Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Higher prison sentences on appeal for high-profile Cruquius mistaken identity kidnapping
An appeals court has increased the prison sentences to nearly five years for six men involved in the 2021 "mistaken kidnapping" of a 56-year-old man in Cruquius. The victim was held captive and mistre...
Garbage truck driver had 27-second view of woman before fatal accident on Passeerdersgracht
Prosecutors in Amsterdam stated that a garbage truck driver had 27 seconds of visibility before fatally striking 69-year-old Cindy Charles on the Passeerdersgracht in October 2024. The driver is accus...
A coffee with Grethe van Geffen (Namens Amsterdammers): "People feel let down"
Grethe van Geffen, leader of the local party Namens Amsterdammers, is campaigning for the municipal elections with proposals to reduce bureaucracy and improve community facilities in areas like IJburg...
Should Zandvoort circuit make way for housing?
The Zandvoort municipal council is debating the possibility of using the local racing circuit for long-term housing development over the next 30 to 40 years. While some political parties support explo...
Fecal bacteria in Amsterdam drinking water: boil water advisory for 81 households
Waternet has issued a boil water advisory for 81 households in Amsterdam-West after enterococci bacteria were detected in the drinking water during construction work. A similar advisory for E. coli in...
Widower at trial for fatal garbage truck accident: I can forgive the driver
Dutch prosecutors have demanded 240 hours of community service and a one-year driving ban for a garbage truck driver who fatally struck a 69-year-old American woman in Amsterdam in October 2024. The p...
Fat bike ban to proceed as PvdA and GroenLinks change course
The Amsterdam city council coalition parties GroenLinks and PvdA have decided to support a proposal granting the municipality the authority to ban fatbikes in busy urban areas. While specific location...
Zuckerberg gives rare testimony in social media addiction case
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in court on Wednesday for the first time regarding Instagram’s impact on the mental health of young users. During the testimony, he was questioned about how age li...
Iraida Ooft wrote a novel about the 1989 SLM plane crash: ‘I still linger in the Surinamese pain’
Surinamese author Iraida Ooft has been nominated for the Libris Literature Prize for her novel *Toen de val*, which centers on the 1989 SLM plane crash that killed 176 people near Paramaribo. The book...
Eelco Eerenberg to replace Van Berkel as D66 State Secretary for Finance
The D66 party has nominated Utrecht alderman Eelco Eerenberg as the new State Secretary of Finance. He replaces the previously intended candidate, Van Berkel, who recently stepped down from the positi...
Ricky’s wife was run over by a garbage truck: ‘I wrote the driver: if you want my forgiveness, I forgive you’
Cindy Charles, a 69-year-old American woman, was killed in October 2024 after being struck by a garbage truck driving against traffic in Amsterdam. The driver appeared in court on Thursday, where the ...
Parool journalist Stefan Raatgever (44) focuses on the period after coming out in new book: ‘The doubts don’t stop once you come out’
Journalist Stefan Raatgever has released a sequel to his debut novel, focusing on the protagonist's life and challenges in Amsterdam after coming out. The book, *De jongen die de tijd wilde stopzetten...
Keenan had to keep relationship with Jetten secret: It was noticeable that he sneaked out late at night
Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine professional hockey player and fiancé of Dutch politician Rob Jetten, is profiled as the first openly queer player in the Netherlands' top hockey league. The article hig...
Boy (17) arrested after 400 weapons found in home
A 17-year-old boy was arrested in Amsterdam after police discovered approximately 400 illegal weapons, including pepper spray, brass knuckles, and tasers, inside a residence. The investigation was tri...
Chess Grandmaster Jan Timman dies at 74
Renowned Dutch chess grandmaster Jan Timman has died at the age of 74 following a long illness, according to the Royal Dutch Chess Federation (KNSB). During the 1980s and 1990s, Timman was one of the ...
350-euro washing machines, fresh durian and maybe a Rolex: Chinese giant aims to conquer the Dutch market
Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is planning to expand its presence in the Dutch market, posing a significant threat to local retailers like Bol.com and Coolblue. Retail expert John Lin predicts the co...
Heritage of the Week | 18th-century cellar dwelling
Archaeologists discovered the remains of an 18th-century basement dwelling within a building on the Noordermarkt. Beneath this structure, they also uncovered a floor dating back to the 17th century.
Man stabbed in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, police searching for suspect
Two men, aged 51 and 55, were injured and subsequently arrested following a stabbing incident on Anna Blamansingel in Amsterdam-Zuidoost on Wednesday night. While one victim was hospitalized in consci...
February Strike commemoration: 'Stand in solidarity with the hard-hit Jewish people'
The 1941 February Strike will be commemorated on Wednesday, February 25, to honor the historic act of resistance against the persecution of the Jewish people during World War II. The event serves as a...
When Lil’ Kleine sees hooded men with weapons at his door, he makes a run for it: ‘I was covered in blood’
Dutch rapper Lil’ Kleine was targeted in a violent robbery at his home along an Amsterdam canal by armed men in hoodies. According to recently released footage, the artist fought back against the as...
Fishmonger at wits' end: stall area plagued by rats but health services say little can be done
Renger Debens, owner of the "De Nieuwe Vangst" fish stall in Amsterdam, is struggling with a severe rat infestation that is causing the ground to sink and damaging his stall's structure. While local h...
Online friendships are real friendships, youth play In Real Life aims to show parents
The theater production "In Real Life" (IRL) by De Toneelmakerij aims to bridge the generational gap by showing parents that online friendships formed through gaming are genuine and significant. The pl...
New cabinet cuts benefits: how the plans hit the long-term sick
The new Dutch cabinet’s proposed budget cuts will reduce benefits for fully incapacitated employees by up to 270 euros per month. Additional austerity measures could potentially increase these losse...
'The Other Side of Amsterdam' is the name of the show – but which side is that?
The television program "De andere kant van Amsterdam" recently highlighted the devastating New Year's Eve fire at the historic Vondelkerk and the subsequent plans for its restoration. Architect André...
Dozens of flights at Schiphol cancelled as a precaution due to winter weather
Airlines have preemptively cancelled approximately 100 flights at Schiphol Airport due to expected winter weather conditions. These cancellations primarily affect European destinations and were made a...
Patrick Kluivert and Jordi Cruijff open Cruyff Court in neighborhood where he grew up
Former football star Patrick Kluivert, joined by Ajax technical director Jordi Cruijff, officially opened a new Cruyff Court in the Amsterdam-Noord neighborhood where he grew up. Kluivert expressed pr...
Billions in profits for Dutch banks, yet checking account fees are rising: why is that?
Major Dutch banks ING, Rabobank, and ABN Amro reported record annual profits last year, drawing public criticism as service fees for checking accounts continue to rise while savings interest remains l...
Halsema lashes out at British police over claim about shared information on Maccabi fans
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has criticized the West Midlands Police for falsely claiming that their decision to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an Aston Villa match was based on intelligence provided...
Council members react to polls: "The campaign has begun!"
A recent poll for the Amsterdam municipal elections shows PvdA and GroenLinks competing for the lead, while the VVD faces a decline and local parties struggle to secure seats. City council members rea...
After Henny’s (58) unexpected death, Willem opens her dream shop: ‘In that world she felt safe’
Following the unexpected death of 58-year-old Henny Christophersen, her husband Willem is opening a dollhouse shop in Lochem to honor her memory. Henny, who owned 40 dollhouses, found solace in the mi...