Netherlands News in English

29-year-old man arrested for double rape in Goudswaard

A 29-year-old man from Spijkenisse was arrested in Lelystad on Sunday night for his alleged involvement in two rapes in Goudswaard. The incidents took place at a residence in the South Holland village...

Car boot sale returns to Plein 1945 after a year's absence, first edition on Saturday April 4

The monthly car boot market is returning to Plein 1945 in front of the IJmuiden town hall after a one-year absence. Starting April 4th, the event will take place on the first Saturday of every month t...

Haarlem VVD and CDA lead candidates at odds over street maintenance: ‘The city will no longer be a nice place to live’

Party leaders Eva de Raadt (CDA) and Nienke Klazinga (VVD) engaged in a debate organized by Haarlems Dagblad ahead of the upcoming local elections. The candidates discussed their conflicting visions f...

Anticipation for the Smartlappen Festival: 'we're going to make it a great party again!'

The Smartlappenfestival is scheduled to begin on April 11, with organizers reporting that tickets for the event sold out rapidly. Event organizer Ron van Eerden expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming f...

Drama series Máxima gets third season with new cast

The drama series Máxima has been renewed for a third season on Videoland, which will cover the first ten years of King Willem-Alexander's reign. This upcoming season will feature a new cast for the l...

Almost 2.40 euros a liter: motorists hit hard at the pump

Dutch motorists are facing fuel prices nearing 2.40 euros per liter due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Market experts explain that the price surge is a direct result of the blockage of th...

New Ajax coach still haunted in Spain by four words from Van Gaal: ‘You have no rhythm!’

Óscar García has been appointed as the first Spanish head coach of Ajax, making him the first Spaniard to lead the club. The 52-year-old reflects on the influence of his former mentors, Johan Cruijf...

In 1994, the city government wanted to abolish Amsterdam

On July 13, 1994, the city government of Amsterdam made the historic decision to dissolve the municipality. Although it has since faded from public memory, the move was a significant event in the city...

Marengo court holds off in Taghi lawyer issue

The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has postponed a decision regarding the legal representation of Ridouan Taghi during the resumption of the Marengo trial. Taghi has been without a lawyer for nearly a year...

The Canal Diggers statue officially unveiled at the small lock: ‘Here they are visible and it was about time too’

The "De Kanaalgravers" statue was officially unveiled at its new, more prominent location near the Small Lock in IJmuiden on Sunday. The relocation from Pontplein follows years of public requests to g...

Wijk aan Zee awakens: beach huts arrive one by one. 'Not long now and we'll be back'

Beach houses are being transported back to the beach in Wijk aan Zee to prepare for the upcoming summer season. Local business owners are setting up their locations under favorable weather conditions ...

Community service for Haarlem man caught with dog after ignoring ban: 'I call all my dogs Jango'

A 39-year-old man from Haarlem has been sentenced to 60 hours of community service for violating a court-ordered ban on keeping dogs. The defendant admitted guilt during his trial, expressing his love...

Foreign media after much-discussed first F1 race of the year: Typical Max Verstappen

The first Formula 1 race of 2026 in Melbourne was marked by controversy over new regulations and numerous crashes. Despite the chaotic conditions, Max Verstappen secured a victory, a performance that ...

Part-time car dealer Lars Huijer (32) plays among millionaires at World Baseball Classic: ‘It doesn’t matter how much you earn’

Lars Huijer, a 32-year-old pitcher for the Amsterdam Pirates and part-time car dealer, is competing against elite professionals at the World Baseball Classic. Despite nearly retiring three years ago a...

Fourth Haarlem Blues Night

The fourth edition of the Haarlem Blues Night will take place on Friday, March 20, at the Patronaat concert hall. This mini-festival features authentic blues music performed by various international a...

Sharp price increases at the pump again Tuesday: ‘First major effects becoming visible’

Motorists in the Netherlands will face significant fuel price increases on Tuesday as global oil prices rise above $100 per barrel due to the conflict in the Middle East. Fuel expert Derk Foolen from ...

BBB board regrets leak of critical letter from prominent members

The board of the BBB party expressed regret following the media leak of a critical letter written by dozens of prominent members, including senators and former officials. The letter voiced dissatisfac...

Thousands of homes, no North/South line: the results of Haarlemmermeer's coalition plans

The political coalition in Haarlemmermeer has largely fulfilled its promises from four years ago, including the construction of 3,000 new homes and improvements to local parking. However, despite thes...

Many traditional Dutch names, few women: these are next week's city council candidates

The upcoming municipal elections feature a high number of candidates with traditional Dutch male names, although newer names are becoming more common. Women remain significantly underrepresented on th...

Swimming lessons for one euro in Amsterdam: What you need to know if you have a Stadspas

Starting in September, Amsterdam residents with a Stadspas can attend swimming lessons for only one euro per session. The initiative by the municipality aims to improve water safety in the canal-fille...

Dutch officials targeted by Russian attack on Signal and WhatsApp

The Dutch intelligence services AIVD and MIVD have warned that Russian hackers are targeting the Signal and WhatsApp accounts of high-ranking individuals, including Dutch government employees. These c...

Roadworks in Haarlem: keep this in mind this week (March 9 - March 15)

Roadworks are scheduled throughout Haarlem from March 9 to March 15, resulting in partial closures in several locations such as Van Marumstraat and Langebrug. Drivers should expect disruptions in the ...

How Frisians helped 100 young Amsterdam footballers survive the Hunger Winter

Binoculars out at Fort bij Krommeniedijk as black-tailed godwits return, but the national bird is slowly vanishing from the Dutch landscape. 'A bit sad'

Birdwatchers are gathering at Fort bij Krommeniedijk to observe the return of the godwit, the national bird of the Netherlands. Despite the seasonal excitement, the species is slowly disappearing from...

Why female freelancers earn more than male self-employed workers

Female freelancers in the Netherlands have reached a milestone by earning a higher average hourly wage than their male counterparts. While the gender pay gap persists in traditional employment, it is ...

Voting in the municipal elections? You can at these 88 locations in Haarlem

On March 18, residents of Haarlem will be able to vote in the municipal elections at 88 polling stations across the city. According to data from the Open State Foundation, this is an increase of one l...

Hans Spekman new chairman of FNV trade union

Former PvdA party chairman Hans Spekman has been appointed as the new chairman of the Dutch trade union FNV. The move is intended to restore stability within the organization following an internal con...

Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre to perform ADE opening act

French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre will perform the opening act at the Amsterdam Dance Event in AFAS Live this autumn. As the event's guest of honor, he will also participate in a keyno...

Ichthus Lyceum students work on Velsen Library project to encourage reading with a break-in box

Students from Ichthus Lyceum in Driehuis are developing a "break-in-box" project for the Velsen Library to encourage children aged 9 to 10 to read more. The project functions as a reverse escape room ...

The pink rabbit suit on Dr. Rutger’s examination table begs for help: ‘My pee-pee hurts’

A man wearing a pink rabbit costume sought medical help from Doctor Rutger while experiencing difficulty speaking and physical distress. Upon examination, the doctor discovered the patient, Mr. Van Lo...