rssMay 13, 2026, 12:45

Early birds watch sunrise atop A'dam Tower for its anniversary

Early birds gathered atop Amsterdam's A'dam Tower to celebrate its tenth anniversary with a sunrise view, silent disco, and rooftop activities. Originally built for Shell in 1966 and reopened as a multifunctional venue in 2016, the tower is hosting special events for locals through May 17. Co-owner Sander Groet marked the milestone by reflecting on the building's transformation and its success in attracting 800,000 annual visitors.

Business Culture Lifestyle Amsterdam Netherlands

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Insurers call on government to tackle rogue contractors

Legal aid insurer DAS is calling on the Dutch government to take stricter action against rogue construction companies following an increase in scams targeting homeowners. Reports indicate that one in three homeowners has encountered fraudulent contractors who often appear prominently in online search results.

Brussels to call on member states to ban conversion therapy

The European Commission will call on EU member states to ban conversion therapy in response to a petition signed by over one million people. However, the Commission does not intend to propose a unified ban across the 27 member states itself.

Another banana peel for the cabinet: the approaching end of mortgage interest deduction

The Dutch government is facing renewed political pressure as civil servants and coalition parties CDA and D66 push for the abolition of the mortgage interest deduction. Despite previous claims that the debate was closed, the naderende end of the scheme is now creating significant tension within the cabinet.

Bloemendaal beaches awarded Blue Flag again

The beaches of Bloemendaal aan Zee and Parnassia have once again been awarded the international Blue Flag certification for excellence in safety, water quality, and sustainability. This annual recognition is given to beaches that meet strict environmental and safety criteria.

Smaller Milka bars should not have been sold in the same packaging

A court in Bremen, Germany, has ruled that Milka violated competition laws by selling smaller chocolate bars in their original packaging. The court determined that the manufacturer should have updated the packaging to reflect the weight reduction.