuma. The court also imposed a restraining order after the threats...
Food authority closes restaurant on Javastraat due to rat infestation
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has closed a restaurant on Javastraat in Amsterdam after social media footage showed rats in food containers and kitchen equipment. In...
AT5 Podcast: Lieve (22) was abandoned as a baby and wants to know who her parents are
A new podcast titled 'De Vondeling' follows 22-year-old Lieve as she searches for her biological parents after being abandoned as a newborn in Amsterdam's De Pijp neighborhood in 2003. The series revi...
Council chamber back in use after nine-month renovation
After a nine-month renovation costing over 4.5 million euros, the council chamber at Amsterdam's Stopera city hall has reopened with updated technology and a new layout. The redesigned space encourage...
Harsh life along a ragged Osdorperweg documented in book: ‘Anyone who wants to go back to the past is out of their mind’
Kees Schelling has authored a book documenting the historically harsh and simple life along the Osdorperweg in Amsterdam. While the work captures colorful memories of a bygone era, Schelling maintains...