Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Substation to be built on site of WWII monument in Houtrakpolder
A new electricity station, A9 Zuid, will be constructed on the border of the Port of Amsterdam in the Houtrakpolder area. The project requires the relocation of the Lancaster monument, a memorial comm...
Arjen Boersma (19) joins Team X²O Badkamers; Santpoort native aims to take next step with pro team
Nineteen-year-old speed skater Arjen Boersma from Santpoort-Zuid has joined Team X²O Badkamers for the upcoming season. Moving from TalentNED, he aims to further his career with the professional team...
Elite athletes' income to be completely overhauled. NOC*NSF: ‘The top priority in elite sports’
The NOC*NSF plans to overhaul the income system for elite athletes by replacing current monthly stipends with a full professional income. The sports federation identifies this financial restructuring ...
Passenger assaults conductor on Hoorn-Amsterdam train
On Thursday afternoon, an NS train conductor was threatened with a knife by a passenger on a train traveling between Castricum and Uitgeest. The conductor had isolated the man after he behaved aggress...
What does mysterious tattoo on 17th-century painting mean? "This is our Da Vinci Code"
Experts gathered at the Vrij Paleis in Amsterdam to discuss a mysterious tattoo discovered on a 17th-century painting from the Amsterdam Museum. Art historians and tattoo experts suggest the mark may ...
Easter 2026: what to do in Haarlem
Haarlem is hosting various events and activities to celebrate the Easter weekend from April 3 to April 6, 2026. The city offers numerous festive tips for residents and visitors to enjoy during the hol...
Frans and Mariska Bauer become grandparents: 'Earlier than expected'
Frans and Mariska Bauer have officially become grandparents following the birth of their grandson, Jan. Their son, Jan Bauer, announced the news on Thursday, noting that the baby arrived earlier than ...
Last Dutch journalist Groot Koerkamp no longer allowed to work in Russia
Russia has revoked the press accreditation of Geert Groot Koerkamp, the last Dutch correspondent working in the country for organizations including the NOS and de Volkskrant. While he is no longer per...
Annabel (17) and Estelle (17) have been friends since second grade: ‘It’s actually nice to be able to discuss irritations too’
Seventeen-year-olds Annabel Veldhoen and Estelle Baaij from Beverwijk share the story of their friendship, which began in the second grade. In this profile, they discuss the importance of open communi...
Schiphol's 15% noise reduction goal not yet met
Initial estimates indicate that the goal of reducing severe noise nuisance around Schiphol Airport by 15% has not yet been met, according to the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management. ...
Former Ajax player Danny Hoesen (35) opens up about girlfriend's death: 'It was pure pain'
Former Ajax player Danny Hoesen has spoken publicly for the first time about the tragic loss of his partner, who died by suicide in 2024. In a podcast for management agency SEG, the former professiona...
Roy and Jolanda will soon live in a revamped Schrijversbuurt in Heemskerk with three times as many homes: 'We'll be completely boxed in'
Roy and Jolanda Minkels, residents of the Schrijversbuurt in Heemskerk, are concerned that local redevelopment plans will triple the number of homes in their neighborhood. They fear the significantly ...
A tour of ‘the tick forest’: ‘You always have to be careful, I know the risks better than anyone’
During 'Week van de Teek,' forest ranger Mikel Folkertsma highlights the high risk of tick bites in the Robbenoordbos, which is often referred to as 'the tick forest.' He emphasizes the importance of ...
Artist Stefan sketches the construction of the very first road to Zandvoort
Artist Stefan de Groot has created a series of iPad drawings for an exhibition at the Zandvoorts Museum detailing the 200-year history of the first road to Zandvoort. The exhibition explores how the r...
Halsema says baton pilot for law enforcement was not based on incorrect figures after all
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has clarified that a trial granting batons to enforcement officers was not based on incorrect violence figures, despite a previous admission of a data error. While a regi...
CDA, GroenLinks-PvdA and D66 in Zandvoort want broader exploration: 'I am shocked by the power block of the three largest parties'
CDA, GroenLinks-PvdA, and D66 in Zandvoort are calling for a broader exploration of potential coalition options following a proposal by the leading party, OPZ. CDA group chairman Kevin Stephan express...
Lokaal Vitaal and VVD to form coalition in Castricum; search now focuses on third party
The political parties Lokaal Vitaal and VVD have agreed to form a coalition to govern Castricum for the next four years. They are currently seeking a third partner from GroenLinks/PvdA, D66, or Forza!...
Omroep Brabant barred from Paaspop over 'negative' reporting: 'Bizarre'
Broadcaster Omroep Brabant has been banned from reporting at the Paaspop festival this coming weekend. The festival organizers reportedly denied the outlet access due to what they perceived as overly ...
Netherlands wants to provide military contribution to opening the Strait of Hormuz
The Netherlands has expressed its willingness to provide a military contribution to ensure free passage in the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities have ceased. Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen announced t...
Quint Jansen (35) swapped the chaos in Italy for the respectable Koninklijke HFC: 'I'm going from one extreme to the other'
After twelve years playing professionally in Norway, Cyprus, and Italy, 35-year-old defender Quint Jansen has returned to the Netherlands to join Koninklijke HFC. Jansen, who most recently played in S...
Parcels from outside the EU to cost 5 euros more from November
Starting in July, packages imported from outside the EU will be subject to a 3-euro import duty, with an additional 2-euro European levy added in November. State Secretary for Finance Eelco Eerenberg ...
Vier de Lente completes lineup: Mix of singers and DJs to have visitors dancing and flirting among the tulips
The Vier de Lente festival in Hillegom has finalized its line-up for the event taking place on Saturday, April 11. A total of ten acts, including Danny Froger and the duo Lucas & Steve, will perform f...
Detours for some, joy for others: Vondelpark cyclists react to fat bike ban
Starting May 11, Amsterdam will ban fatbikes with tires wider than seven centimeters from the Vondelpark to improve safety. Cyclists violating the ban face fines of up to 115 euros following an initia...
Rat control has become a 'huge challenge'; how exterminators work
New Dutch regulations introduced in 2023 have shifted the focus of pest control from chemical poisoning to prevention and management, creating significant challenges for exterminators. This transition...
Renovation plan for 90 homes at Pleiadenplantsoen in IJmuiden gets green light
Housing corporation Woningbedrijf Velsen has received approval from tenants to proceed with the renovation of 90 rental homes at Pleiadenplantsoen in IJmuiden. The project aims to improve the quality ...
Referendum on Amsterdam boycott of Israel not possible, committee rules
An advisory commission has ruled that a requested referendum on an Amsterdam boycott of Israel is inadmissible because foreign policy falls outside the legal jurisdiction of the city council. The prop...
Referendum on Amsterdam boycott of Israel not possible, commission rules
An advisory commission has ruled that a proposed referendum for an Amsterdam boycott of Israel is inadmissible because foreign policy lies outside the city council's legal powers. While the citizen in...
High tension on the power grid: ‘Building faster than ever, but it is not enough’
Waiting lists for new electricity connections in the Netherlands have reached 15,000, an increase of 3,000 compared to last year. It currently takes more than 45 weeks to obtain a new low-voltage grid...
Meet the new intern at indebuurt Amsterdam
Maurits Koomen, a 24-year-old journalism student at the Vrije Universiteit, has started an internship at indebuurt Amsterdam that will last until the end of June. He is joining the team to gain practi...
FNV Tata gauges members' mood: tensions are rising. ‘Management has been greedy, we’ve had years of misery’
FNV union members at Tata Steel expressed significant frustration during recent meetings, citing poor treatment by management and corporate greed. While a low wage offer triggered the discussions, wor...