haarlemsdagbladFeb 23, 2026, 16:00

North Holland coastal municipalities also want mandatory insurance for small sea vessels: ‘No one is currently responsible’

Coastal municipalities in North Holland are calling for mandatory insurance for small sea vessels following an incident where a fishing cutter remained stranded off Zandvoort for a month. The municipalities have petitioned the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management to ensure vessel owners are financially responsible for salvage operations.

Politics Economy Netherlands

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

Cabinet invests 450 million euros in rainforest protection fund

The Dutch government has pledged 450 million euros to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a global initiative led by Brazil to protect rainforests through investment-based returns. The contribution aims to help reach the 10 billion dollar threshold necessary to trigger further funding from Norway, though the Netherlands is still working to finalize the details of its commitment.

Many cabinets have tried, will cutting the number of civil servants finally succeed this time?

The Dutch government is attempting to reduce the number of civil servants after numerous failed attempts by previous cabinets. Success likely depends on the government's ability to clearly define which public services to maintain and which to eliminate.

Cabinet to cut civil service: 25,000 fewer full-time jobs by 2035

The Dutch cabinet plans to reduce the national civil service by 25,000 full-time positions by 2035. State Secretary Eric van der Burg also announced that funding for various advisory bodies will be significantly cut as part of this downsizing effort.

Dry summer already forgotten: hundreds of millions in funding for measures cut

The Dutch government has cut over 1 billion euros from the Delta Programme for Freshwater and other environmental initiatives to prioritize funding for roads and bridges. This decision comes despite a recent report from the Court of Audit warning of rising economic and ecological damages due to persistent drought.

Solution sought for 500 million euro shortfall: coalition leaders meet Saturday for complex puzzle

Dutch government leaders are meeting this weekend to address a 500 million euro budget gap and finalize their tax plan. They aim to reach an internal consensus before seeking support from opposition parties to secure a parliamentary majority.