Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
What you need to know about today's municipal elections
Residents of Amsterdam can vote today in the municipal elections at 460 polling stations across the city to choose from 35 political parties. Voters are required to bring their voting pass and identif...
Flynn Macnack (18) was a talented volleyball player, but the Haarlem native chose football. This winter he made a surprise transfer to Italy
Eighteen-year-old Flynn Macnack from Haarlem has chosen to pursue a career in professional football despite his family's deep roots in volleyball. He recently made a significant career move by transfe...
Snack vegetables with pesticides: how unhealthy is that?
A study conducted by the Pesticide Action Network Netherlands for the consumer program Kassa found pesticide residues in 11 out of 20 tested snack vegetables. The article addresses health concerns for...
Theater De Krocht cancels event for the first time over noise dispute
Theater De Krocht has cancelled a disco dance event scheduled for Sunday due to ongoing noise complaints from a neighbor. This marks the first time the theater has had to scrap a program item since th...
View all 2026 municipal election results here tonight
The Netherlands will hold its municipal elections on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Voters across the country will head to the polls to elect local council representatives, with results expected to be ann...
You can vote here
Municipal elections are being held this Wednesday, with polling stations open for voters from 7:30 AM until 9:00 PM. Information is provided to help citizens locate their nearest polling station to pa...
Toos & Henk - March 18
Cartoonist Paul Kusters creates the daily comic strip Toos & Henk from Monday through Saturday. The series offers his unique perspective on current events and news.
Beverwijk grants permit for Ankie’s Hoeve: 210 homes surrounded by industry and busy roads
The municipality of Beverwijk has granted an environmental permit for the construction of 210 apartments on the site of the former Ankie’s Hoeve children's farm. Due to the project's proximity to in...
Which party will enter the city council? Read the latest election news for the Haarlem region
A live blog provides updates and news regarding the municipal elections in the Haarlem region. It tracks which political parties will earn seats in the local city council.
What went wrong at Blekersduin? Labor Party asks council questions over halted housing construction in Santpoort-Zuid
The PvdA political party in Velsen has raised concerns regarding the suspension of a 40-unit social housing project in Santpoort-Zuid. They are seeking clarification on why the construction was halted...
Few parties with only female candidates on the ballot
An analysis of Dutch municipal election data shows that very few political parties feature exclusively female candidates on their ballots. While 95 parties consist only of men, only four parties with ...
Striking link to Urk in major drug case: ‘Suspect knew what he was doing’
A 38-year-old man from Amsterdam is suspected of large-scale cocaine trafficking with notable links to drug cases involving individuals from Urk. The investigation highlights significant similarities ...
King Willem-Alexander in Antilles for Aruba anniversary
King Willem-Alexander arrived in Aruba on Wednesday to celebrate the island's 40th anniversary of autonomy within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the 50th anniversary of its national symbols. The K...
Good turnout for overnight voting in several municipalities
Nighttime voting in several Dutch municipalities saw a high turnout, with The Hague reporting more voters by 1:00 AM than during the entire night of the 2018 elections. A spokesperson for the municipa...
Major fire in Etten-Leur, response upgraded to GRIP 1
A major fire broke out at an apartment complex in Etten-Leur during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. Emergency services escalated the incident to a grip 1 level and are currently evacuating the resi...
JA21 parliamentary leader Kreuger files report for assault
Kevin Kreuger, the JA21 party leader in Amsterdam, filed a police report for assault following an incident on Tuesday night. The Amsterdam branch of the political party announced the filing of the rep...
Cabinet faces multi-billion shortfall, wants motorists and businesses to help pay for infrastructure
The Dutch cabinet is exploring ways to have motorists and businesses contribute to infrastructure funding to address a multi-billion euro deficit. Proposed measures include bridge tolls and tax increa...
Darifa and Nora have been championing women in Amsterdam for 25 years: ‘We do everything from the heart and people feel it’
Amsterdam sewage contains highest levels of ketamine and MDMA in Europe
People say: Finally a film where I see my story and experience reflected
De Mos denies hiring non-Dutch-speaking flyer distributors
Richard de Mos, leader of Hart voor Den Haag, has denied allegations that his party hired non-Dutch-speaking individuals to distribute campaign flyers. The controversy arose following a video from the...
Weak regions hit hard by high energy prices
The Dutch economy is showing resilience despite high energy prices and the ongoing war, with growth expected to continue even if oil prices remain at elevated levels. However, this economic progress i...
Morocco wins Africa Cup two months after final as Senegal penalized
Morocco has been awarded the Africa Cup title two months after the final following a ruling by the CAF against Senegal. The decision penalizes Senegal for their players walking off the pitch during th...
First polling stations open at midnight
The first polling stations for municipal elections in the Netherlands will open at midnight in cities including Arnhem, Den Haag, and Zwolle. Most other voting locations are scheduled to open at 7:30 ...
Wilders under no illusions about local elections
PVV leader Geert Wilders expressed modest expectations for his party's performance in the upcoming municipal elections, noting they are only competing in about forty municipalities. Following a final ...
CDA Doetinchem asks national politicians to watch their language
Jeroen Berends, the lead candidate for CDA Doetinchem, has called on national politicians to mind their language, arguing that their rhetoric contributes to the intimidation of local council members. ...
Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day: A good Irish breakfast with 20 pints
Irish people are celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Amsterdam, with local Irish pubs opening early to accommodate crowds enjoying Guinness and camaraderie. Participants emphasize that the holiday has ev...
Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day: A good Irish breakfast with 20 pints
Irish residents and visitors are celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Amsterdam, with local Irish pubs opening early to serve traditional pints of Guinness. While the holiday originated as a religious fea...
StemWijzer completed nearly 2.3 million times since launch
The StemWijzer voting aid has been used nearly 2.3 million times since its launch a month ago for the Dutch municipal elections. The tool is available in 258 municipalities and is expected to see high...
Jetten: Antisemitism not only among Muslims, points to FVD
Dutch leader Rob Jetten stated on the television program 'Eva' that antisemitism exists across all layers of society rather than being limited to specific groups. He specifically pointed to the politi...