Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Mysterious pedestrian button without a traffic light in Heemskerk: What happens when you press it?
A mysterious pedestrian push button has been discovered in Heemskerk despite the absence of an accompanying traffic light or a road to cross. The device's function remains unknown, as such buttons are...
Wadden Sea nature under great pressure, ministry says
The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature reports that the Wadden Sea ecosystem is showing structural signs of overload. Human activities such as fishing, defense operati...
Local residents and environmental groups demand action on Schiphol noise pollution
Local residents and environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have filed an enforcement request with the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate regarding noise pollution from Schiphol Airport....
Ziggy Klazes out as Haarlem alderman: ‘Disbelief, anger and sadness’
The PRO Haarlem council faction has chosen Diana van Loenen, Robbert Berkhout, and Maarten Wiedemeijer as their aldermen, excluding candidate Ziggy Klazes. Klazes expressed disbelief and sadness after...
Twelve years and mandatory psychiatric treatment for killing sex worker in IJmuiden home
The Amsterdam court of appeal has sentenced 38-year-old Sander K. to twelve years in prison and mandatory psychiatric treatment for the 2022 killing of Ukrainian sex worker Arina Sasina. K. strangled ...
Car crashes into house in Bennebroek
A car crashed into a residence on Zwarteweg in Bennebroek on Thursday afternoon. The vehicle came to a standstill against the house after the collision.
Gregory Porter to perform with Metropole Orkest at Olympic Stadium in June
American jazz and soul singer Gregory Porter will perform at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam on June 29. He will be accompanied by the Metropole Orchestra during the concert event.
Man from Brabant sentenced to three years for intentionally starting life-threatening fire in IJmuiden
A 34-year-old man from Oss has been sentenced by a Haarlem court to three and a half years in prison for intentionally starting a dangerous fire in IJmuiden in September 2023. The court found it prove...
Clen V., suspected of murdering partner, previously appeared on 'Lang Leve de Liefde' and dated Iris Hond
Clen V., a 39-year-old entrepreneur and former dating show participant, is suspected of murdering his 40-year-old partner in Amsterdam. The suspect previously appeared on the television program 'Lang ...
GroenLinks-PvdA cannot yet be called PRO in the House of Representatives, name change taking longer than expected
The GroenLinks-PvdA party's transition to the new name Progressief Nederland (PRO) within the Dutch House of Representatives is taking longer than anticipated. Consequently, the parliamentary group wi...
House closed after illegal prostitution
Mayor Jos Wienen ordered the three-month closure of a residence on Waddenstraat in Haarlem starting April 8, 2026, due to illegal prostitution. An investigation by the Prostitution Control Team found ...
Haarlem photographer Laurens van Houten photographed Elvis in Las Vegas: ‘I smuggled the camera in my underwear’
Haarlem photographer Laurens van Houten recounts his experience of smuggling a camera into a Las Vegas showroom to illegally capture photos of Elvis Presley. He describes how the iconic singer noticed...
Police officers in war zones are not veterans, and that stings. Ed: 'I didn't go to become a veteran, but there is a lack of recognition'
Dutch police officer Ed van Tunen expresses frustration that police personnel serving in international conflict zones, such as Kosovo and Ukraine, are not officially recognized as veterans. He argues ...
D66, VVD and GL-PvdA want law for free laptops for students
The Dutch political parties D66, VVD, and GroenLinks-PvdA are proposing legislation to provide students with free laptops or tablets. They have requested that State Secretary Judith Tielen integrate t...
Nearly 80 new wolves identified in the Netherlands
The wolf population in the Netherlands continues to grow, with 131 individual wolves identified through DNA research in the past year. Of these, 79 were recorded in the country for the first time acco...
The story behind Glock ’45 in documentary: ‘They are all very sweet and very loud’
The documentary 'Glock ’45 - The Movie' explores the history and personal stories behind the Hoorn-based band Glock ’45. Singer-bassist Pricklebush Pete highlights the band's loud style and the cl...
Note about the Bavo bells: 'Almost everyone had a watch by then' | column
The author discusses the history and public significance of the clock and bells in the tower of Haarlem's Grote of Sint-Bavokerk. The column reflects on a time when these bells were the community's pr...
Loaded firearm, drugs and hundreds of vapes in Venserpolder storage unit
Police discovered a loaded firearm, various drugs, and hundreds of vapes in a basement storage unit in the Venserpolder neighborhood of Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered the storage ...
EU Parliament calls on Commission to take a stance on Hungary
A majority of the European Parliament, including Dutch MEP Tineke Strik, is urging the European Commission to address democratic abuses in Hungary ahead of the country's elections. The MEPs expressed ...
Noise pollution or not, Haarlem municipality washes its hands of Schoteroog wind turbines: ‘Province is the competent authority’
The municipality of Haarlem has stated it has no authority to address potential noise pollution from new wind turbines at Schoteroog, as the provincial government is the responsible body. This clarifi...
Asphalt works on A4 near Hoofddorp, traffic diversions in place
Rijkswaterstaat will close the parallel lane of the A4 motorway between junction De Hoek and Den Ruygen Hoek-West for asphalt maintenance from April 17 to May 4. Drivers should expect traffic diversio...
Approach to confused persons is too fragmented, Parliament complains
Dutch political parties have criticized the current approach to individuals with confused behavior, calling it too fragmented. During a parliamentary debate, they requested improved coordination, spec...
Inspectorate: safety at Ter Apel asylum center improved, but remains fragile
The Dutch Inspectorate of Justice and Security reports that safety conditions at the Ter Apel registration center have improved, noting that refugees are no longer sleeping in temporary or common area...
Neighbors helping neighbors in the Spaarndamse Dijkexpress: 'Live just outside the village? Too bad!'
The Spaarndamse Dijkexpress community transport service celebrated a milestone anniversary with a special trip featuring coordinator Hans Koehoorn and a local resident. The ride highlighted the friend...
Thom and Kevin end up at Schoonenberg campsite in Velsen thanks to old van: 'The idea was a twenty-minute drive, it can still make that'
Thom and Kevin settled at Nature Camping Schoonenberg in Velsen-Zuid using an old van for what they hoped would be a short drive. The campsite officially reopened on April 1st after the winter break a...
Sanne Wallis de Vries and Jelka van Houten to perform together in theater
Actresses Sanne Wallis de Vries and Jelka van Houten will star together in a new comedy production titled LIFT. This upcoming theater season marks the first time the two actresses have shared the stag...
Doubts in South Holland over reaching rural area targets
Political parties in the province of Zuid-Holland are expressing skepticism about whether regional plans can effectively meet European targets for nature, nitrogen, and climate. Additionally, there is...
Jaap (88) hangs up his sax: 'It wasn't just about making music, but also camaraderie'
88-year-old Jaap Hilbers is retiring from playing the saxophone after more than 70 years, including 60 years with the music association St. Caecilia in Heemskerk. His final performance will take place...
D66 Minister Sjoerdsma admits: UNRWA deals with opposition were ‘clumsy and not good’
Dutch Development Aid Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma admitted to acting "clumsily" while negotiating with opposition parties regarding support for the UNRWA aid organization. Opposition members expressed f...
Heritage of the Week | Sustainable family business on the Egelantiers
The historic Gunters & Meusers building in Amsterdam's Jordaan district has undergone a sustainability renovation to prepare the national monument for the future. This project serves as an example of ...