rssApr 18, 2026, 05:30

Flower parade under fire over pesticides: calls for organic flowers

The Flower Parade in the Bollenstreek is facing increasing pressure to switch to organic flowers due to environmental and health concerns regarding pesticide use. The municipality of Haarlem has significantly reduced its subsidy and threatens to withdraw all funding by 2029 unless sustainability plans are implemented. Currently, a transition is difficult due to the high costs of organic certification and a national shortage of organic bulb growers in the Netherlands.

Politics Business Culture Health Haarlem Netherlands

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Haroon Ali sees ‘looksmaxxers’ crying out for help: ‘They inflict great harm on their bodies to numb inner pain’

Columnist Haroon Ali discusses the "looksmaxxing" trend, where young men use extreme and often harmful methods to achieve physical perfection. He highlights that while these individuals are often mocked, their actions are frequently a way to cope with deep-seated inner pain as the subculture moves into the mainstream.

Unfortunate goalkeeper Nick Olij from Haarlem finally set to make Eredivisie debut for PSV

Nick Olij is set to make his debut for PSV in the Eredivisie after a season of setbacks, including injuries and losing the starting spot to Matej Kovar. The 30-year-old goalkeeper, who is originally from Haarlem, joined the club from Sparta last summer but has yet to play a league match.

Greek politicians may face prosecution in EU funds fraud case

The Greek parliament has lifted the legal immunity of thirteen politicians from the ruling Néa Dimokratía party to allow for their prosecution in an EU subsidy fraud case. The scandal involves dozens of individuals who allegedly falsified land ownership records to illegally obtain European Union funds.

Heinen open to taxing windfall profits, but not yet

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen has expressed openness to taxing the excess profits of companies benefiting from conflicts in the Middle East, such as those in the oil sector. However, he stated that the measure will not be implemented immediately as several procedural steps must first be completed.

Asylum shelter outweighs local residents' interests, judge rules

A Dutch judge ruled that the societal need for humanitarian asylum housing outweighs the interests of local residents in participating in the decision-making process. The case involved thirteen residents and entrepreneurs attempting to block the temporary placement of 110 asylum seekers in a vacant town hall in Loosdrecht.