Amsterdam News in English
Amsterdam news in English — daily headlines from Dutch local newspapers covering housing, transport, city politics, neighbourhoods, culture and events, for expats, international students and English-speaking residents.
Is running a (half) marathon really a good idea? 'Proper preparation takes months'
Thousands of runners are preparing for the 51st annual Amsterdam Marathon, an event that spans over 42 kilometers. While the training process takes months of dedication, experts and participants conti...
New noise zones around Schiphol block 24,000 new homes, so the cabinet chooses to let more residents suffer severe nuisance
The Dutch government plans to adjust noise and safety zones around Schiphol Airport to allow the construction of 24,000 new homes in Amsterdam. This decision is expected to increase the number of peop...
Now I dare to dream again about having a dog or maybe even children
A Brazilian immigrant describes overcoming a lifetime of childhood trauma, abuse, and subsequent mental health struggles after moving to the Netherlands. Following an intensive trauma treatment and th...
Enforcement allowed to 'arbitrarily' tow cars from occupied loading zones
A judge has ruled that the city of Amsterdam acted lawfully when it towed a single car from a busy loading zone, despite the driver's claims of arbitrary enforcement. The court affirmed that the munic...
I'll turn you into Swiss cheese: man thinks everyone is against him and sends threatening emails
A 46-year-old man was sentenced to three months in prison for sending hundreds of violent, threatening emails to various institutions in August 2025. The court rejected calls for psychiatric treatment...
Fire in Nieuw-West warehouse may impact Zuidasdok planning
A fire destroyed a TriAX warehouse in Amsterdam-Nieuw-West on October 1, resulting in the loss of critical technical equipment used for the Zuidasdok infrastructure project. Authorities are currently ...
Police surround youths in West: Tensions rising between groups
Police in Amsterdam West conducted several operations in late September following reports of firearms and tensions between youth groups. Although officers searched multiple individuals, no weapons wer...
Fire at test warehouse on Johan Huizingalaan may cause delays for Zuidasdok project
A fire at a testing facility on Johan Huizingalaan has destroyed equipment vital to the Zuidasdok project, potentially impacting the schedule of the infrastructure expansion. Municipal officials are c...
Seniors in Noord have suffered from flies for years: 'My daughter won't visit anymore, I'm isolated'
Elderly residents in an Amsterdam-Noord apartment complex are suffering from a massive fly infestation that began after recent building renovations. The housing corporation Eigen Haard has acknowledge...
After three years of misery, Perr Schuurs has a first against old love Ajax: 'I came home sad every day'
NEC defender Perr Schuurs has made a successful return to the pitch after a difficult two-and-a-half-year struggle with a severe knee injury. Playing seventy minutes against his former club, Ajax, mar...
Upstairs neighbor can refuse solar panels for fear of noise and fire risks
A subdistrict court in Amsterdam has ruled that a resident can block the installation of solar panels on a shared roof due to concerns over noise, safety, and lack of planning. The judge determined th...
Minotaur wins audience award at Parool Film Fest
The film Minotaur has won the audience award at the tenth edition of the Parool Film Fest in Amsterdam, which saw record visitor numbers this year. The movie, directed by Zvjagintsev, offers a harsh c...
Old T-shirt and a Harley: Robertino is a happy man
Amsterdam resident Robertino Lynch frequently visits a gas station on IJburglaan as part of his routine with his Harley motorcycle. Despite his wife's mixed feelings about his motorcycling and his pen...
Silent march with name cloth for killed Palestinian children: ‘By writing down the names, we make it visible that every child has a life, a name and a story’
Led by Amnesty International, a silent march took place in Amsterdam to honor the memory of over 21,600 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since October 2023. Demonstrators carried a massive banner f...
Fierce waves and strong winds: you couldn't make kitesurf talent Alex (13) any happier
Thirteen-year-old Amsterdam resident Alex Bovenkerk is making waves as a talented young kitesurfer after only two years in the sport. Under the guidance of professional coach Gijs Wassenaar, Alex is t...
