Netherlands News in English
Netherlands news in English — Dutch national headlines covering politics, housing, immigration, the economy, transport and daily life, translated and updated throughout the day for the international community.
Absence due to mental health issues worsens labor market shortages
Absenteeism due to mental health issues rose by 7.1 percent between 2024 and 2025, even as overall sick leave declined. These long-term absences, particularly prevalent among women, are expected to wo...
GVB sees future for self-driving shuttles in Amsterdam: An excellent opportunity to address labor shortages
The Amsterdam transport operator GVB plans to test small, driverless shuttle buses within the next three years. This initiative aims to address severe labor shortages and eventually transition the cit...
Student loan interest rates to rise for a quarter million former students next year
Around 250,000 former students will face higher interest rates on their loans next year as their five-year fixed-rate periods end. Those under the pre-2015 system will see rates rise to 3.28 percent, ...
Cabinet to negotiate with social partners, union strikes suspended
The Dutch government and social partners have agreed to start formal negotiations on social security reform in the coming weeks, leading to a suspension of planned labor union actions. This developmen...
Labor productivity in the private sector rises again after two years of decline
Labor productivity in the Dutch private sector increased by 2.5 percent last year, ending a two-year downward trend. This growth was driven by a rise in added value and a decrease in total hours worke...
Review: Youth is a cringe comedy series
Youth is a cringe-comedy series created by and starring Sharon Horgan as a 50-year-old literary agent dealing with a turbulent personal life and the onset of aging. The show balances dark humor with r...
Netherlands breaks even after banking crisis: ABN Amro rescue yields another 3.5 billion for treasury
The Dutch government is nearing a break-even point on its 2008 rescue of ABN Amro following the sale of a new 10.2 percent stake for an estimated 3.5 billion euros. This latest move leaves the state w...
VNO-NCW chief warns unions and cabinet: 'We are heading down the Belgian path this way'
VNO-NCW chairman Coen van Oostrom has warned the Dutch government and labor unions that the current economic model is unsustainable and risks leading the country toward a decline similar to Belgium. H...
Win two tickets for Niall Horan at the Ziggo Dome
Fans can win two tickets to see Niall Horan perform at the Ziggo Dome on Friday, October 16. To enter the giveaway, participants must register their details, agree to the terms, and subscribe to the n...
Cabinet plans to require homeowners to install hybrid heat pumps starting in 2029
Beginning in 2029, homeowners in the Netherlands must install hybrid heat pumps instead of gas-fired boilers when replacing their heating systems. The government plans to exempt apartments and monumen...
Television maker Hans Goedkoop wins Han Peekel Prize
Television maker Hans Goedkoop has been awarded the Han Peekel Prize for his expertise in using archival footage to preserve Dutch heritage. He received a symbolic prize of 1,951 euros, reflecting the...
State to halve ABN Amro stake to 10.5 percent
The Dutch government plans to reduce its stake in ABN Amro from 20.7 percent to 10.5 percent through a new trading plan. This step continues the state's gradual exit from the bank, which was nationali...
Rental prices are rising faster than home prices
Private sector rental prices increased by 4.4 percent annually, rising faster than inflation and the price of owner-occupied homes. Data suggests the market is shrinking as landlords sell their proper...
Within a minute you want to shout: put that phone away and play with your child!
A television program exploring screen time highlights the immediate distress babies experience when parents become distracted by their phones. The episode also discusses the negative impacts of social...
High rents drive away candidates: private sector homes stay online longer
Rental interest in the Netherlands has dropped significantly as rising prices and decreasing housing supply make finding a home more difficult. Landlords are increasingly selling their properties due ...
Hatchet buried: polder and cabinet begin talks on social agreement
The Dutch government and social partners have started negotiations to reach a new social agreement after withdrawing plans for 6.8 billion euros in austerity measures. The talks aim to address reforms...
NSC loses last representative: Gotink opposes party rapprochement with Keijzer
Europarlementariër Dirk Gotink has resigned from the NSC party, citing his disapproval of the party's move to seek closer ties with Mona Keijzer. His departure leaves the party founded by Pieter Omtz...
More than 76,000 rental homes have already disappeared from the market – landlords complain about affordable rent legislation
Since the introduction of the Affordable Rent Act in 2024, over 76,000 rental homes have been sold off by landlords across the Netherlands, tightening housing supply. Rental prices are simultaneously ...
Televizier-Ring nominees show even the awards show cannot escape polarization
The nominations for the Televizier-Ring reflect the increasing social polarization within the Netherlands. The contenders for the prestigious award include Woeste grond, Kassa, and De bondgenoten, eac...
One in ten houses sold in Amsterdam is a former rental property, landlords complain: 'The damage is enormous'
Approximately 9.1 percent of homes sold in Amsterdam were formerly rental properties as landlords exit the market following the introduction of new rental legislation and higher taxes. Across the Neth...
Skin cancer will soon be the most common type of cancer
Skin cancer is projected to become the most prevalent form of cancer in the Netherlands by 2045, driven by both an aging population and concerning social media trends like intentional unprotected sun ...
Alderman: Amsterdam city center entrepreneurs too dependent on tourism
Amsterdam alderman Melanie van der Horst has stated that businesses in the city center are overly reliant on tourism, making the local economy vulnerable to shifts in visitor spending. To address this...
Who gets priority in a crisis situation? Amsterdam practices with emergency support centers
Amsterdam has held emergency response exercises at two local centers to improve preparedness for long-term power outages. The drills highlighted the practical challenges of distributing limited aid an...
VVD wants smoke- and vape-free zones around schools
The Amsterdam VVD has proposed a ban on smoking and vaping within 50 meters of schools to combat rising youth nicotine addiction. The plan also includes stricter enforcement against illegal flavored v...
Scrapping staff perks goes down badly: 'This feels like taking away income'
Employees at major companies like Sligro and Jumbo are strongly protesting plans to eliminate staff discounts. Workers feel that removing this benefit is equivalent to a reduction in their take-home p...
Something is happening between PRO and VVD in the Senate that seems taboo in the House of Representatives
The Dutch government, led by D66, VVD, and CDA, faces challenging budget negotiations in the Senate. Despite the difficulties, there are signs of unexpected political cooperation emerging between the ...
Street Alliance Director on client freeze: Something is wrong if we can no longer handle requests for help
The Straatalliantie homeless office in Amsterdam has suspended new admissions until at least November 2 due to severe staffing shortages and an overwhelming rise in demand for support. City officials ...
Cinekid has grown into the world's largest children's film festival in forty years: 'Try watching something other than a Sinterklaas movie for once'
Over the past forty years, Cinekid has transformed from a local Amsterdam event into the world's largest children's film festival. Director Joanne Oldenbeuving plans to further develop the festival by...
Daylight saving time begins Sunday, October 25, 2026: do we set the clock forward or back?
On October 25, 2026, clocks in the Netherlands will be set back one hour to signal the start of winter time. This annual ritual continues despite ongoing debates regarding its necessity and potential ...
One dead, several hospitalizations and a liver transplant: poisonous death cap mushroom alarms doctors
Medical professionals in the Netherlands are raising urgent alarms regarding the prevalence of the deadly green death cap mushroom. The fungus, which resembles a common wild mushroom, has already caus...