Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Jetten refuses to say if he pressured D66 senators
D66 leader Rob Jetten refused to disclose whether he pressured his party's senators to support the asylum emergency measures law. The proposed legislation was ultimately rejected by the Dutch Senate o...
Wilders slams 'worthless package' against high fuel prices
PVV leader Geert Wilders has criticized the Dutch government's measures to mitigate high fuel prices, calling the plan a "flimsy package." He argued that the measures are insufficient and pointed out ...
What is your data actually worth online? ‘The more data hackers get on you, the higher the price’
Following a data leak at internet provider Odido, victims are pursuing a mass claim seeking hundreds of euros in compensation. Experts explain that hackers pay higher prices for complete datasets whic...
YouTube prank appears to be motive for fatal shooting of Syrian boys in Piet Wiedijkpark
A prank call from a YouTube livestream allegedly triggered a fatal shooting on New Year's Day in Amsterdam's Piet Wiedijkpark, resulting in the deaths of two innocent Syrian teenagers. The suspect rep...
UK and France convene Hormuz summit on reopening plans
The United Kingdom and France are hosting a meeting in London with military planners from over thirty countries, including the Netherlands, to discuss the restoration of shipping in the Strait of Horm...
71 notifications of demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed 71 permit applications last week concerning demolition and tree felling projects across the city. Residents are encouraged to check the list for developments occu...
Churches call on Haarlem coalition parties to save more houses of worship: 'Opportunities for the city'
The Klankbordgroep Kerken Haarlem is urging the city's coalition parties to support the repurposing of more local churches into community hubs, shops, or exhibition spaces. Following the successful co...
Margriet and Marian love exercising in the forest: ‘Balancing on one leg is getting easier for me’
Margriet and Marian participate in weekly outdoor exercise sessions with the "GO" (Gezond Oud) group to promote healthy aging. The activities take place every Tuesday at the Beeckestijn estate in Vels...
Who is joining the magic of the Easels and Brushes art project?
The annual ten-day art project 'Ezels en kwasten' is held in Wijk aan Zee, involving artists and students from the De Vrijheit child center. The event serves as a major cultural highlight for particip...
Drone deliveries to prisoners lead to limited sentence after deal
A 34-year-old man from Rijsenhout was sentenced to a four-month suspended prison term and 120 hours of community service for using drones to deliver drugs and phones to prisoners. The court in Dordrec...
Provinces demand urgent crisis approach for congested power grid
Dutch provinces are calling on the national government to implement urgent crisis measures to address the increasing overload of the electricity grid. The Interprovinciaal Overleg (IPO) suggests alloc...
Energy debate: opposition working on deal with government for cheaper public transport
The Dutch cabinet and the House of Representatives are debating a package of measures to address the ongoing energy crisis. Opposition parties, led by GroenLinks-PvdA, are negotiating a deal to includ...
Body found in Toolenburgerplas in Hoofddorp
A body was discovered in the Toolenburgerplas in Hoofddorp. Police have launched an investigation to determine the victim's identity and the cause of death.
LIVE Eredivisie | Telstar host Sparta in survival battle, visitors eye European play-offs
Telstar hosts Sparta Rotterdam in an Eredivisie match in Velsen-Zuid, with both teams seeking crucial points. The home side is fighting to avoid relegation, while the visitors are aiming to secure a s...
Judge sends thousands of freedom of information requests to municipalities to highlight "abuse" of transparency law
A judge from the North Holland District Court sent Open Government Act (Woo) requests to every municipality in the Netherlands to draw attention to perceived issues with the legislation. According to ...
Sunny weather ahead in the coming days with mild temperatures and few clouds
The Netherlands is expected to experience sunny weather and mild temperatures over the coming days, following a chilly night. According to Weeronline, Wednesday will be bright with only local cloud co...
Churches in Velsen collect supplies for Ukraine
Churches in Velsen are organizing a donation drive on Saturday, April 25th, to collect supplies for residents of Ukraine. This initiative aims to provide aid as the conflict in Ukraine enters its four...
Dutch deeply concerned about personal finances as confidence drops sharply due to Middle East war
Consumer confidence in the Netherlands has experienced its second-largest decline since 1986, driven by financial concerns and the conflict in the Middle East. According to data from Statistics Nether...
Threat of homelessness for MooiZooi over: move to Schalkweide appears realistic
The craft material shop MooiZooi will likely remain in Haarlem as a move to Schalkweide has been deemed realistic by local authorities. Alderman Floor Roduner confirmed the city's commitment to findin...
'That ATM must never return.' Local residents react to devastating ATM bombing in Santpoorterstraat
Residents of Santpoorterstraat in Haarlem are calling for the permanent removal of an ATM following a devastating explosion that occurred overnight. Police have already arrested two suspects in the vi...
Staffing firm Randstad remains alert due to geopolitical tensions
Staffing firm Randstad is maintaining close observation of the Middle East due to heightened geopolitical tensions. CEO Sander van ‘t Noordende stated that the company remains alert as global instab...
Ruling granting agency worker permanent contract after years is exceptional
A Dutch court in The Hague has ruled that a Polish temporary worker at Albert Heijn is entitled to a permanent contract after seven years of employment. Experts caution that this decision is exception...
New market in Haarlem: Swan Market arrives at de Dreef
The Swan Market will debut in Haarlem on Sunday, April 26, at the Dreef. Unlike traditional markets, it will feature a curated selection of design, vintage, and handmade items along with various food ...
Consumer confidence falls sharply, second-largest decline since 1986
Consumer confidence in the Netherlands declined sharply in April, falling from -30 to -44. This represents the second-largest drop recorded since statistics were first tracked in 1986.
Municipalities: more funding needed to implement integration law
Amsterdam and dozens of other Dutch municipalities are calling on the national government for additional funding to implement the integration law. The cities state that the number of people requiring ...
GPs sound alarm over vaping: Politicians must help protect the youth
Amsterdam general practitioners and healthcare providers have urged the city council to implement stricter measures to protect young people from vaping addiction. The groups are calling for expanded s...
Turfmarkt coffee bar operator loses court case
The operator of the coffee bar 'The Coffee Spot' on Turfmarkt in Haarlem was denied a catering license by an administrative judge. The court rejected the request because the owner had previously faile...
Velsen applies for provincial exemption for De Elta asylum center, first step towards environmental permit
The municipality of Velsen is applying for a provincial exemption to build an asylum seekers' center, De Elta, on land currently designated as a protected landscape. If approved, this step will enable...
Huge damage after overnight ATM bombing in Haarlem, nearby homes evacuated
An ATM explosion in Haarlem's Santpoorterstraat early Thursday morning caused extensive damage to surrounding buildings and forced the evacuation of three nearby homes. No injuries were reported, but ...
Housing market picks up: more sales, but prices remain high
The Dutch housing market saw an increase in home sales in March, indicating more movement in the sector compared to previous months. While house prices remain high, the rate of increase has begun to s...