haarlemsdagbladJun 18, 2026, 05:00

Put out-of-school children at the top of the education agenda

The parent association Balans is taking legal action to address the crisis of at least 70,000 children staying home and another 280,000 receiving insufficient education. The organization highlights how bureaucratic hurdles and funding shortages in schools and youth care are leaving families desperate and children without their right to education.

Politics Economy Netherlands

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

European Commission launches investigation into Booking.com over failure to tackle fraud

The European Commission has opened an investigation into Booking.com over concerns that the travel platform is failing to adequately combat fraud and phishing scams. The inquiry aims to ensure the company complies with the Digital Services Act, which mandates that online platforms prioritize user protection and transparency.

All countries doing too little for climate, further warming threatens: 'No more excuses'

A UN report warns that global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient, placing the world on track for nearly 3 degrees of warming. While the 1.5-degree target is increasingly out of reach, officials emphasize that rapid adoption of clean energy and the phasing out of fossil fuels remain critical to limiting the severity of future climate disasters.

China and the US are going full throttle on AI, the EU is hitting the brakes: how wise is that?

While China and the United States push ahead with rapid AI development, the European Union maintains a cautious stance focused on strict regulation. Critics argue this approach hampers European innovation and sovereignty, while proponents believe responsible testing and a focus on specialized quality are essential for sustainable growth.

22,000 homes at risk due to cabinet funding shortfall: ‘We must also solve the housing crisis’

A lack of government funding for public transport infrastructure threatens the construction of 22,000 new homes across the Netherlands. Stakeholders warn that these housing projects are at risk because they rely on new transit connections to remain viable.

The Greenhouse | I prefer to jump on the facts rather than the barricade

A climate journalist explores the tension between objective reporting and the pressure to advocate for systemic change to combat the climate crisis. The author concludes that journalists should remain factual rather than activist to effectively reach a wide and diverse audience.