Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Melanie loves letting her friend Cheryl do her hair: ‘We both played soccer, that’s where I met Cheryl’
Melanie visited her long-time friend Cheryl at her hair salon, Cheryls Knippaleis, in IJmuiden for a haircut. The two women originally met through playing football and have remained friends since then...
Henry Schut and Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte named Eurovision Song Contest commentators
Henry Schut and Jeroen Kijk in de Vegte will provide commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest, replacing Cornald Maas. Maas stepped down after broadcaster AVROTROS decided that the Netherlands will ...
Lead actors from Máxima series return in spin-off Mabel & Margarita
Main cast members from the Videoland series Máxima are set to return for a spin-off titled Mabel & Margarita. Actors Elsie de Brauw and Claire Bender, who portray Queen Beatrix and Princess Mabel, co...
Netherlands must create emergency gas reserve to prevent new crisis
Gasunie has advised the Dutch government to establish a strategic emergency gas reserve to prevent future energy crises. The recommendation follows concerns about the vulnerability of the national gas...
Video | Thomas Erdbrink granted rare access to Russia for new documentary: watch the trailer
Nature organizations concerned about increased greenhouse gas emissions
Director Marjolein Demmers of Natuur & Milieu expressed concern following reports that greenhouse gas emissions increased last year. Other environmental organizations have also voiced their worries re...
Abuse suspect Joannes B. discovered by four-eyes principle: 'Extra eyes of great importance'
Joannes B., a 66-year-old childcare worker, is on trial for the alleged abuse of a toddler at a Partou daycare center, an incident discovered through the 'four-eyes principle.' The suspect is also acc...
Petrol price drops slightly again for the first time since the start of the war in Iran
Fuel prices at Dutch gas stations saw a slight decrease on Wednesday, halting a sharp rise caused by conflict in the Middle East. The average national recommended price for diesel dropped to 2.495 eur...
CNV asks government to cut fuel excise duty by 20 cents
The Dutch labor union CNV has called on the government to temporarily reduce fuel excise duty by 20 cents per liter due to rising oil prices. This request follows a sharp increase in fuel costs trigge...
Rob (47) knows how to break free from Big Tech and owns a Dutch-made smartphone: ‘It is not pointless to resist’
Computer programmer Rob van den Bogaard shares his experience of reducing dependence on major American technology companies amid geopolitical tensions between Europe and the United States. He advocate...
Najib Amhali's film SKEER in theaters from December
Comedian Najib Amhali's upcoming film "SKEER" is scheduled for theatrical release on December 10, with production having recently commenced. Amhali is taking on the dual roles of lead actor and direct...
The Grote Markt turns into a giant tulip picking garden (and you can pick them)
On Sunday, March 29, the event 'Haarlem in Bloei' will transform the Grote Markt in Haarlem into a massive tulip picking garden. Visitors are invited to pick flowers and enjoy the spring atmosphere in...
At age 12, I became father to a chestnut tree
As a 12-year-old playing in a garden in Spaarndam, the author discovered and planted a chestnut seed found in the mud. This event led the author to humorously describe themselves as becoming the fathe...
Hester and Sam paste stickers on election posters: How climate-conscious are Beverwijk’s local parties?
Young activists from Milieu Defensie Jong are evaluating the climate consciousness of local political parties by placing color-coded stickers on election posters across twelve Dutch municipalities. In...
After ‘How Much is the Fish?’ comes carnival hit ‘Hoempa tetete’: stadium announcer Robert Sant creates a unique atmosphere at Telstar
Robert Sant, the stadium speaker and DJ at Telstar's Buko Stadion, has been praised for creating a unique matchday atmosphere through his eclectic music selection. His playlists, which include both te...
How wooden homes boost construction speed and living pleasure: ‘It really does something to you’
BAM, the largest construction company in the Netherlands, is significantly increasing its focus on timber construction for new housing projects. This shift aims to improve environmental sustainability...
CBS: emissions rose in 2025, climate goals further out of reach
Greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands increased by 0.8 percent in 2025, reaching a total of 145.6 megatonnes. According to data from the CBS and RIVM, this rise makes achieving the national clim...
HD poll: GL-PvdA and D66 neck and neck for the win, VVD, Jouw Haarlem and FVD battle for third place
A poll conducted by Haarlems Dagblad shows GroenLinks-PvdA leading with 15.7% of the vote in Haarlem, followed closely by D66 at 14.6%. Based on a survey of 553 residents, the results indicate a tight...
Dutch CO2 emissions rise as neighboring countries close power plants
Dutch greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2025, primarily due to a rise in electricity production for export. The surge in exports to neighboring countries like Belgium and Germany occurred as those...
Municipality launches safety reporting point and tours unsafe spots with residents: 'We can't always take away feelings'
The municipality of Uitgeest has launched an online reporting tool for residents to share safety concerns and will conduct a neighborhood tour on April 14th. During the tour, municipal staff and resid...
More than a hundred homeless people to go to court for shelter in 2025
In 2025, at least 122 homeless individuals in the Netherlands took legal action to secure a place in a shelter. According to research by Investico, De Groene Amsterdammer, and Trouw, these individuals...
Singer and musical actress Pia Douwes receives royal decoration
Singer and musical actress Pia Douwes was appointed Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion on Tuesday evening. The royal decoration honors her significant contributions to the Dutch performing ar...
Beverwijk resistance hero Wim van der Geest honored with street name; as a priest he helped hundreds of children into hiding
The city of Beverwijk has decided to name a street after resistance hero Wim van der Geest. During World War II, the priest helped hundreds of children find hiding places while serving in Limburg.
New mass claim being prepared against chemical plant Chemours
The foundation PFAS Vrij Green Claim is launching a mass claim against the Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht on behalf of local residents. The lawsuit seeks an immediate halt to PFAS emissions and ...
Large differences in cancer drug prices, KWF calls for more transparency
KWF and the Netherlands Cancer Institute report that hospitals pay significantly different prices for the same cancer medications, with variations up to 2,800 euros per treatment. The organizations ar...
Real estate association sounds alarm: sale of rental homes widens gap between first-time buyers
The Dutch real estate association NVM reports that the large-scale sale of rental properties is significantly increasing inequality among first-time homebuyers. While the supply of homes for sale has ...
Local parties heading for victory in municipal elections
Local parties in the Netherlands are expected to gain ground in next week's municipal elections, according to a poll by Ipsos I&O. However, voter turnout is projected to be low once again.
Will you soon have to pay for parking outside Haarlem city center?
Haarlem plans to introduce paid parking in seven additional neighborhoods by 2030 to reduce car usage and increase urban green space. The proposal has become a central issue in the upcoming municipal ...
Large group of economists advises against billions in aid for Tata Steel: 'Too risky'
More than 100 economists have warned in the journal ESB that a proposed 2 billion euro subsidy for Tata Steel's green initiatives is inefficient and risky. They argue that the government funds would b...
New report: cycling in Haarlem gets a 6+
A study by the Fietsersbond indicates that cycling in Haarlem is less pleasant than in similar municipalities, receiving a rating of just over six. Although spring is encouraging more residents to cyc...