Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Husam Alhasan’s family finally celebrates Ramadan together in Bussum after years of uncertainty
After three years of separation, Husam Alhasan has been reunited with his wife and two daughters who recently arrived in the Netherlands from Syria. The family is now celebrating Ramadan together in B...
Who needs sleep? Haarlem celebrates the night for a week
The fourth edition of the Week of the Haarlem Night will take place from March 2 to March 8, 2026. During this period, the city of Haarlem will transform into a playground for night owls, celebrating ...
Travel warning for Iraq, Israel, Lebanon and Palestinian territories
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a red travel advisory for Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories due to extreme safety risks. Citizens are strongly advised not to trav...
Speed skater Conijn withdraws from Dutch Allround Championships in protest
Olympic silver medalist Merel Conijn withdrew from the Dutch Allround Championships in Heerenveen as an act of protest. After completing the 500-meter race, she decided not to participate in the 3000-...
Viktoriia fled the war: The past four years really feel like a nightmare
Viktoriia, a 25-year-old Ukrainian refugee, has been living in Haarlem for four years after fleeing the war and leaving her family behind. She currently resides on a cruise ship and works at a local s...
Malieveld gathering turns into celebration over possible death of Khamenei
A demonstration against the Iranian regime at the Malieveld in The Hague turned into a celebration on Saturday following reports that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have been killed in Israeli and US atta...
A coffee with Ozan Turkdogan (Anti-Racist Muslim Party): Activism is being a pain in the ass to others
Ozan Turkdogan, leader of the Anti-Racist Muslim Party, outlined his party's goals for the upcoming municipal elections in Amsterdam, including increasing the visibility of Islamic history and severin...
CIDI: Attack on Iran is continuation of existential struggle
Naomi Mestrum, director of the Center for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI), stated that the Israeli-American attack on Iran was anticipated following weeks of high alert. She described the ...
Choosing between the classic tournedos or chef's surprise, Het Graanpakhuis in Vijfhuizen even has fans from Lelystad (8+)
Het Graanpakhuis in Vijfhuizen is recognized for its menu that balances traditional classics like tournedos with creative dishes by chef Bob Goossens. The restaurant's reputation for quality, includin...
Iranians in the Netherlands follow attacks closely: 'People cheer but I hear their voices trembling with fear'
Iranians residing in the Netherlands have reacted with a mix of hope and anxiety following Israeli and American strikes on Iran this past Saturday. While some individuals see the military action as a ...
Yara is only 17 but eager to join the city council. A massive banner draws votes: 'My classmates aren't really into politics yet'
Seventeen-year-old Yara den Haan is running for a seat on the Heemskerk municipal council as a candidate for the Hart voor Heemskerk party. Despite being too young to vote herself, she aims to become ...
Iranian protest against regime at Malieveld Saturday afternoon
On Saturday afternoon, Iranians are demonstrating at the Malieveld in The Hague against their country's regime and recent military actions by Israel and the United States. Protesters seek to highlight...
KLM avoids Middle East airspace Saturday, Sunday still unknown
KLM has suspended flights over Middle Eastern airspace and cancelled several routes to cities such as Tel Aviv and Dubai as a precaution following attacks on Iran. The airline is currently monitoring ...
Was Verspronck’s ‘Girl in Blue’ named Catharina? Expert investigates further after reader tip
Johannes Verspronck’s famous 1641 painting, ‘Girl in Blue,’ will soon be exhibited at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem alongside portraits of her parents. Despite extensive research by expert Fr...
Dear Old Friend II: Shivering on the Afsluitdijk
Lottie Hellingman, a multi-talented artist and single mother, reflects on her life and career while living in Amsterdam. The piece, titled 'Lieve oude vriend II,' explores her personal history and exp...
Old Floradorp residents vote for neighbor's party: "Because that's not for the yuppies"
Longtime residents of Floradorp in Amsterdam are turning to the local party 'Stem van Amsterdam' for the upcoming municipal elections in response to gentrification and rising housing costs. Voters exp...
Heat networks lead to higher energy bills for many households
Households connected to heat networks face significantly higher annual heating costs compared to those with traditional gas connections. The increased expenses are attributed to both higher fixed rate...
This supermarket's egg cake wins our taste test: ‘Nice bite and easy to eat’
Three experts conducted a blind taste test of eight different supermarket egg cakes to evaluate their flavor and texture. The review aimed to identify the best plain egg cake available for consumers a...
The right antibiotic within an hour: Dutch device promises breakthrough
Dutch researcher Dr. Sophia E. Shanko has developed a device capable of identifying the correct antibiotic for a bacterial infection within one hour. This breakthrough aims to significantly reduce the...
Police dogs find drug deal suspect in Noorderpark after wild chase
A 27-year-old man was arrested in Amsterdam's Noorderpark yesterday evening following a high-speed car chase that began in the city center. After ramming a police vehicle and fleeing on foot, the susp...
Jetten calls willing parties bright spots
D66 leader Rob Jetten described political parties willing to cooperate with the minority cabinet as "rays of hope" during a party congress on Saturday. He emphasized this potential for collaboration a...
Casper van der Veen (21) named World Talent of the Year; second Dutchman to win award aims to continue World Cup form at Bloemendaal
Casper van der Veen, 21, has been named the 'Rising Star of the Year 2025,' making him the second Dutchman to receive this international honor. Following his success, the athlete extended his contract...
Attack on Iran no surprise for parties in Dutch Parliament
Dutch political parties in the House of Representatives stated that the recent attack on Iran was not unexpected. Several politicians are now questioning if the conflict will lead to the downfall of t...
Yeşilgöz: Safety of troops in the region is top priority
Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz has stated that the safety of Dutch military personnel in the Middle East is the government's highest priority. A limited number of Dutch soldiers are currently...
Berendsen and Yeşilgöz visit Ukraine
Dutch Ministers Tom Berendsen and Dilan Yeşilgöz visited Ukraine on Saturday, marking their first official foreign trip since taking office earlier this week. The visit is intended to express solida...
Didem discusses social media with children, often because their parents don't want them on it: 'I completely agree'
Didem Aykilic, a 31-year-old teacher at Het Spectrum in Hoorn, gained a significant social media presence after her students created a TikTok account for her. Despite her initial reservations about so...
Teacher Pleun shares her songs on TikTok: ‘My biggest goal is to inspire other teachers and show high school students how beautiful teaching is’
Pleun Couwenhoven, a 26-year-old teacher at a Montessori school in Haarlem, uses her TikTok account to share music and insights into her life as a kindergarten teacher. With over 62,000 followers, her...
'Reading teacher' Sanne started her Instagram account to inspire other teachers: 'I also get inspired myself'
Sanne Dorrepaal, a 28-year-old teacher from Haarlem, uses her Instagram account to share her expertise in youth literature and inspire fellow educators. At the Beatrixschool, she has implemented a dai...
These teachers have thousands of followers on social media: ‘My classroom door is always open, I see social media as an extension of that’
Four teachers discuss their motivations for sharing their daily classroom experiences on social media platforms, aiming to provide transparency and highlight the positive aspects of education. While m...
Fien is afraid of viruses at the office but isn't allowed to work from home: ‘You’re not made of porcelain, I’m told’
Legal assistant Fien, who has lung emphysema, is facing difficulties as her employer refuses to allow her to work from home despite her high health risks at the office. Employment expert Anne-Marije B...