Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Martijn Lakemeier calls relationship with Máxima actress Delfina Chaves a 'journey'
Martijn Lakemeier and Delfina Chaves, stars of the series Máxima, are navigating their relationship following previous reports of a split. In an interview with LINDA. magazine, Lakemeier described th...
Search in compost heap leads to potential liver cancer cure
Microbiologists from Wageningen University & Research have discovered a potential treatment for liver cancer following a find in a compost heap. The results of their study were published in the scient...
Weekend tips: things to do in Amsterdam (April 17, 18 and 19)
This article highlights various weekend activities taking place in Amsterdam from April 17 to 19. Featured events include local markets, dancing at coffee bars, and professional photography sessions f...
Bat determines when dilapidated buildings in Hillegom center will be demolished
The demolition of dilapidated buildings on Hoofdstraat in Hillegom is scheduled for either this autumn or next autumn. The exact timing of the project depends on whether bats are found to be living in...
Pim Lammertse takes over Timboektoe in Velsen-Noord; 30-year-old entrepreneur to own two adjacent beach bars
Thirty-year-old entrepreneur Pim Lammertse is expanding his business by acquiring the Timboektoe beach pavilion in Velsen-Noord on May 1st. Having already taken over the adjacent Aloha pavilion in Feb...
Hard to swallow: this Haarlem restaurant is closing temporarily (but for a good reason)
Restaurant Mano in Haarlem will temporarily close its doors during the month of June. The closure is scheduled to allow for a planned renovation of the establishment.
Kennemer and Danish youth orchestras form symphony orchestra for King’s Concert: ‘Playing together is just much more fun than alone’
The Kennemer Youth Orchestra is collaborating with a Danish youth orchestra to form a combined symphony orchestra for an upcoming King's concert. Conductor Christiaan Kuyvenhoven is leading the final ...
Waternet plagued by fake message about bacteria: 'Control room receiving many calls'
A fake WhatsApp message warning of a dangerous bacteria in Amsterdam's drinking water has triggered a surge of calls to Waternet's emergency center. Waternet confirmed that the drinking water is safe ...
PRO Amsterdam wants measures against Israel but opposes boycott referendum
A majority in the Amsterdam city council has likely blocked a referendum on an Israel boycott after the PRO Amsterdam party followed a committee's advice that the proposal exceeds municipal authority....
Mandatory psychiatric treatment with conditions for man (33) who stabbed woman to death in Amsterdam
A 33-year-old man has been sentenced to involuntary psychiatric treatment (TBS) with conditions for the fatal stabbing of a woman in Amsterdam-West in February 2025. The court ruled that the man was i...
Person injured in serious accident between fat biker and cyclists in Heemskerk
A serious accident involving a fatbike, a child's bike, and a sports bike occurred on a bicycle path in Heemskerk on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services responded to the collision on Rijksstraatweg...
140 hours community service demanded against Peter Gillis for assaulting ex Nicol
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has demanded 140 hours of community service against reality star and entrepreneur Peter Gillis for the alleged assault of his former partner, Nicol Kremers. The pr...
Jetten meets opposition leader and Nobel Prize winner Machado
Premier Rob Jetten met with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado at his ministry. The meeting highlighted Machado's international standing following her Nobe...
Alleged arms supplier in Haarlem attempted murder extradited
France has extradited suspect Karim A. to the Netherlands for his alleged role as the weapon supplier in the attempted murder of an Iranian activist in Haarlem. The attack took place in June 2024, and...
Significantly more wildfires in 2025 due to drought
Drought conditions led to a significant increase in wildfires in 2025, with the fire department responding to 846 incidents. This figure is considerably higher than the 177 fires recorded in 2024 and ...
New Flodder series on Videoland starting in May
The new series Kees Flodder will premiere on the streaming service Videoland starting Monday, May 18. The platform will release the first two episodes initially, followed by a new episode every Monday...
Zelensky to attend Four Freedoms Awards in Middelburg on Thursday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the Four Freedoms Awards ceremony in Middelburg on Thursday. He will be joined at the event by King Willem-Alexander, Princess Beatrix, and Prime Min...
Musical duo and De zoete Inval at ’t Mosterdzaadje
Cellist Noam Staal and pianist Hanke Scheffer will perform at 't Mosterdzaadje this Friday starting at 8:00 PM. The concert features the musical duo in a live performance at the venue.
Discover Spaarnwoude Park to highlight green buffer: 'We want to show people that Spaarnwoude is more than just Snowworld and festivals'
Businesses in Spaarnwoude Park are organizing a discovery day on April 19 and a new culinary event in October to showcase the area's diverse recreational offerings. The initiative aims to inform the p...
Elderly woman acquitted of killing husband after prosecution sought 9.5-year sentence
A 75-year-old woman has been acquitted of killing her husband in their Amsterdam home in 2020 due to a lack of evidence. While prosecutors sought a nine-year sentence, the court ruled that the victim'...
Memorial plaque for Milan (16) placed on bench at Handelskade in Beverwijk
A memorial plaque was placed on a bench at the Handelskade in Beverwijk last Wednesday to honor 16-year-old Milan, who passed away in December. The site serves as a dedicated space to remember the tee...
Man (32) arrested for double assault on bus driver
A 32-year-old man from Rotterdam was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting the same bus driver on two separate occasions. The incidents reportedly took place during the driver's shifts on Mar...
Free digital safety session for seniors in Zaandam
The municipality of Zaanstad and the Ministry of Justice and Security are hosting a free meeting on digital safety for seniors on April 24. The event will be held at the Zaantheater in Zaandam to help...
Rising inflation leads to higher wage increases at the bargaining table
Rising inflation and the energy crisis following the start of the war in the Middle East have led to increasingly difficult collective bargaining negotiations. Unions are now pushing for higher wage i...
Sharp increase in discrimination reports in North Holland
The number of discrimination complaints in the province of North Holland rose significantly in 2025, reaching 2,070 compared to 1,332 in 2024. Data from the national discrimination monitor shows that ...
Poultry injuries before slaughter decreasing but still occur
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) reports that poultry animals, including chickens and ducks, continue to suffer injuries before being slaughtered. However, the regulat...
Roman D. deliberately stabbed Dam Square victims in the back to avoid looking them in the eye
Roman D., a suspect in a March 2023 stabbing near Amsterdam's Dam square, reportedly told prison staff he targeted victims in the back to punish European taxpayers for funding the war in Ukraine. The ...
Strict asylum laws in jeopardy after PVV U-turn
Strict asylum laws in the Netherlands are at risk after the PVV demanded that providing assistance to undocumented immigrants be criminalized. This demand is unacceptable to the CDA and SGP, likely re...
King's Day 2026: here are the flea markets
King's Day 2026 in Haarlem will feature flea markets across several designated locations, including Marsmanplein and the city center, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on April 27. Participants are restricted t...
Mayor closes house after drugs found
Mayor Jos Wienen has closed a residence on Madridplantsoen for six months following the discovery of more than 25 kilograms of soft drugs and distribution equipment. The closure was upheld by a court ...