Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Calls to curb price hikes grow louder, but cabinet action remains pending
Members of the Dutch House of Representatives are urging the cabinet to take action against rising fuel prices exacerbated by the conflict in the Middle East. Despite growing pressure from political p...
IJmond municipalities join forces: 18 million euros for vulnerable neighborhoods
The municipalities of Beverwijk, Velsen, and Heemskerk are joining forces in a project called "Sterk IJmond" to tackle persistent issues in dozens of vulnerable neighborhoods. Supported by an 18 milli...
Debora and Alyssa face headwinds with Duinwijck but opt for a bold tactic in the golden game: ‘Hit everything over the net as hard as possible’
BC Duinwijck secured their 29th Dutch national badminton title in a thrilling final against their opponents in Den Bosch. The victory was decided in a "golden game" where players Debora Jille and Alys...
Cycling past forgotten stories of the Spaarne City: ‘North used to be the ghetto of Haarlem for us’
Cultural historian Karen Schenk is organizing cycling tours this spring to showcase lesser-known heritage and history in Haarlem. The tours focus on areas outside the city center, beginning with forgo...
Grumbling and taking action: Evert (82) tackles neglect in IJmuiden with a shovel and a mini protest sign
Evert Spaans, an 82-year-old resident of IJmuiden, is personally tackling weed overgrowth in his neighborhood to protest what he calls the area's deterioration. Although he criticizes the municipality...
Pathé organizes special screenings of I Swear for people with Tourette's
Pathé is organizing special preview screenings of the film 'I Swear' this Sunday in five cinemas, specifically designed for individuals with Tourette syndrome. The movie, based on a true story, follo...
JA21 and BBB demand minister dismiss police leadership
The Dutch political parties JA21 and BBB have demanded that the Minister dismiss the national police leadership. This call follows controversies regarding the leadership's communication with officers ...
Heemstede butcher's salt beef earns top marks in national trade competition
Slagerij Van der Geest from Heemstede received top honors for its cured beef and ossenworst at a national trade competition for regional products. The jury awarded the butchery maximum scores, recogni...
The quarterpipe holds no more secrets for Deza: ‘You learn it through trial and error’
Eleven-year-old Deza is mastering new skateboarding techniques, such as dropping in on a quarterpipe, at a skatepark in Haarlem. She describes the learning process as one of trial and error, emphasizi...
78 municipal notices on demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed 78 permit applications last week, with 76 focused on projects within Haarlem and one in Spaarndam. These applications mainly concern demolition and tree felling a...
Luciano branch in Zandvoort closes after five years. ‘Luckily I still visit Overveen often enough’
The Luciano ice cream parlor in Zandvoort is closing after five years of operation. Owner Barbara Molenaar announced the closure to focus entirely on the brand's location in nearby Overveen.
Out with the old: Scouting Brigitta welcomes your junk
Scouting Brigitta in Haarlem-Noord is inviting residents to donate their unused household items and clutter. The organization plans to repurpose or sell these donations to support their scouting activ...
Municipalities and police inspect 350 garage units in Heemskerk and Beverwijk
Police, local enforcement, and housing associations conducted an integrated inspection of 350 garage storage units across Heemskerk and Beverwijk last week. The large-scale operation was carried out a...
Amsterdam congratulates Diemen on 800 years of history
The municipality of Diemen is celebrating its 800th anniversary on Sunday, March 29. Its neighbor, Amsterdam, has extended congratulations to mark the historical milestone.
Suspect in attempted murder of children may have been psychotic
A 49-year-old man from Moergestel is accused of attempting to murder his two young children in December. According to his lawyer, the suspect had suffered from chronic insomnia for months and may have...
Outrage over new €159 Dutch World Cup shirts, experts respond: 'This is where the value lies'
Nike and the KNVB have unveiled the new Dutch national football team's World Cup kits, which feature a vibrant orange color and a retail price of 159 euros. While the high cost has sparked public back...
Public needs more help and clarity on sustainability, says SER
The Social and Economic Council (SER) reports that Dutch households and small businesses face significant obstacles when attempting to make their properties more sustainable. The advisory body is call...
Cpunt in Nieuw-Vennep reopens, floor cracks were 'superficial'
Art center Cpunt in Nieuw-Vennep has reopened after an investigation determined that floor cracks found in the building were superficial and did not compromise safety. The facility resumed operations ...
AEX index opens higher on hopes for end to war, oil price falls
The AEX-index in Amsterdam opened with gains on Wednesday, driven by optimism regarding potential peace negotiations between the United States and Iran. While U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that ...
Dutch National Ballet gives the VOC a place in classical ballet: updated version of 'La Bayadère' approaches history from a contemporary perspective
The Dutch National Ballet is introducing a revised production of the classical ballet 'La Bayadère' that incorporates the history of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) from a modern perspective. Chor...
From thrilling chases to canal-side kisses: These Hollywood films also used Amsterdam as a backdrop
American actor Brad Pitt is in Amsterdam this week to film scenes for his upcoming movie, The Riders. The production highlights Amsterdam's ongoing popularity as a backdrop for major Hollywood films, ...
14-year-old girl injured after being hit by tram in Buitenveldert
A 14-year-old girl was injured on Friday morning after being struck by a tram on Buitenveldertselaan in Amsterdam. The victim was transported to the hospital, though her current condition remains unkn...
Potato prices drop below 0 euros, massive surpluses in Europe
The European potato market is experiencing a significant surplus, leading to prices dropping below zero euros and forcing some growers to pay for the disposal of their crops. In the Netherlands, the s...
Small businesses especially hesitant to hire them, but self-employed construction workers are mostly genuine entrepreneurs
Research by the Economic Institute for Construction (EIB) indicates that most self-employed workers in the sector are genuine entrepreneurs, despite small companies' fears of regulatory issues. Nevert...
Annet Schaap wins Flemish audience award for children's book Krekel
Dutch author Annet Schaap won the audience award for her book 'Krekel' at the Flemish literature prize De Boon on Tuesday evening. She secured the victory after receiving the most public votes in the ...
Fire department cannot determine cause of Westpoort fire: damage is too extensive
The fire department is unable to determine the cause of a devastating fire in Amsterdam's Westpoort district because the resulting damage is too extensive for a proper investigation. The blaze likely ...
Majority of Uitgeest councillors prefer another cooperation agreement
A majority of council members in Uitgeest, representing 12 out of 15 seats, have expressed a preference for establishing a cooperation agreement for the upcoming term. This indicates a continued desir...
Roadworks on Rijksweg Velsen-Zuid start April 2: traffic disruption until end of May
Roadworks on the Rijksweg in Velsen-Zuid and Broekeroog in Velserbroek are scheduled to begin on April 2. These works are part of a larger maintenance project for several main roads in Velsen and are ...
Haarlem city council back to male majority, sparking GroenLinks anger: 'The patriarchy pressures women'
The Haarlem city council has returned to a male majority after two female candidates stepped down and yielded their seats to male party colleagues. GroenLinks council member Melissa Oosterbroek critic...
Oil trader on soaring fuel prices: ‘People are starting to hoard like they did with toilet paper’
Oil trader Jan de Croon explains that fuel prices spike immediately during geopolitical unrest, unlike more stable commodities like coffee or sugar. He compares the current trend of drivers rushing to...