rssNov 13, 2025, 13:00

City cleaning to return to neighborhood-based approach soon, says alderman

Amsterdam's city cleaning and garbage collection services will return to neighborhood-based work schedules in 2024 to combat high sick leave and a loss of local expertise. Alderman Van Buren announced that cleaners will be assigned fixed areas starting January 1, followed by garbage collectors on June 1, reversing a 2019 centralization policy. The move aims to restore employees' sense of ownership and improve street cleanliness after the current system led to increased stress, safety concerns, and operational issues.

Politics Amsterdam

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

Protesters at French consulate in solidarity with protests in France

About twenty people gathered at the French consulate in Amsterdam to support ongoing protests in France. The demonstrators aimed to highlight shared concerns regarding education quality and the rising cost of living.

Women's organizations devastated after death of Hajar: "Lived in immense fear"

Following the discovery of 29-year-old Hajar's body in an Amsterdam canal, a 23-year-old suspect has been arrested. Local women's organizations are grieving the loss while addressing the broader societal fears regarding the safety of women.

Why was Hajar's disappearance not treated as urgent despite alarming text messages?

The Dutch police are facing questions regarding their decision not to treat the disappearance of 29-year-old Hajar as an urgent case despite her sending alarming text messages to her family. Former investigators indicate that an internal review is expected to determine whether the police protocols were applied correctly or if errors were made.

New research: Municipality has insufficient oversight of subsidies for Hart voor de K-Buurt foundation

An external investigation found that the Amsterdam municipal government failed to properly monitor 700,000 euros in subsidies granted to the Hart voor de K-Buurt foundation between 2019 and 2023. Although no evidence of fraud was uncovered, the city is now planning to implement stricter oversight and risk assessment procedures to address the administrative failures and strained relations with the organization.

Halsema says it is too early to discuss police actions following concerning messages to Hajar

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema is calling for patience regarding criticism of police actions during the disappearance of Hajar while a criminal investigation is ongoing. She noted that authorities believe the victim was likely already killed before the police received the concerning text messages.