Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
John Oomkes (1952-2026): prominent music journalist with a big heart for his native Haarlem
John Oomkes, a prominent pop journalist and former city council member from Haarlem, has passed away at the age of 74. Recognized as a pioneer in serious music journalism since the mid-1970s, Oomkes w...
Lebanon veterans see civilians fleeing en masse again: 'What did we do it all for?'
Dutch veterans who served in Lebanon express deep sadness as they witness the country's destruction during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. They question the value of their past peac...
No local 'opposition party' in the council: 'Today's protest party is right-wing populist'
Amsterdam currently lacks a distinct local protest party in its city council, a significant shift from the influential activist movements of the 1960s and 70s. Historian Bas Kok suggests this is becau...
'It has yet to bloom, hence that green rose,' Haarlem's Erica doesn't see merger party Progressive Netherlands as a funeral for her beloved PvdA
Members of the GroenLinks and PvdA parties gathered in Halfweg for the unveiling of their new merged party name, Progressief Nederland (PRO). Haarlem resident Erica expressed optimism about the merger...
Snack vegetables contain pesticides: is it safe to give them to your child?
Baby milk, snack vegetables, and fruit snacks may contain pesticide residues, raising concerns about food safety for children. Experts reassure that these products are safe to consume if parents follo...
Tom and Ron close flower shop after 42 years: 'We were like a little village in the city'
Ron Bouma and Tom Brands are closing their flower shop in Haarlem after 42 years of operation in the Kleverpark neighborhood. The business, Tom en Ron Bloemen en planten, became a community staple by ...
Castricum contractor Twisk Bouw closes its doors for good: Not out of necessity, but because they can
Castricum-based construction company Twisk Bouw is closing permanently after 33 years of operation. Owner Wim Twisk decided to shut down the business voluntarily to spend more time with his family rat...
Why do we want to know everything about Jan Smit and Liza’s divorce? ‘You think: things aren't that bad for me’
Dutch singer Jan Smit and his wife Liza Plat have announced their divorce after fourteen years of marriage. The split has sparked significant public interest, with psychologists noting that people oft...
One injured in stabbing at Abbenes home, one arrested
One person was injured following a stabbing incident at a home in Abbenes on Thursday evening. Law enforcement officials confirmed that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Jetten: High oil prices prompt countries to tackle shadow fleet
Dutch Minister Rob Jetten stated that rising oil prices are increasing the pressure on nations to crack down on the shadow fleet used by Russia to bypass oil sanctions. Speaking after a meeting with N...
Municipalities understand minister's call for more asylum housing
The Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) has expressed support for Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink's call to urgently increase the number of reception spaces for asylum seekers. A spokes...
Heavy damage to homes after Slotermeer ATM bombing: "My son was too scared to go to school"
An ATM explosion at Slotermeerlaan in Amsterdam caused significant damage to residential buildings and injured a teenager early this morning. Local residents reported being in shock from the blast, wh...
Brad Pitt in Amsterdam? Even the most level-headed locals turn into hysterical fans
Brad Pitt was spotted walking along the canals in Amsterdam this week, appearing incognito with messy hair. His presence caused a rare wave of excitement among locals who typically remain indifferent ...
Haarlem band Eskalatie breathes new life into ska music
Eskalatie, a 12-member band from Haarlem, is reviving Dutch-language ska music by blending high-energy performances with social commentary. The group recently won the Rob Acda Award and has upcoming p...
GroenLinks-PvdA renamed PRO (Progressive Netherlands), red rose swapped for green
The political parties GroenLinks and PvdA have officially merged under the new name Progressief Nederland (PRO). Positioned as a broad people's party, the organization has updated its branding by repl...
Construction of Bolstoren in Nieuw-Vennep halted by enforcement, developer: 'We want to hurry for the buyers'
Construction on the Bolstoren in Nieuw-Vennep, which is being converted into nearly 100 apartments, has been halted by authorities because the environmental permit is not yet finalized. Developer De R...
Judge bans undressing feature in Grok chatbot
A court in Amsterdam has banned the "undressing function" of the Grok chatbot in the Netherlands following a summary judgment. The legal challenge was brought by victim support organizations and safet...
GL-PvdA and D66 to further explore new Haarlem coalition with CDA; other parties sidelined for now
GL-PvdA and D66 are set to explore a new local coalition in Haarlem with the CDA, excluding other parties for the time being. Following initial discussions led by Diana van Loenen, the three parties w...
Judge rules Grok may not undress people online with AI software
An Amsterdam court has ruled that the AI chatbot Grok is prohibited from generating and distributing AI-generated 'undressing' images and child pornographic material in the Netherlands. This decision ...
Lawyer also seeks acquittal for Ali B in Ten Damme rape case
Lawyer Bart Swier has requested an acquittal for Ali B regarding the alleged rape of singer Ellen ten Damme. The defense argued that a statement from Ten Damme's former partner should not be used as c...
Advisory council links housing construction and circular economy goals
The Dutch Scientific Climate Council (WKR) suggests that transforming, splitting, or adding floors to existing buildings could create tens of thousands of homes while significantly reducing CO2 emissi...
Driver changes statement about Kloosterstraat accident: ‘I just told a bullshit story’
A 44-year-old driver admitted to providing a false initial statement regarding a collision on Haarlem's Kloosterstraat that occurred on August 19, 2024. The suspect allegedly hit a cyclist while speed...
Asylum minister short of 4,500 beds, sends urgent appeal to municipalities: 'Immediate emergency shelter needed'
Minister of Asylum Bart van den Brink has issued an urgent appeal to Dutch municipalities to open emergency shelters as the national system faces a shortage of 4,500 places. He warned that the situati...
Jan van Rijn appointed informateur in Hillegom; BBH nominates Jeroen Nederpelt as alderman candidate
Jan van Rijn from the BBH party has been appointed as the informateur to lead coalition talks in Hillegom following the local elections. As the largest party in the council, BBH has nominated Mike Roe...
What does an asylum seeker center mean? Heemskerk and Uitgeest hold meetings where arrival itself is not up for debate despite fierce opposition
The municipalities of Heemskerk and Uitgeest have approved the establishment of an asylum seekers' center between the two towns. On April 20, residents and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asyl...
Limburg wants to significantly expand Einstein Telescope test center
The Dutch province of Limburg plans to allocate 4 million euros for research into expanding the ETpathfinder prototype in Maastricht into a world-class research facility for low-frequency gravitationa...
Man beaten unconscious during bike robbery in Vondelpark
A man was assaulted and robbed of his bicycle in Amsterdam's Vondelpark on March 16, resulting in him losing consciousness after being attacked twice. Police are currently searching for the suspect an...
Donyell Malen in top form ahead of special milestone: 'Very special for a boy from a small village'
Donyell Malen is set to earn his 50th cap for the Netherlands national football team in an upcoming match against Norway. This milestone marks the first time he will start four consecutive internation...
'I've had so many problems already, and now this.' Driver crashes through facade leaving destruction for Bert (71) from Beverwijk
On Wednesday evening, a car crashed through the facade of 71-year-old Bert de Gilder's home in Beverwijk, causing extensive damage. The collision occurred shortly after the homeowner had completed ren...
Our cars, clothes and homes must go green faster: 'The time is now'
Greening the economy through the reuse of materials in sectors like housing and transportation is essential to meeting 2050 climate goals. While scientists argue that government intervention is requir...