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.

Robert van Hemert keeps scoring hits: 'Knew it wouldn't stop at Zoet, Zout, Zuur'
Dutch singer Robert van Hemert continues his musical success with several hit songs and has announced his first major solo concert. The performance is scheduled to take place at AFAS Live in Amsterdam...

Top official: loneliness deserved more attention during the pandemic
Top official Mark Roscam Abbing stated during a parliamentary inquiry that more attention should have been given to loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abbing was responsible for the long-term st...

Cabinet also seeks support from left and right on nitrogen
The Dutch cabinet is seeking broad political support from both left-wing and right-wing parties for its nitrogen policy to ensure a stable majority in the House of Representatives. During a visit to t...

Number of vacancies falling for years, but finding staff remains difficult
The number of job vacancies in the Netherlands has been declining for several years, yet employers continue to struggle with finding staff. According to new data from the UWV, the labor market remains...

State commission: politics too indifferent towards discrimination
Joyce Sylvester, chair of the State Commission against Discrimination and Racism, presented a final report criticizing the Dutch government and politicians for being too passive regarding racism and d...

Messenger Jenning de Sanger had to deliver mail across 350 km of hostile territory in 1574
In 1574, following the Spanish capture of Haarlem, Jan Jansz (known as Jenning de Sanger) was appointed as a merchant messenger to deliver mail across 350 km of hostile territory to Douay. This appoin...
Heemskerk at its most beautiful in photo exhibition in the Koetshuijs
Theo Schillemans, the current village photographer of Heemskerk, is showcasing his work in a photo exhibition throughout June and July. The exhibit is held at the Koetshuijs, located within the castle...

Car-free Herengracht plan back to drawing board after Council of State ruling
The Council of State has ruled that Amsterdam must redesign a section of the Herengracht because its current designation as a 'living street' fails to meet legal standards for low traffic and speed. W...

Victims of helpdesk fraud will not be reimbursed for transferred money
The Dutch financial complaints institute Kifid has ruled that victims of helpdesk fraud who transfer money to scammers themselves are not automatically entitled to reimbursement from their banks. This...

Heemstede Art Market brings nearly fifty artists to Jan van Goyenstraat
Nearly fifty artists will showcase their work at the Kunstmarkt Heemstede on June 21 along Jan van Goyenstraat. The event aims to transform the shopping street into a hub for art, creativity, and soci...

Senior official: long-term COVID strategy was slow to start
Mark Roscam Abbing, the former official in charge of the long-term COVID-19 strategy, told a parliamentary inquiry that efforts to establish a broader social perspective were repeatedly thwarted by ri...

State commission: anti-discrimination recommendations not followed
The Dutch State Commission against Discrimination and Racism's final report finds that the government has failed to sufficiently implement recommendations to combat widespread discrimination within it...

Sam van Royen doesn't consider himself a nepo baby: 'I followed my own path'
Sam van Royen, the son of writer Heleen van Royen and presenter Ton van Royen, rejected the "nepo baby" label during an appearance on Shownieuws. He stated that he has followed his own career path and...

From scanning files to the only first-time buyer broker in the Netherlands: Laurens helps young homebuyers get started
Laurens, a specialized realtor based in Heemskerk, assists young first-time buyers in navigating the challenging Dutch housing market. His work focuses on helping starters overcome obstacles like risi...

New playground for Oud-IJmuiden: Contractor starts work
A new playground is currently under construction on Carolinastraat in Oud-IJmuiden for local children. The contractor has already installed the first pieces of play equipment as work on the project pr...

Asylum seekers from overcrowded Ter Apel can stay in Roden until Thursday
Asylum seekers unable to stay at the overcrowded registration center in Ter Apel will be temporarily housed in a sports hall in Roden until Thursday morning. This emergency accommodation prevents them...

Hillegom property owner takes Zaanstad to Council of State over house splitting penalty: 'Incomprehensible'
Contractor Martijn Meskers from Hillegom has appealed to the Council of State regarding a 36,000 euro fine imposed by the municipality of Zaanstad. The dispute concerns a 2019 case where a property in...

What does a business lunch straight from the farm taste like? The Farm Kitchen from Hoofddorp shows it daily
The Farm Kitchen, led by chef Jonathan Karpathios, provides sustainable farm-to-table lunches to over a thousand employees at the Pharos building in Hoofddorp. The facility offers a menu focused on lo...
Six-party coalition in Bloemendaal: Informateurs see chance for broad-based agreement
Informateurs Alex de Vries and Bruno Giebels have proposed a six-party coalition for the municipality of Bloemendaal following the March municipal elections. The potential alliance includes VVD, D66, ...

Class action lawsuit over cervical cancer screening data breach
The Women’s Rights Collective has launched a mass claim against the laboratory Clinical Diagnostics following a data leak that compromised the medical records of hundreds of thousands of women. The ...
Discount chain Die Grenze clashes with NVWA over dirt-cheap beer: ‘Read the law properly’
The Dutch discount chain Die Grenze is in a dispute with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) over the legality of its high alcohol discounts. Owner Bert Hesselink argues ...
These Heemstede residents hope the village shows massive support for refugee housing on June 20. 'If you have enough, build a longer table, not a higher wall'
On June 20, World Refugee Day, residents of Heemstede will participate in a walk to advocate for the establishment of refugee housing in their village. The initiative 'Welkom in Heemstede' organized t...

Tagore Park on Strandeiland open
Tagorepark has officially opened on Strandeiland in Amsterdam, featuring lush greenery and a large sports section. The new park offers residents and visitors a dedicated space for recreation and physi...

Convincing case for curfew effectiveness was missing, says Bruls
Hubert Bruls, the former chairman of the Security Council, testified to a parliamentary inquiry that a convincing argument for the effectiveness of the early 2021 curfew was missing when it was introd...

Large cordon around tourist bus near Amsterdam's Vondelpark, heavy police presence
Police have cordoned off a large area near Amsterdam's Vondelpark and Leidsebosje due to a suspicious situation involving a tourist bus. Officers in bulletproof vests and special units are on the scen...

Cabinet wanted to ease restrictions too quickly during pandemic, says Bruls
Nijmegen Mayor Hubert Bruls testified before the parliamentary inquiry committee that the Dutch cabinet pushed to relax COVID-19 restrictions too quickly in 2020. During his hearing, he reflected on t...

4,000 Beverwijk primary school children receive anniversary book on 750 years of market rights
Approximately 4,000 primary school children in Beverwijk are receiving a special anniversary book titled 'Zevenmaal Beverwijk' to commemorate the city's 750 years of market rights. Written by Truus Zo...

Hülya Kat from IJmuiden becomes alderman in Tilburg
Hülya Kat, a 42-year-old politician born in IJmuiden, has been appointed as an alderman in the city of Tilburg. This appointment marks a new direction in Kat's political career.

Bruls: Pace of COVID measures 'unprecedentedly high' in early stages
Hubert Bruls, former chairman of the Safety Council, testified to a parliamentary inquiry committee that the pace of developing COVID-19 measures was "unprecedentedly high" at the start of the pandemi...
SC Cambuur signs Jong Ajax forward Vink
SC Cambuur has announced the signing of attacker Skye Vink from Jong Ajax. The transfer follows the club's promotion to the Eredivisie.