Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
De Mos: so much support leaves me speechless
Richard de Mos expressed gratitude for the significant support his party received during the local elections in The Hague. He stated his intention to collaborate with all parties willing to work toget...
Vlieland second to report results: liberals become largest party
Vlieland was the second Dutch municipality to report its provisional election results, featuring only local parties. Nieuw Liberaal Vlieland emerged as the largest party with 36.7% of the votes, secur...
Forum lead candidate Dessing hopes for second seat in Amsterdam
Johan Dessing, the lead candidate for Forum voor Democratie in Amsterdam, expects the party to retain its current seat in the city council and aims to secure a second one. Dessing stated that keeping ...
Local parties celebrate, turnout appears slightly higher than four years ago
Local parties are set to dominate Dutch municipal councils following the recent elections. While voter turnout remained low, it showed a slight improvement compared to the figures from four years ago.
Amsterdam to release final election results only on Thursday
The city of Amsterdam will release interim municipal election results on Thursday once all party-level votes have been counted for the first time. A spokesperson for the municipality stated that these...
Schiermonnikoog again first municipality to report election results
Schiermonnikoog has once again become the first Dutch municipality to report its election results during the municipal elections. Election officials on the Wadden Island completed the count of all 661...
Exit poll: De Mos party largest in The Hague with 17 seats
According to an Ipsos exit poll, Richard de Mos's party Hart voor Den Haag has emerged as the largest party in The Hague's municipal elections with 17 seats. This result marks a significant increase o...
Political landslide in The Hague not necessarily indicative for the rest of the country
Richard de Mos and his party, Hart voor Den Haag, secured a significant victory in the municipal elections in The Hague according to recent exit polls. However, the unique local nature of his politica...
Voter turnout in Rotterdam already higher than in 2022
Voter turnout for the municipal elections in Rotterdam has exceeded the figures from four years ago. By 8:30 PM on Wednesday, 39 percent of the city's eligible voters had already cast their ballots.
44 percent turnout by 7 PM in Haaksbergen asylum center referendum
By 7:00 PM on Wednesday, 44 percent of eligible voters in Haaksbergen had participated in a referendum regarding the housing of asylum seekers. This turnout ensures that the referendum results will be...
Turnout between 40 and 60 percent one hour before polls close
One hour before polls closed for the municipal elections, voter turnout varied significantly across different municipalities. Participation rates ranged from over 60% in some areas to just over 40% in...
LIVE 2026 Municipal Elections | First exit poll to be announced shortly after 9:00 PM
Research agency Ipsos I&O will release the first exit polls for the 2026 Dutch municipal elections shortly after 9:00 PM. The polls will cover the municipalities of Den Haag, Doetinchem, Noardeast-Fry...
Is the parking revolt still alive at the Haarlem polls? 'It remains a ridiculous cash cow'
Following a 2024 rejection of expanded paid parking, the Haarlem city council approved a scaled-back version of the plan in May 2025. The upcoming municipal elections are expected to act as a referend...
SWAT team and drone deployed for suspicious situation in Slotervaart
A police arrest team and a drone were deployed to a hotel on Gatwickstraat in Amsterdam following reports of a suspicious situation. Heavily armed officers and police dogs surrounded the building, tho...
Bloemendaal Cyclists' Union nearly removed from polling station for leafleting: ‘It is explicitly not voting advice’
Members of the Fietsersbond Bloemendaal were nearly forced to leave polling stations in Bloemendaal while distributing pamphlets on bicycle safety. Enforcement officers initially viewed the activity a...
One part of Spaarndam votes for Haarlem, the other for Haarlemmermeer, causing confusion: ‘People are showing up at the wrong place’
The village of Spaarndam is split between the municipalities of Haarlem and Haarlemmermeer, leading to confusion for residents during elections. Some voters mistakenly attempt to cast their ballots at...
EU leaders to call Orbán to order over Ukraine loan veto
EU leaders anticipate that a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine will be stalled at Thursday's summit because Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is expected to maintain his veto. The leaders intend t...
These people don't vote: from distrust to Ravaella (36) who wants to vote but is simply not allowed
Millions of people in the Netherlands are expected to abstain from voting due to feelings of mistrust, frustration, and the belief that their vote will not make a difference. This report also highligh...
Drug deal in Rotterdam senior complex fatal for Carlos (59), but who shot him dead?
Carlos, a 59-year-old man from Rotterdam, was fatally shot while mediating a cocaine deal in a senior housing complex. Authorities are investigating whether the shooter was a rapper from Amsterdam or ...
Daytona (23) from Uitgeest lives alone in a 21-square-meter studio: 'It’s small, but what more could you want?'
Twenty-three-year-old Daytona lives in one of twenty temporary youth studios built by housing corporation Kennemer Wonen in Uitgeest. The 21-square-meter units were established two years ago to provid...
CJIB positive about waiving traffic fine increases
The Dutch Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB) is supportive of a new policy that allows for the waiver of traffic fine increases to prevent individuals from falling into deeper financial distres...
Slight preference in Schalkwijk for Haarlem newcomer DENK: 'I voted for DENK because I know the lead candidate'
The political party DENK is making its debut in Haarlem, where voters in the Schalkwijk district have shown a slight preference for the party. Some residents indicated they voted for DENK based on per...
Eva wants care sector to look at disability differently: ‘Let someone struggle sometimes’
Eva Eikhout, a presenter and healthcare innovation ambassador for VGZ who was born without full limbs, is advocating for a shift in how the healthcare sector views disabilities. She emphasizes the imp...
Residents ‘cannot find voting pass’ and call municipality, but there are no elections in Hilversum at all
Residents of Hilversum contacted their municipality hundreds of times after failing to receive voting passes for current elections. Local voting has been delayed until later this year due to the munic...
Positive reactions to renewed trial with smaller ballot paper
Multiple municipalities in the Netherlands are receiving positive feedback from voters participating in a trial with smaller ballot papers. Polling station workers reported that citizens find the more...
Prokkel duo Sylvana and Funda get things done at polling station 13: ‘Thanks to her, we’ll have the highest turnout in Beverwijk’
Sylvana and Funda Koyca are working as a "Prokkelduo" at a polling station in Beverwijk's Castor College. Sylvana, nicknamed the "queen of the polling station," is credited with potentially driving hi...
Disguised as a visitor, artist Jessica Kuhn secretly draws on her own work in the Stedelijk Museum
After a long search, I must conclude I cannot fulfill my democratic duty: my voting pass is lost
The author reflects on the upcoming Dutch municipal elections, noting that many citizens treat voting as a routine chore rather than a significant civic duty. Due to a lost voting pass, the author exp...
From swimming pools to asylum centers, residents share concerns at Kennemerland polling stations: 'Let Sportdorp go ahead on May 17'
Voters in the Kennemerland region voiced their concerns on local and national issues, including asylum centers and sports facilities, at polling stations during the elections. A reporter visited sever...
In Burgerveen, Abbenes, Oude Meer and Aalsmeerderbrug, voting is different than in larger towns: 'Little happens here'
Residents of small villages in the Haarlemmermeer municipality, such as Burgerveen and Abbenes, report that voting considerations differ from larger towns due to a perceived lack of local activity. So...