nuJun 12, 2026, 05:23

Number of welfare recipients rises again, especially among young people

The number of welfare recipients in the Netherlands rose to 411,000 in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 1,000 people compared to the previous three months. Preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) indicates that this growth is particularly driven by an increase in younger recipients.

Economy Netherlands

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Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

How dozens of websites went offline this afternoon: 'The ball started rolling proactively in the Netherlands'

Dozens of Dutch organizations preemptively took their websites offline on Wednesday to address two critical security vulnerabilities. While the threat was global, the Netherlands exhibited a significantly more cautious response compared to other countries.

Global online vulnerability update is live: A race against the clock

A critical security vulnerability has been discovered in the PHP programming language, prompting a race to patch systems before hackers can exploit the flaw. Many organizations have temporarily taken their websites offline as a precaution while security experts warn that businesses must also conduct thorough checks for prior unauthorized access.

AI-generated texts appear in parliamentary debates: 'Comes at the expense of credibility'

Recent research reveals that 68 members of the Dutch parliament have used artificial intelligence to draft or refine texts for parliamentary debates. While some argue these tools simply aid efficiency, experts warn that over-reliance on AI could compromise the authenticity and public trust of elected officials.

Regional transport strikes on Thursday called off, new collective agreement talks scheduled

Regional transport strikes planned for Thursday have been canceled as employers and unions agree to resume negotiations for a new collective labor agreement. The unions have suspended all strike actions for two weeks, warning that they will resume protests on November 4 if a deal remains elusive.

First group of regular customers can order online again at Albert Heijn

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