Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Election blog: GL/PvdA hold first joint talks and appoint scout
Following the municipal elections in Amsterdam, GroenLinks and PvdA have appointed Hendrik-Jan Biemond as a scout to lead coalition negotiations. Local party leaders from JA21, FvD, and Denk reacted t...
Bep van Klaveren fought his final match on this day in 1956: a bloody injury ended the legendary career of the ‘Dutch Windmill’
On March 19, 1956, legendary Dutch boxer Bep van Klaveren, known as the 'Dutch Windmill', fought his final career match in Rotterdam. The historic bout ended prematurely after a bloody injury forced t...
Yves Berendse to return to Ziggo Dome in November
Singer Yves Berendse is scheduled to perform a concert at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on November 14. The venue officially announced the upcoming show on Thursday.
The best landscape painter in the Netherlands lived in Amsterdam and has no face
Jacob van Ruisdael was considered the premier landscape painter of the Netherlands during his lifetime while residing in Amsterdam. Despite his artistic success, many biographical details remain unkno...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | ADO cult hero Tom Beugelsdijk almost certain of a seat in politics: ‘It’s a good week for The Hague’
The 2026 Dutch municipal elections saw a national voter turnout of 54.1 percent, an increase from 51 percent in 2022. In The Hague, former professional footballer Tom Beugelsdijk is virtually certain ...
40 years of voting rights for migrants: how politics became a reflection of the city
On March 19, 1986, migrants without Dutch nationality were granted the right to vote in local elections in the Netherlands for the first time. This historical milestone marks nearly 40 years of politi...
New Jumbo CEO saw in first 75 days that Jumbo has lost its luster: 'We spend hours in meetings'
Jumbo's new CEO, Jesper Højer, observed during his first 75 days that the supermarket chain has become overly complex and lost its competitive edge. He aims to revitalize the company by improving pro...
Haarlem votes for more of the same: GL-PvdA and D66 together larger than before
Voters in Haarlem have opted for political continuity in the recent elections, leaving the city's power dynamics largely unchanged. Despite various parties campaigning for change, the combined influen...
Behind the scenes of the elections: the election results
This article explores the behind-the-scenes process that occurs after polling stations close during an election. It highlights the essential work performed by report controllers and election officials...
Haarlem residents Alain and Karin hesitated about their trip to Cuba but went anyway: ‘We are helping the Cubans, because every peso counts’
Alain and Karin Timmers from Haarlem decided to proceed with their trip to Cuba despite the country's worsening economic crisis and fuel shortages. They believe their visit supports the local populati...
European gas price jumps 35% after attack on massive Middle East gas fields
European gas prices surged by 35% on Thursday morning following attacks on gas installations in the Middle East. The price spike was recorded at the Amsterdam gas exchange, which serves as the benchma...
Election results hold four lessons for national parties: the prime minister bonus and the ‘Lidewij effect’
National political parties are closely analyzing the results of local elections to identify key trends and lessons. With nearly all votes counted, four major takeaways have emerged, including insights...
Arie 'completely done' with fiets.com over lack of goodwill after premature electric motor failure
A customer named Arie is seeking compensation after the Bosch motor on his €3,000 e-bike failed after only three years and 6,500 kilometers. Despite the bike being well-maintained, the retailer, fie...
Unemployment rises to highest level in four years
Unemployment in the Netherlands rose slightly to 4.1 percent in February, reaching its highest level in four years. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the rate had previously remained at 4 per...
Oil prices continue to rise: petrol and diesel more expensive again in the Netherlands
Oil prices have increased following attacks on major energy facilities in the Middle East, including a key gas production site in Qatar. This has led to a subsequent rise in the recommended prices for...
Richard de Mos: for some a reincarnation of F. Jacobse, for others a beacon of hope in dark times
Landslide victory for FVD in Velsen, Velsen Lokaal no longer largest, Liberaal Blauw and ChristenUnie retain seats
Forum voor Democratie (FVD) achieved a major victory in the Velsen municipal elections, overtaking Velsen Lokaal as the largest party. While Liberaal Blauw and ChristenUnie maintained their seats, pol...
Philip Morris tobacco shops illegally promote heated tobacco as healthier alternative to cigarettes
An undercover investigation by the journalistic platform Pointer revealed that tobacco shops supported by Philip Morris are illegally promoting heated tobacco as a healthier alternative to traditional...
How do I get rid of caterpillars so my shrubs can recover?
Farmer Tom provides advice to a reader on how to naturally manage a caterpillar infestation on viburnum shrubs. The goal is to eliminate the pests using eco-friendly methods so the plants can recover ...
After Esschilderstraat ‘bike sweep’, some bicycles are missing: ‘They can’t just have vanished?’
Residents of Esschilderstraat in Haarlem are unable to locate their bicycles following a cleanup operation by the municipality and Spaarnelanden. Several missing bikes, including expensive electric mo...
Fishermen caught between hope and fear: High fuel prices make fishing barely profitable
High fuel prices have made fishing activities barely profitable, leaving Dutch fishermen facing significant financial uncertainty. Jan Visser, working on his shrimp cutter in the IJmuiden harbor, exem...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | Only results for Amsterdam and Hoorn still missing, multiple parties become largest out of nowhere
The preliminary results for the 2026 Dutch local elections are still pending for Amsterdam and Hoorn, with official counts expected by Thursday afternoon. Several new political parties have emerged as...
A new city council, a new spring. Hold onto that feeling
Following recent elections, 8,554 council members have been chosen to lead Dutch municipalities with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism. This new group of elected officials, comprising both newco...
GroenLinks-PvdA alliance loses many voters, D66 fails to capitalize everywhere, FvD big winner: These are the results in the Haarlem region
The GroenLinks-PvdA alliance lost a significant number of voters across several municipalities in the Haarlem region during the recent municipal elections. While the VVD remained the largest party in ...
NSC fails to win any council seats in five municipalities
The political party NSC failed to win a council seat in any of the five Dutch municipalities where it participated in local elections. According to preliminary results, the party did not secure repres...
D66 narrowly largest in Heemstede after tense election night, Eric Geels' party secures seat
D66 emerged as the largest party in the Heemstede municipal elections, narrowly defeating the VVD by a margin of 86 votes. The newcomer party Samen Sterk Heemstede (SSH) also secured its first seat in...
King talks with Curaçao residents about geopolitical tensions
King Willem-Alexander and State Secretary Eric van der Burg met with residents of Curaçao to discuss geopolitical tensions involving Venezuela. The meeting focused on the impact of these regional pre...
Mostly losers in Beverwijk, only Vrij! and Forum win on the right. Mayor Smit: ‘It will be another four difficult years’
Local parties Samen Lokaal and Vrij! Beverwijk emerged as the primary winners in the Beverwijk municipal elections and are expected to lead coalition talks. Mayor Martijn Smit expressed concern that t...
Father beats son in neck-and-neck race in Zandvoort
In Zandvoort, the political party OPZ, led by Patrick Berg, defeated Jong Zandvoort, led by his son Bram Berg, by a narrow margin of 99 votes. The father described the neck-and-neck race against his s...
GroenLinks and D66 grow to 11 and 7 seats in Nijmegen
Preliminary election results in Nijmegen show that GroenLinks and D66 have increased their representation to 11 and 7 seats respectively. The data, reported by the ANP Verkiezingsdienst, confirms grow...