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.
Data of nearly all Epe residents stolen in data breach
A data hack on March 12 at the municipality of Epe resulted in the theft of personal information belonging to nearly all its residents. Stolen data includes names, addresses, and social security numbe...
Fewer drug labs for first time in 5 years, waste dumpings halved
For the first time in five years, the number of discovered drug laboratories in the Netherlands decreased, with 142 sites identified in 2024 compared to 167 the previous year. Additionally, incidents ...
Getting a royal decoration? Don’t wear it to a funeral (and other royal facts)
On Friday, more than 3,000 citizens across the Netherlands are receiving royal honors as part of the annual 'lintjesregen' event. The article highlights this tradition and provides etiquette tips for ...
Historical lecture on 200 years of Zandvoort seaside resort
Historian Koen Marijt will deliver a lecture on April 26 exploring Zandvoort's 200-year history as a seaside resort. The presentation focuses on the town's 19th-century transformation from a fishing v...
Heemstede butcher takes on Amsterdam with flair: 'I was a social worker in a white coat'
Former butcher Paul Wiegel has published his third book, "Professional Knowledge and the Customer Psyche," reflecting on his career and the social interactions he had with his clients. Having worked i...
Court action over unanswered FOI requests regarding anti-asylum center protests in Heemskerk and Uitgeest
A Dutch newspaper is taking legal action after the municipalities of Heemskerk and Uitgeest failed to respond to public records requests regarding anti-refugee center demonstrations. The requests seek...
ICC to prosecute former Philippine President Duterte
The International Criminal Court has announced it will prosecute former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity. Duterte was extradited to the court in The Hague last year aft...
Jonnie Boer's family remembers him on first anniversary of death: 'You are within us'
The family of acclaimed Dutch chef Jonnie Boer is marking the first anniversary of his sudden death at the age of sixty. Boer, who was the co-owner of the renowned Michelin-starred restaurant De Libri...
Uitgeest commemorates Gerrit de Beer, Pieter Ouwerkerk and Pieter Arnold Roodenburgh
On May 4th, the town of Uitgeest will participate in the National Remembrance Day with a ceremony and silent march organized by the local May 4th Committee. The event honors war victims, including Ger...
Employee dies after robbery at gold exchange office in Beverwijk
An employee of a gold exchange office in Beverwijk has died following a violent robbery on Wednesday. Police have since arrested a 19-year-old suspect from the same town in connection with the inciden...
Seven people assault victim during street robbery in Nelson Mandelapark in Haarlem
A group of approximately seven individuals assaulted and robbed a victim in Nelson Mandela Park in Haarlem on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 11:15 PM, and police are investigating the str...
Employee dies after robbery at gold exchange office in Beverwijk
An employee of a gold exchange office in Beverwijk has died from injuries sustained during a robbery on Wednesday. Police have arrested a 19-year-old suspect from Beverwijk in connection with the inci...
Young asylum seekers to spend winters in Heino in coming years
The COA has been granted permission to house up to 140 young asylum seekers aged 15 to 18 at a holiday park near Heino for the next five winters. The facility will be used annually from October to Apr...
Exhibition on Zaanstreek elections now free to see at Zaandam city hall
The Zaanstad Municipal Archives is hosting a free exhibition of historical election documents from the period 1880 to 1939. The collection is currently on display in the public hall of the Zaandam Cit...
Comedian 'rejected' in Castricum finds new venue in Uitgeest: 'Freedom of speech is a great asset'
Comedian Rogier Kahlmann has moved his upcoming performance to Dorpshuis de Zwaan in Uitgeest after being barred from Theater Koningsduyn in Castricum for his "polarizing statements." The show is sche...
Rain or sun? This is the weather forecast for King's Day in Haarlem
Meteorologist Floris Lafeber from weeronline.nl provides the weather forecast for King's Day in Haarlem. The forecast aims to inform residents whether they can celebrate the holiday outdoors in the ci...
Exhibition on early graffiti in the Netherlands at STRAAT Museum: ‘Showing that you exist’
Twin brothers Richard and Marcel van Tiggelen are showcasing their extensive collection of early Dutch graffiti objects at the STRAAT museum in Amsterdam. The exhibition highlights the history and evo...
Judge who filed thousands of FOI requests barred from hearing cases
A judge from the Noord-Holland District Court has been suspended from presiding over cases until further notice after personally filing more than 4,000 public records requests with municipalities thro...
Beverwijk honors Father Wim van der Geest with street name
Mayor Martijn Smit officially unveiled the street name "Wim van der Geesthof" on April 21 to honor Father Wim van der Geest. The tribute recognizes his significant contributions to assisting people in...
Amsterdam tightens King's Day rules again: alcohol fines could be substantial
Amsterdam is tightening regulations for King's Day celebrations this year to address the "anything goes" atmosphere in the city. Mayor Femke Halsema announced stricter rules and higher fines for illeg...
Retirement age rises: the average age Dutch people stop working
The average retirement age in the Netherlands rose to 66 years and 4 months in 2025, an increase of two and a half months compared to the previous year. This shift brings the actual retirement age clo...
My plant has a fungus, what now? Farmer Tom: ‘Don’t throw the leaves on the compost heap’
Farmer Tom answers reader questions regarding garden pests and plant fungal infections in his weekly advice column. He specifically cautions gardeners against adding infected leaves to compost heaps t...
Zandvoort grants Bernie’s Beachclub another extension despite previous harsh words: ‘The situation is complex’
The Zandvoort municipal council has granted Bernie's Beachclub another extension despite a previously set ultimatum passing four months ago. This marks the ninth consecutive year that no construction ...
Heineken sells more beer thanks to popular premium brands
Heineken reported an increase in beer sales during the first quarter, marking its first volume growth since late 2024. This positive performance was primarily driven by the success of the brewer's pre...
Council for the Judiciary: concerns over legislative diligence
The Dutch Council for the Judiciary expressed concerns in its 2025 annual report regarding the declining quality and diligence of the legislative process. The council warned that these pressures could...
King's Day in Amsterdam: these are the most important rules
Amsterdam has announced safety measures and rules for the upcoming King's Day celebrations to manage expected large crowds. These regulations aim to ensure the city remains safe and accessible for all...
More than 2,700 vacation homes for sale, the highest number in fifteen years
The number of holiday homes for sale in the Netherlands reached a 15-year high last year, with more than 2,700 properties listed on the market. According to the Dutch Association of Real Estate Agents...
Employees on sick leave need more time to recover
Sickness absence in the Netherlands decreased to 5 percent in March, down from 5.4 percent in February. However, the overall quarterly absence rate remains steady because employees who fall ill are ta...
Grief for Ali (23) killed by bomb after returning to Lebanon: "Should never have happened"
Friends of 23-year-old Ali Dia have established a memorial in Amsterdam after he was killed by an Israeli bombing in Lebanon following his return from the Netherlands. Dia, who lived in Amsterdam for ...
Ian and Alysia by bike from the UK: 'You have great bike paths. Much better than in England'
British cyclists Ian and Alysia are preparing to return to the UK via ferry after a cycling trip in the Netherlands. They praised the quality of the Dutch bicycle infrastructure, noting it is signific...