Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Green Heart digs in heels against wind turbines ahead of elections
Municipalities in the Groene Hart region are united in their opposition to provincial plans to install dozens of tall wind turbines in the open landscape. Local political parties are calling for these...
Three cars damaged by fire in Haarlem, police investigating
A car fire on Schubertstraat in Haarlem damaged three vehicles during the night between Thursday and Friday. Police are currently investigating the incident and have not ruled out the possibility of a...
Daan Buringa (24) stars in Joe Speedboot: ‘I had no time for my spinal cord injury, I wanted to act!’
Remembering the cycling philosopher: Gerrie Knetemann would have turned 75
Friday marks the 75th birth anniversary of the late world champion cyclist Gerrie Knetemann. Known as the "cycling streetmaker," he was a celebrated sports icon and ambassador for the sport, recognize...
Lower revenue for auto industry in 2025, but more electric cars sold
The automotive and motorcycle industry saw a 2.6 percent decrease in revenue in 2025 compared to the previous year, with importers and heavy vehicle sectors experiencing the most significant declines....
'Sadness' and 'pride' at the last Beverwijk council meeting before the elections. 'Why is nobody worried about missing deadlines?'
The Beverwijk municipal council held its final meeting before the upcoming elections, which concluded with conflicting motions of pride and sadness. Mayor Martijn Smit declined to provide answers rega...
Five people taken to hospital after major house fire in Amsterdam
A large house fire on Herculesstraat in Amsterdam-Zuid overnight resulted in five people being hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The fire, which was preceded by a loud bang according to witnesses, le...
Solutions for housing shortage and strengthening neighborhoods in Beverwijk and Heemskerk: New performance agreements between municipalities and housing corporations
The municipalities of Heemskerk and Beverwijk have established new performance agreements with housing corporations and tenant organizations for the 2026–2029 period. These agreements prioritize add...
Bulb grower Rob stranded in Sri Lanka with wife and friends: ‘The first option to fly back is March 12 and even that is very uncertain’
Dutch bulb grower Rob Burger and his companions are among many tourists currently stranded in Sri Lanka due to severe flight disruptions. While some travelers are attempting complex routes through mul...
Part of the 'new' Maerelaan in Heemskerk to reopen early next week. Renovation delayed: everything finished by start of summer
A section of the Maerelaan in Heemskerk is scheduled to reopen next week following the application of a new asphalt layer. While winter weather has delayed the overall renovation project, the entire r...
Hum keeps IJmuiden resident awake: ‘The sound is described so well online, I’m increasingly thinking it’s the wind turbines’
Mascha Levasier-Neijenhuijs from IJmuiden reports being kept awake by a persistent, rhythmic humming noise that she suspects is caused by wind turbines along the North Sea Canal. She describes the sou...
The Zandvoort coalition promised it four years ago, but governance culture did not improve
The Zandvoort coalition, consisting of Jong Zandvoort, CDA, VVD, and OPZ, has failed to improve the local administrative culture despite making it a top priority in their 2022 agreement. This goal was...
Ministry forbids municipalities from restricting steel slag themselves
The Dutch government has prohibited municipalities from implementing their own bans on the use of steel slag, requiring local restrictions to be reversed by the end of the year. Local officials have e...
Five people taken to hospital after major house fire in Stadionbuurt
Pride and traveler culture on UNESCO heritage shortlist
The Dutch Council for Culture has shortlisted five heritage elements, including Pride and caravan culture, for potential nomination to UNESCO's international intangible heritage list. Education Minist...
Sheher Khan, Denk lead candidate: ‘We bring the perspective of the outer neighborhoods to city hall’
Someone thought Philips HQ was here on the Amstel in 2002 – and took 18 people hostage
Police shoot person in Capelle aan den IJssel
Police shot a person on Reviusrondeel in Capelle aan den IJssel on Thursday night around 10:25 PM. The victim was rushed to the hospital following the incident.
Vijlbrief: Emotion over breaking pension agreement underestimated
Minister Hans Vijlbrief admitted that the Dutch cabinet underestimated the emotional response to breaking an agreement within the national pension accord. Speaking on the talk show 'Pauw & De Wit,' he...
Dutch acts eliminated in San Marino Eurovision heats
No Dutch singers will represent San Marino in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest after the final candidate was eliminated. Singer Sezina Kelsey was knocked out of the competition during the second s...
Support for defense billions also met with criticism: 'Actually meant for state pensions'
Most political parties in the Dutch House of Representatives support the allocation of billions of additional euros to Defense, though concerns remain regarding the funding source and how the money wi...
Prijsvrij and D-Reizen: Significant portion of stranded travelers back
Prijsvrij Vakanties and D-Reizen have begun repatriating stranded travelers from the Middle East to the Netherlands using scheduled flights. While a significant number of people have returned, hundred...
Cabinet will not implement motion for extra funds for Ukraine
The Dutch cabinet has decided not to provide additional financial support to Ukraine this year, despite a motion from the House of Representatives. Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz explained that the...
Waste dumping goes wrong at Tata Steel: pig iron and water cause explosions and fire
A waste disposal incident involving pig iron and water caused explosions and a fire at the Tata Steel site on Thursday evening. The event occurred near Harsco and resulted in significant commotion in ...
The ritual of fueling up
A neurologist describes joining a new professional group and encountering the unfamiliar agenda item 'ineten' during their first department meeting. The author expresses curiosity and a hint of appreh...
Minister Yesilgöz: ‘Defense will not overstep into Foreign Affairs, or vice versa’
Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgöz stated that the roles of the Defense and Foreign Affairs ministries have become more balanced and complementary. She addressed concerns about overlapping responsibilit...
Students debate at KSH Secondary School: 'It's not just about what you say, but especially how you say it'
Students at KSH Scholengemeenschap participated in a youth debate held in the school's auditorium. The event highlighted that young people have significant insights to share, emphasizing the importanc...
Form for stranded Dutch citizens filled out 9,000 times so far
The Dutch government's contact form for citizens stranded in the Middle East has been filled out at least 9,000 times. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the data and noted t...
F1 bosses must decide on Middle East races soon: Max Verstappen may not race at all in April
Formula 1 leadership must soon decide on the status of April's races in the Middle East, which could leave Max Verstappen out of action for the entire month. As the new season begins, Verstappen has e...
'It's special that this still happens,' says Max (8) from Zandvoort after unveiling stumbling stones in his street
Four Stolpersteine were unveiled in Zandvoort on Thursday to commemorate Jewish residents who did not survive the Holocaust. Local primary school students attended the ceremony to help preserve the me...