Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
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...
GroenLinks/PvdA makes decision in Beverwijk: PRO is the new name here too
The Beverwijk branch of the GroenLinks/PvdA party has officially changed its name to PRO, an abbreviation for Progressief. This decision follows a similar rebranding by the party's faction in The Hagu...
Lunch at Zuidas and into the nightlife: Amalia officially introduced to Amsterdam this month
Princess Amalia will undertake an official two-day working visit to Amsterdam on April 16 and 17 to formally familiarize herself with the capital. Although she already lives and studies there, the vis...
Aruba Public Prosecutor's Office transfers Natalee Holloway case file to the Netherlands
The Aruba Public Prosecution Service has transferred the investigative file regarding Natalee Holloway's disappearance to the Amsterdam Public Prosecution Service. This transfer follows a criminal com...
Telstar won't risk it with Malone alone; passport-gate also preoccupies Velsen
Dutch football club Telstar is managing the fallout of a "passport gate" controversy involving three of its Surinamese players. While no issues are expected for Devon Koswal and Rojendro Oudsten, Dion...
After Capelle tragedy: Parliament seeks to restrict filming of accidents and violence
The CDA and GroenLinks-PvdA parties have proposed a law to criminalize the filming and distribution of images of victims of accidents and violent crimes. The initiative follows public outrage over bys...
You want this! This Haarlem snack bar is giving away free ice cream
A cafeteria chain with a branch in Haarlem is giving away free soft-serve ice cream for one hour on Saturday, April 4. Interested visitors are encouraged to arrive early, as the promotional event is o...
Jazz conquers Amsterdam: a new sound in the city
During the 1930s, jazz music emerged as a popular new sound in Amsterdam, becoming increasingly common in the city's cafes and music halls. This cultural shift occurred even as political tensions were...
A long table full of unique dishes and music from the Middle East; World Festival in the World Kitchen
Wereldkeuken Haarlem is hosting the Wereldfeest on Friday, April 10, an event designed to bring together new and long-term residents of Haarlem. The evening will feature Middle Eastern cuisine, music,...
Klarna warned for violating legal rules on pay-later payments
The Dutch financial complaints institute Kifid has issued a warning to Klarna for violating legal regulations regarding its buy-now-pay-later service. The reprimand follows complaints from consumers w...
City pass holders get discount on energy-efficient refrigerators or washing machines
Amsterdam City Pass holders are now eligible for discounts on energy-efficient refrigerators and washing machines. The initiative aims to help low-income residents reduce their electricity bills by re...
Gorinchem residents to return to the polls on Wednesday April 29
Residents of Gorinchem will return to the polls on Wednesday, April 29, for a municipal election re-vote. The city council established this new date following allegations of voter fraud during the ori...
Islamic cemetery in Haarlem remains serious plan despite advanced negotiations in Haarlemmermeer. 'We don't want a regional role'
The municipality of Haarlem and the Islamic Council Haarlem have confirmed that plans for a local Islamic cemetery are still moving forward despite a similar project in neighboring Haarlemmermeer. Alt...
Economy can handle rising energy prices better than at start of Ukraine war
The Dutch economy is now more resilient to rising energy prices than it was during the 2022 crisis following the invasion of Ukraine, according to ING experts. This increased stability is attributed t...
What shouldn't be missing from the Easter breakfast table? The secret duivekater! ‘These even go to Australia’
The duivekater is a traditional North Holland pastry with a unique shape and secret recipe that remains a popular staple for Easter breakfasts in the Zaan region. This regional delicacy is so sought a...
Aggression against student drivers on the rise: ‘Didn't you have to learn too?’
Traffic aggression directed at driving school cars is a growing societal problem on the roads today. Instructors and students are increasingly facing hostility from other motorists, complicating the l...
AVROTROS to cut jobs and downsize management due to budget cuts
Dutch public broadcaster AVROTROS is cutting thirteen jobs and reducing its management board from three members to two. These measures follow budget cuts for public broadcasting announced by the previ...
Civil servant punished for fraud in Bentveld land sale
A municipal official has been convicted of forgery and fraud after manipulating a zoning plan to sell a property in Bentveld to his mother below market value. The court found the official guilty of ab...
Netherlands contacted US after threat to leave NATO
Prime Minister Rob Jetten confirmed that the Netherlands and NATO held discussions with the United States following Donald Trump's threats to withdraw from the alliance. The contact aimed to emphasize...
Romanian minister: return of stolen objects unbelievable
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu described the recovery of stolen art objects from the Drents Museum as "incredible news." She emphasized that the recovery was crucial for Romania, even though insu...
Van den Brink: UNRWA handling should not be repeated
Deputy Prime Minister Bart van den Brink criticized Development Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma for his handling of the reversal of subsidy cuts to UNRWA. Van den Brink stated that the minister's actions in...
Enschede issues 6 fines in a week due to fatbike ban
Authorities in Enschede issued six fines to fatbike riders for violating a new ban in the city center during its first week of strict enforcement. The ban took effect on March 11, but officials provid...
Three suspects in fatal Hoorn violence detained for 14 more days
Three suspects, including two minors and an 18-year-old, will remain in custody for an additional 14 days following a fatal violent incident in Hoorn on Saturday night. The decision was confirmed by a...