Restaurant 95 on Amstelveenseweg receives death threats over ‘From the river to the sea’ mocktail
Restaurant 95 in Amsterdam is facing intense harassment and death threats after including a mocktail named with the controversial slogan ‘From the river to the sea’ on its menu. Although the estab...
You come in alone, but soon you're sitting with friends: how BuurtBuik Amsterdam-Oost brings neighbors together
BuurtBuik Amsterdam-Oost hosts weekly community dinners at the Elthetokerk, serving meals prepared from rescued food to dozens of local residents. The initiative aims to reduce food waste while combat...
Protest against genocide in Gaza on Dam Square, silent march from Amstelveld
Demonstrators are gathering in Amsterdam today for a silent march starting at the Amstelveld followed by a nationwide protest at Dam Square. The events aim to protest against the situation in Gaza and...
Cat falls several meters and is trapped in cavity wall for 6 days
A cat was successfully rescued after being trapped for six days in a cavity wall following a seven-meter fall. Firefighters assisted the animal ambulance by drilling into an adjacent building, eventua...
Motorist crashes into police car and is found to be under the influence of drugs
A driver was arrested early this morning in Amsterdam after colliding with a police vehicle on the Johan Huizingalaan. Authorities confirmed the motorist was under the influence of drugs, though no in...
Looking for a friendly chat? Step into the yellow square at the station on Wednesday
To promote social connection, the Week of the Chat initiative is launching in Haarlem on October 14, featuring a designated yellow zone at the train station where people can meet for casual conversati...
Investigation into dragon's blood in the gold buttons of the Palmwood Wreck?
Experts in Amsterdam are investigating 21-karat gold buttons recovered from the seventeenth-century Palmhoutwrak shipwreck to determine if they contain rare dragon blood resin. This research aims to r...
Ajax wins only 1 of 5 home games. That is not enough for a serious title contender
Ajax is currently underperforming in home matches, having won only one of their first five games at the Johan Cruijff Arena this season. The team is struggling with squad integration due to late arriv...
More litter on the streets? No, says waste expert, it just seems that way: 'We no longer remember how it used to be'
Expert Dirk Groot claims that the perception of increased street litter in Amsterdam is inaccurate despite common blame directed at deposit schemes. He argues that our memory of past cleanliness level...
Frustration reigns at Ajax after 1-1 draw against NEC: I don't know if we are title contenders
Ajax played to a disappointing 1-1 draw against NEC at the Johan Cruijff Arena, marking their fourth home match this season without a win. Both players and staff expressed frustration over the result,...
Ajax hardcore fans celebrate 50th anniversary with fireworks in Johan Cruyff Arena
The F-side, the hardcore fan group of Ajax, celebrated their 50th anniversary with fireworks and a large banner at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. During the event, former captain Dusan Tadic wa...
House squatted on Vinkenstraat following housing protest at Dam Square
Following a housing demonstration at Dam Square, squatters occupied a building on Vinkenstraat in Amsterdam to protest the city's housing shortage. While a separate group of activists clashed with pol...
"Manosphere is mega scary": men march against violence against women
Around two hundred men held a protest march in Amsterdam to advocate for women's safety and denounce violence against women. The organizers emphasized that men have a collective responsibility to addr...
Zjnoen, barki and even achenebbisj cause headaches at The Great Amsterdam Dictation: 'A dictation without discussion is no dictation'
Thirty-three participants gathered at the former Diamond Exchange in Amsterdam on Saturday to compete in the annual Great Amsterdam Dictation. Journalist and writer Robert Vuijsje took first place in ...
The embroidered softness of René Onclin's existence
Amsterdam-based artist René Onclin captures urban scenes and family photographs by transforming them into intricate embroidery. His work often seeks to add softness to reality, as seen in his current...