adMar 25, 2026, 17:36

Rijkswaterstaat faces €20.5 billion shortfall, highway ramps to close: ‘Must make choices’

Rijkswaterstaat is facing a 20.5 billion euro budget deficit, leading to the indefinite closure of highway ramps across the Netherlands, such as the A2 ramp near Abcoude towards Amsterdam. The agency is forced to make difficult maintenance choices as road damage at dozens of locations cannot be safely addressed due to lack of funds. This financial shortfall highlights a growing infrastructure crisis affecting safety and accessibility nationwide.

Politics Economy Amsterdam Netherlands

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Why children should be bored more often: ‘Good for resilience’

As the May holiday approaches, the article highlights the importance of allowing children to experience boredom to help build their resilience and creativity. While many families travel for new stimuli, experts suggest that 'doing nothing' is a crucial part of a child's development.

Alderman wants deposit company to pay for new trash cans

Amsterdam Alderman Hester van Buren is requesting that deposit return organization Verpact pay ‐8 million for 8,000 new trash cans designed to reduce litter caused by people searching for deposit bottles and cans. While the city argues that high tourism and increased cleanup costs justify the request, Verpact has currently only agreed to a ‐1 million contribution in addition to its existing annual payments. Consequently, the city will initially install 1,000 bins while continuing to negotiate for the full replacement of the city's waste containers.

Beverwijk to seek new mayor as Martijn Smit unexpectedly steps down in September

Martijn Smit, the mayor of Beverwijk, unexpectedly announced his resignation during a city council meeting on Thursday evening. He will officially step down from his position in September, requiring the municipality to begin the search for a successor.

Weekend tips: things to do in Haarlem (April 24-26)

Haarlem is hosting a variety of events and activities for the weekend of April 24 to 26. The city is preparing for King's Night celebrations, offering residents and visitors several options ranging from quiet outings to lively parties.

Illustrator Eric Coolen (60) looks back on career with new book: ‘If I’d started in my twenties, I’d be burnt out now’

Illustrator Eric Coolen marks his 60th birthday with a new book, "Geen dag zonder lijn," which looks back on his prolific career. The publication details his creative process and his habit of working through the night to produce his art.