Netherlands News in English
Netherlands news in English — Dutch national headlines covering politics, housing, immigration, the economy, transport and daily life, translated and updated throughout the day for the international community.
Lawsuit against Stellantis over defeat devices in motorhomes
Stichting Car Claim and the Consumentenbond have launched a lawsuit against Stellantis over illegal software in tens of thousands of camper vans sold in the Netherlands between 2009 and 2022. The orga...
Housing prices not falling for now, despite rising mortgage rates
Although the number of houses for sale in the Netherlands has nearly doubled to 37,000, property prices are still expected to rise due to ongoing demand. Higher mortgage rates, currently averaging 4.4...
Increasing aggression against train staff: 'This is unsustainable'
The trade union VVMC is raising the alarm over a sharp increase in violence and aggression against Dutch railway staff, ranging from verbal threats to severe physical assaults. The union warns that th...
Isn't this playing with fire, the presenter asked the biologist who had just enthusiastically flooded a polder
Dutch researchers conducted a controlled flooding experiment in the Eendragtspolder to study whether water buffers facilitate the spread of the West Nile virus via mosquitoes. While the study faced sa...
Snelle and Domien Verschuuren join new season of The Voice, receive their own button
Musician Snelle and radio host Domien Verschuuren have confirmed they will feature in the new season of The Voice with their own dedicated buzzer. The pair confirmed the news on Qmusic, noting that th...
Concerns over halting pilot program helping crack users with medication: "We cannot let this happen"
Amsterdam city officials are urging the Minister of Health to overturn a decision by the Health and Youth Care Inspectorate that halted a trial using dexamphetamine to treat crack addiction. Councilor...
Opinion: Those complaining about Fabel Friet are more than welcome in Purmerend
This collection of opinion pieces highlights social friction in Amsterdam, ranging from the gap between performative community posters and actual neighborly behavior to the intolerance residents show ...
Nightlife trend among Gen Z: alcohol falling out of favor, 3-MMC and ketamine rising in popularity
A 2025 Antenne-monitor study reveals that young adults in Amsterdam are drinking less alcohol while the usage of drugs like 3-MMC and ketamine is increasing. This trend marks a significant shift in th...
Amsterdam's bike ring is finally complete: 6.73 kilometers gliding from Czaar Peterstraat to Haarlemmerplein
Amsterdam has finalized its new 6.73-kilometer bicycle ring connecting Czaar Peterstraat to Haarlemmerplein. The project provides a smooth, obstacle-free route intended to offer cyclists a more relaxe...
Impossible splits, absurdism and horror: these dancers and dance performances are nominated for a Swan
The prestigious Dutch dance awards, the Zwaan and Jonge Zwaan, have announced their nominations for the most impressive dance productions and performances. The selected works range from complex adult ...
Trial for crack addiction drug suddenly halted after 12 years of preparation: ‘Extremely bitter’
A twelve-year study testing dexamfetamine as a treatment for crack addiction has been abruptly cancelled by health authorities. Amsterdam's mayor and a city alderman are now calling on the government ...
Newcomers and undocumented people get swimming lessons here: 'Once that doubt is gone, it's wonderful'
The initiative Swimpact offers swimming lessons to newcomers and undocumented individuals at the Marnixbad in Amsterdam. These sessions focus on teaching essential water safety and swimming techniques...
CDA and D66: No first step for Schiphol growth this parliamentary term
Political parties CDA and D66 have committed to preventing any expansion of Schiphol Airport during the current cabinet term. The parties are advocating for stricter noise reduction requirements that ...
D66 wants to reward homeless drug addicts in Amsterdam for good behavior: motion receives majority support in council
The Amsterdam city council is expected to pass a motion allowing for financial rewards to be given to drug-addicted homeless individuals who maintain good behavior or undergo treatment. The initiative...
Cabinet makes ‘offer’ to opposition: small savers and crypto investors hit, workers better off
The Dutch government is revising its budget by scrapping planned social security cuts and shifting tax burdens toward small savers and investors. While these changes seek to appease opposition parties...
This UvA program now bans screens during lectures: 'The entire learning environment is improving'
The Interdisciplinary Social Science program at the University of Amsterdam has banned screens during lectures to reduce student distractions and improve focus. While some students have expressed mixe...
Gianluca van E. (22) stabbed two cousins in Amsterdam city center: prosecutors seek 2.5 years and compulsory psychiatric treatment
Gianluca van E. (22) is facing a demand of 2.5 years in prison and compulsory psychiatric treatment after stabbing two cousins in Amsterdam in June 2025. While one of the incidents was classified as s...
In the fifties and sixties 'overstressed' women were sent to nursing homes: 'I was shocked when I discovered that'
Author Suzanna Jansen investigates the historical practice of sending women labeled as 'overstressed' to specialized rest homes during the 1950s and 1960s. Her essay, titled Project rust, reveals that...
Fierce kitchen fire in Haarlem home
An elderly woman safely escaped a kitchen fire that occurred at her home on Jan Palachstraat in Haarlem this afternoon. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, and the resident required no hospital ...
'Smart glasses' under fire: Parliament wants stricter ban and lawsuits threaten
The Dutch House of Representatives is seeking stricter regulations on smart glasses that record audio and video, citing significant privacy concerns. Simultaneously, consumer rights organizations have...
Videoland to offer podcasts starting in October
Starting October 8, the Dutch streaming service Videoland will introduce a new selection of podcasts, including both existing popular shows and original content. The platform aims to broaden its enter...
Keep your hands off our texts: writers demonstrate at Meta's Dutch office against unlawful copying and distribution of texts
Journalists, writers, and translators protested at the Dutch headquarters of Meta on Tuesday to oppose the use of their copyrighted texts for training AI models. The participants demanded an end to un...
Strikes called off: unions want to talk with cabinet
Dutch labor unions FNV, CNV, and VCP have decided to suspend planned strikes concerning social security. The organizations are now seeking a dialogue with the cabinet to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Bans appear to be working, but seven in ten adults still have too much PFAS in their blood
Recent RIVM research indicates that while PFAS levels in the blood of Dutch adults are lower than in previous years, seventy percent still exceed recommended health safety limits. The institute sugges...
Read yourself, be read to, or just look at pictures? 7 Haarlem bookstores with children's books
The Kinderboekenweek 2026 will run from September 30 to October 11 with the theme of performance and self-expression. Seven bookstores across Haarlem are participating by offering diverse reading coll...
PFAS hardly breaks down, so how can the amount in your blood decrease?
Recent research indicates that seven out of ten adults have blood PFAS levels exceeding recommended health limits. While these figures are lower than those recorded in previous studies, the persistenc...
Video | First footage of historical film Spinoza in 17th-century Amsterdam
The first footage of the historical film Spinoza has been released, showcasing 17th-century Amsterdam. The movie, which is the final work of the late director Rudolf van den Berg, is scheduled to prem...
Sales of controversial Meta glasses under pressure: clubs demand ban in the Netherlands and threaten lawsuit
Advocacy groups are demanding that Meta stop selling its smart glasses in the Netherlands due to privacy violations and unauthorized filming. They have threatened a lawsuit in Amsterdam if the company...
Households may receive higher compensation from Energy Emergency Fund
The Dutch government is delaying the opening of the Energy Emergency Fund to January 2024 to incorporate higher energy tariffs into the compensation calculations. This adjustment ensures that low-inco...
Households can apply for help with high energy bills after New Year's
Low-income households in the Netherlands can apply for financial aid from the National Energy Emergency Fund starting January 4 to manage high energy bills. The government has pledged 194 million euro...