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.
Code orange in effect across much of the Netherlands due to extreme heat
A code orange warning for extreme heat went into effect across a large part of the Netherlands at 12:00 PM. The weather warning is currently expected to remain in place until Friday morning at 8:00 AM...
Public transport strike during rush hour: Can you still get to work? ‘I’ve never seen it so quiet’
A national train strike in the Netherlands left stations like Haarlem unusually quiet during a work stoppage between 4:00 and 8:00 AM on Wednesday morning. The strike disrupted travel for many commute...
No Haarlem funding for TommyTomato for now
The Haarlem municipality has not yet confirmed an investment in the lunch box company TommyTomato, with director Bas Turk stating the deal remains optional. Any potential funding is not expected to be...
Oranje and The Blue Wave under one roof. Jantien and Giovanni couldn't be happier: 'We're actually already champions'
Jantien van Zutphen and her husband Giovanni have decorated their home in Beverwijk with both Dutch and Curaçao flags to celebrate the World Cup. The couple, who have been married for 32 years, are u...
Q&A | Is removing solar panels smart? 'In winter, every extra panel helps'
The Dutch government will end the net metering scheme for solar panels next year, meaning households can no longer offset surplus energy against their annual consumption. Experts advise against removi...
Car completely burnt out on N205 near Hoofddorp, road temporarily closed
A passenger car caught fire on the N205 near Hoofddorp on Wednesday morning, leading to a temporary closure of the road. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Shallow groundwater contaminated in far more places than expected
Shallow groundwater in the Netherlands is contaminated with pollutants such as pesticides, medicines, and PFAS in significantly more locations than previously estimated. These findings, reported by th...
44 municipal notices on construction, demolition, tree felling, and hospitality in Haarlem last week
The municipality of Haarlem processed 44 permit applications last week regarding local construction, demolition, tree felling, and catering. These notifications provide residents with information abou...
Haarlem warns of botulism in warm weather, do not touch dead animals
The municipality of Haarlem is warning residents about the risks of botulism during the current period of warm weather and advising against touching dead animals. In addition to safety warnings, the c...
876 extra deaths in 2023: doubts over whether the country is now prepared for extreme heat
In June 2023, 876 excess deaths occurred in the Netherlands, likely due to heat and an unactivated National Heat Plan. As another potential super-heatwave approaches, there are concerns regarding whet...
FVD school receives government funding and reopens in August
The Forum voor Democratie (FVD) primary school in Almere is set to reopen this August after securing government funding from the Dutch state. The school, known as the Renaissanceschool, had previously...
Four-day swim event at De Heerenduinen swimming pool
The De Heerenduinen swimming pool will host the annual Swim Four Days event from Monday, June 29, to Friday, July 3. Participants are invited to take part in this swimming tradition over the course of...
The shade of Spaarnwoude: where to find relief from the heat? 'It's nice and quiet here and parking is free'
As high temperatures continue, the article explores various locations to find shade and water for cooling down. It highlights the Spaarnwoude recreational area as a quiet alternative to the beach, off...
Six people arrested in Gorinchem voter fraud investigation
Police arrested six individuals between the ages of 20 and 65 on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into voter fraud during municipal elections in Gorinchem. The suspects face charges of forg...
Lawyer: Lisa's family suffering from debate over police systems
During a preliminary hearing in Amsterdam for suspect Chris Jude, lawyer Wendy van Egmond stated that the family of murder victim Lisa is suffering due to ongoing debates about police officers imprope...
Children's Ombudsman: children not a priority in COVID-19 approach
Children's Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee that children's interests were not prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic. She stated that the needs and w...
FNV sees high willingness to take action across all public transport sectors
A public transport strike on Wednesday morning was successful, with the FNV Spoor union reporting high participation across the sector. Union official Henri Janssen noted a strong willingness among wo...
Piet turns 80 and flies the flag: 'I should have been dead by now'
Piet Rolvink celebrated his 80th birthday this Tuesday by hanging a flag on his balcony and receiving congratulatory decorations from friends on his garage door. His daughter and her friend also visit...
She ran across the field with ‘cramp juice’: five facts about the first female referee at a Dutch World Cup match
Katia Garcia will become the first female referee to officiate a Dutch national team match at a major tournament when she leads their World Cup group stage game against Tunisia. The 33-year-old Mexica...
Ter Apel asylum seekers in night shelter again, now in Zwolle
On Tuesday night, 36 asylum seekers were provided with emergency shelter in Zwolle because the registration center in Ter Apel had reached capacity. This marks the return of emergency night housing af...
Netherlands to know Thursday morning who they face if they finish first or second in group
The Dutch national football team will learn their potential knockout stage opponents on Thursday morning based on whether they finish first or second in their World Cup group. As the group stage concl...
Watch: COVID hearing with the Children's Ombudsman
The Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic is currently examining the impact of school closures during lockdowns. Children's Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer and former VO-raad chairman P...
Moerdijk residents call option to save village not credible
Local politicians in Moerdijk, including Mayor Aart-Jan Moerkerke and councilor Jolijn Koevoets, have expressed skepticism regarding a proposal to preserve the village while expanding the local power ...
Haarlem station travelers take strike in their stride: ‘Understanding on all sides as far as I’m concerned’
Travelers at Haarlem station are reacting calmly to a train strike that has disrupted morning commutes, including services to Amsterdam. While the strike is causing delays, some passengers expressed a...
Fewer trains, more water: NS takes these measures due to the heat
NS is implementing measures such as running fewer trains and providing water to manage the impact of extreme heat on the railway network. These adjustments may affect travelers departing from Haarlem ...
Extensive roadworks on these highways this summer: 'Stay off the road unless necessary'
Rijkswaterstaat has announced extensive roadworks on Dutch highways scheduled for the upcoming summer months. Motorists are warned to expect delays of up to an hour and are advised to prepare their jo...
Orange fever sweeps United States: why so many Americans are suddenly cheering for our heroes
A significant number of American fans in cities like Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City have joined Dutch supporters to cheer for the Netherlands national football team. These local residents are embrac...
Ministry: Schiphol temporarily returns to passport control only to avoid long queues
The Dutch Ministry of Justice will temporarily suspend biometric controls at Schiphol Airport this summer to prevent long queues and manage expected holiday crowds. This decision responds to warnings ...
Libraries closing early due to high temperatures, Vogelenzang library closed Wednesday: 'It’s getting too hot'
Libraries in the Zuid-Kennemerland region will close early from Wednesday through Friday this week due to expected high temperatures. The library in Vogelenzang will remain completely closed on Wednes...
Rijkswaterstaat heat protocol nationwide Wednesday and Thursday
Rijkswaterstaat has expanded its heat protocol to cover the entire Netherlands on Wednesday and Thursday. The measure, which aims to assist stranded motorists during high temperatures, follows an earl...