Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
PM Jetten calls for restraint after attack on Iran
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has called for restraint from all parties following reports of attacks on Iran by Israel and the United States. He delivered these remarks during a D66 party congress i...
Persian network: people have fear and hope, mixed feelings
Pejman Akbarzadeh, chairman of the Persian Dutch Network, reports that Iranians in the Netherlands have mixed reactions to military actions by Israel and the US against Iran. Some view the strikes as ...
Extra news bulletins on NPO 1 and SBS6 after attacks on Iran
Dutch broadcasters NOS and SBS6 are airing extra news bulletins on Saturday morning following military attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran. These special broadcasts on NPO 1 and Hart van N...
Iranian Embassy in The Hague: 'US diplomacy is fake'
The Iranian embassy in The Hague has accused the United States and Israel of deceptive diplomacy, claiming that attacks on Iran were carried out shortly after a deal was proposed. The embassy stated o...
Two new playgrounds for Poelenburg. But what should they look like?
Two new playgrounds are being developed in the Poelenburg district of Heemskerk, located on Huibert Pootstraat and Cornelis Geelvinckstraat. The project is currently seeking input on how the final des...
Find them all: rare planetary parade visible above Haarlem
A rare planetary parade featuring Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune will be visible in the sky on Saturday, February 28th. During this celestial event, the planets will appear lined...
Screen Time | The Odido hack is also a bit of a tightrope walk in the reporting
Tech reporter Rutger Otto reflects on a turbulent week for the Dutch telecom provider Odido following a security breach. The article examines the complexities and challenges of reporting on the hack w...
Berendsen calls to prevent further escalation
Following an attack on Iran, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has called on all involved parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. He emphasized that maintaining stability in the...
From primeval forest to spontaneous palms: Amsterdam’s nature is alive and kicking
Amsterdam's natural environment is showcased as a diverse landscape ranging from ancient-style marshlands to emerging tropical plants like palm trees. This exploration marks the 125th anniversary of t...
Leaked texts reveal: Wilders sought excuses to avoid election debates
Leaked text messages reveal that PVV leader Geert Wilders sought excuses to avoid participating in major election debates because he did not want to attend. The messages, sent to a party colleague, pr...
Model builder Harald has a room full of Vietnam War planes and tanks and now wants to get youth excited about his hobby: More fun than PlayStation
Harald Verweij has been a dedicated model builder for fifty years, a hobby that began when his father gave him a World War II airplane kit. He now manages a collection of Vietnam War-era models and ai...
Jan Verlinde from Zeeland becomes new pastor at Protestant Congregation Hillegom
Jan Verlinde, a 45-year-old from Axel in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, will become the new pastor of the Maartenskerk in Hillegom on June 21. He is set to lead the Protestant Congregation in the Dutch town.
Iraq closes airspace after attacks on neighboring Iran
Iraq and Iran have closed their airspace indefinitely following Israeli and American military strikes on Iranian territory. These measures were implemented as a security precaution in response to the ...
Cycling friends Dylan van Baarle and Niki Terpstra want to be leading again with Soudal Quick-Step: ‘This is one big family’
Dutch cyclists Dylan van Baarle and Niki Terpstra are aiming to restore the Belgian team Soudal - Quick Step's dominance in the Flemish classics. Van Baarle, as a lead rider, and Terpstra, as a team l...
Israel reports carrying out attack on Iran
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that it has carried out an attack on Iran. Local media in Tehran reported multiple explosions following the military action.
Owner of poisoned Fleur warns residents near Amstelveen park
Multiple dogs have been poisoned after eating toxic substances in Broersepark, Amstelveen, resulting in at least one reported death and several hospitalizations. Concerned pet owners are posting warni...
2026 local elections: unique polling station locations in Haarlem
The 2026 municipal elections in Haarlem will feature several unique and striking polling stations across the city. This initiative allows residents to visit non-traditional venues for voting, providin...
Inflatable dream factory: Airworks in Weesp breathes life into giant fabric stage sets
Based in Weesp, the company Airworks creates unique inflatable stage decorations for world-renowned musicians and major international events. Their specialized inflatables have been used by high-profi...
Three injured in major house explosion in Hoofddorp
Three people were injured and hospitalized following a powerful explosion at a residence in Hoofddorp during the night from Friday to Saturday. The incident occurred on Koning Willem I-laan, and the v...
Energiewacht ignores complaints about technician errors for over eight months: Ard still has to pay
The Dutch service company Energiewacht has reportedly ignored a customer's complaints regarding installation errors made by its mechanics for over eight months. Despite the unresolved technical issues...
Mystery on Bickerseiland: what is that giant doing there?
A mysterious wooden giant statue holding a spear and shield has been spotted on Bickerseiland in Amsterdam. The figure appears to be guarding the neighborhood, prompting questions about its origin and...
Rinus van Kalmthout now drives a car fully tailored to his style: 'Just like Max Verstappen'
Dutch driver Rinus 'VeeKay' van Kalmthout is set to begin his seventh season in the NTT IndyCar Series this Sunday in Florida. As the new lead driver for Juncos Hollinger Racing, he will compete in a ...
Failing grade, friction but ultimate goodwill: how GVB still secured the concession
The Dutch public transport operator GVB secured a new concession to continue operating in Amsterdam despite significant friction and a poor initial evaluation from transport authorities. Negotiations ...
Tyrone Lak (20) from Zaan cycled 185km to Germany for a schnitzel: ‘They’re just prepared better there’
Tyrone Lak, a 20-year-old from Zaandam, cycled 185 kilometers on a standard city bike to the German border village of Emlichheim specifically to eat a schnitzel. He made the overnight journey because ...
Wanted: rector with integrity as Coornhert recovers from trust crisis
Coornhert Lyceum is seeking a new rector following a crisis of confidence between staff and the Dunamare school board. After the conclusion of an investigation, the school aims to move forward by find...
Hoofddorp asylum center is a multi-story village where residents have become family: ‘We see each other grow up’
The former Crowne Plaza Hotel in Hoofddorp has transformed into a self-contained community housing 530 asylum seekers and status holders for nearly three years. The facility features various amenities...
How contaminated oil tainted baby food worldwide: new production line misled Nestlé
A Nestlé factory in Nunspeet contaminated baby milk powder with toxic substances due to issues with a new production line and contaminated oil. Despite implementing extra quality controls, the compan...
Toos & Henk - February 28
Cartoonist Paul Kusters provides his daily perspective on current events through the comic strip Toos & Henk, which appears from Monday to Saturday. This specific entry is dated February 28.
It often remains a mystery who is discharging polluting chemicals into the sewer
Chemical pollutants are being discharged through sewer systems, making them difficult to detect and impossible to filter out of the water supply. This practice is causing a decline in water quality an...
Pregnant women to lose out significantly under cabinet plans: ‘Affects 25,000 women’
The Dutch government plans to significantly reduce the maximum daily wage for social security benefits, impacting approximately 25,000 women. This measure will lead to lower payouts for maternity and ...