Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Ajax's Ko Itakura still out for important match against NEC
Ajax will face NEC on Saturday without injured defender Ko Itakura and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season. Manager Fred Grim confirmed that while Takehiro Tomiyasu i...
Lower incomes will feel new cabinet measures more than high earners
Calculations by the CPB indicate that the new Jetten cabinet's economic plans will reduce disposable income, with lower-income households expected to feel the impact most significantly. In response to...
Dutch citizens no longer allowed to participate in Polymarket betting
The American betting platform Polymarket has blocked Dutch users from participating in wagers on its site. This action follows a demand from the Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) for the c...
More common in men and active athletes: what we know about the origins of ALS
ALS is a progressive muscle disease that causes increasing paralysis and is currently incurable, though neuroscientist Jeroen Pasterkamp notes that significant advancements have been made in treatment...
Construction of 6,500 homes in Hamerkwartier still possible after deal with chemical company Ketjen
The City of Amsterdam has reached an agreement with chemical company Ketjen to proceed with the construction of 6500 homes in the Hamerkwartier district, following a previous legal block over health a...
Haarlem City Council approves Green Singel design
The Haarlem city council has approved the final design for the redevelopment of the Gedempte Oostersingelgracht, also known as the Groene Singel. The project will add over 4,000 square meters of green...
Orlando by early music ensemble La Tempête could go down in history as a hit
The early music ensemble La Tempête, directed by Simon-Pierre Bestion, recently debuted a multidisciplinary production titled *Orlando* at Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw. The performance creatively blends ...
Dick Schoof was mocked and reviled, but still quietly left his mark
After 600 days in office, the premiership of non-partisan Dutch leader Dick Schoof is coming to an end. Despite lacking political allies and facing significant criticism, the former top civil servant ...
What stuck: Alderman Groot Wassink’s swipe at VVD and JA21
Amsterdam Alderman Rutger Groot Wassink criticized the VVD and JA21 parties during a tense city council debate about incidents at the Stek Oost housing complex, dismissing their motion of censure as a...
Housing construction in Hamerkwartier to proceed after deal with Ketjen
The industrial area Hamerkwartier will be transformed into a mixed residential neighborhood following a new agreement with the chemical company Ketjen. This deal enables the commencement of housing co...
Major parking problems in this new neighborhood: 'Barrier is being forced open'
Residents of "The Bridge" residential building in Amsterdam-Zuidoost are facing severe parking shortages because the municipality does not issue street parking permits for new developments in the area...
This North Holland station is a pleasant place to be (and this one isn't)
A recent survey by ProRail and NS identifies Overveen as the most pleasant railway station in North Holland, while Wormerveer received the lowest satisfaction score due to a lack of facilities and rec...
Traffic fines in Haarlem generate more revenue for state treasury than in 2024
Traffic offenders in Haarlem generated more than 8.3 million euros for the state treasury last year. According to figures from the fine collection agency CJIB, this total represents the revenue collec...
This building in the Tuinstraat once housed a bookstore besieged by Jordaan residents
In February 1887, a pro-monarchy mob in Amsterdam's Jordaan district targeted socialist bookstores, including Jan Fortuyn’s shop on Tuinstraat, following the publication of a scandalous anti-monarch...
Construction plans for 6,500 homes in Hamerkwartier back on track after chemical plant compromise
Construction of 6,500 homes in Amsterdam's Hamerkwartier district is set to begin next year following a compromise between the municipality and the chemical plant Ketjen. The agreement addresses previ...
In ‘The Making of De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig’ the band itself is disrupted: ‘It became a kind of game’
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the Dutch hip-hop group De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig is featured in an experimental documentary titled "The Making of De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig." Directors Jan Hulst,...
Chansonnier Dave (81) has lived in France for 60 years, but is returning to Carré: ‘The eighties were a terrible time’
At 81 years old, Dutch-born singer Dave is set to return to Amsterdam’s Carré theater for a performance in 2025, following the unexpected success of his previous shows. The veteran chansonnier, who...
Political cooperation between Muslim and Jew leads to widely supported dialogue plan: ‘Investing in peacetime’
Amsterdam city councilors Sheher Khan and Itay Garmy, a Muslim and a Jew from opposing political parties, have received unanimous support for their "Bekend maakt bemind 2.0" plan to foster structural ...
Woman threatened, assaulted and robbed of her car in Amsterdam-Noord
A woman from Almere was threatened, assaulted, and carjacked in Amsterdam-North following an undisclosed incident that began on the Achtersteven. Although the victim did not require hospitalization, t...
Amsterdam can ban fatbikes in specific areas
The Amsterdam City Council has approved a measure allowing the ban of fatbikes in specific areas where they cause safety issues or public nuisance. A pilot program starting later this year will implem...
Woman robbed of car at gunpoint in Amsterdam North
A woman was carjacked at gunpoint on Noorderbreedte in Amsterdam-Noord around 8:30 PM. Although police launched a search for the suspect and the stolen vehicle, no arrests have been made and the inves...
Who is new State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg? Humorous policy wonk championed sex work and tens of thousands of homes
Eelco Eerenberg, a 41-year-old D66 alderman from Utrecht, has been named as the new Dutch State Secretary of Finance. He replaces Nathalie van Berkel, who withdrew from the position on Monday followin...
Is the boil-water advisory in two streets a cause for concern?
Waternet has issued a boiling water advisory for several addresses in Amsterdam after bacteria were detected during routine daily quality inspections. Experts state that these measures are strictly pr...
These men have been building their own miniature train world for fifty years
The NZH model railway hobby club in Haarlem is celebrating its 50th anniversary with public open days scheduled for May 30 and 31. The club has spent decades building an intricate miniature world in a...
Mother celebrates child's first failing grade with apple pie: does it really help against performance pressure?
To combat the high performance pressure faced by modern youth, a mother celebrated her child’s first failing grade with an apple pie. This gesture aims to demonstrate that academic results are not t...
Three local parties want to break through in Amsterdam: can they take on the established order?
Three local parties—De Stem van Amsterdam, Hart voor Amsterdam, and Namens Amsterdammers—are campaigning to challenge the established political order in Amsterdam's upcoming municipal elections. T...
"Everyone was a fan" of chess icon Jan Timman, who has died at 74
Dutch chess legend Jan Timman, famously known as "The Best of the West," passed away in Arnhem on Wednesday at the age of 74. A nine-time national champion, Timman reached the world number two ranking...
Rising numbers of people unable to work costing the treasury billions
Rising disability benefit costs are placing a multi-billion euro burden on the state treasury as the number of people unable to work continues to grow. In response to these skyrocketing expenses, the ...
Tropical disease chikungunya now seen in Europe: how to recognize it according to a doctor
Chikungunya, a tropical mosquito-borne virus, is increasingly being detected in Europe, with experts warning of its potential further spread. Infectiologist Steven Van Den Broucke explains that the di...
Final phase of roadworks begins on Doctor C.A. Gerkestraat in Zandvoort
The final phase of renovation work on Doctor C.A. Gerkestraat in Zandvoort began on Wednesday. This stage of the project involves renewing the asphalt, laying a new foundation, and applying road marki...