Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Near-record number of applications for home sustainability loans
The National Heat Fund reported a 73% increase in loan applications for home sustainability in March compared to the same month last year. This surge brings the number of requests close to record leve...
Employers call for calm in collective bargaining: 'High wage demands not wise'
Dutch employers are calling for moderation in wage demands during collective bargaining negotiations as inflation continues to rise. They warn that high labor costs and geopolitical tensions are alrea...
Architect Van Bergen on Bergen building plans: Add quality, not just bricks
Architect Michael van Bergen, winner of the 2025 Amsterdam prize for best housing project, shared his insights on housing developments in his hometown of Bergen. He emphasized that construction projec...
Powerless Bloemendaal politicians consider legal action after province rejects enforcement request for Camping Vogelenzang
Politicians in Bloemendaal are considering legal action after the local executive board refused a provincial request to intervene in developments at Camping Vogelenzang. Representatives from GroenLink...
At least fifteen homes in Velsen contain carcinogenic UF foam; 'used sparingly' says housing association spokesperson
A survey revealed that at least fifteen homes managed by Brederode Wonen in Velsen contain carcinogenic urea-formaldehyde (UF) foam. While Woningbedrijf Velsen reports no instances of the material in ...
Priority mail price hike: funeral card doubles in price
Starting in July, PostNL will significantly increase rates for 24-hour delivery services, including bereavement cards and medical mail. These items will cost several euros per piece as the postal serv...
IJmond municipalities to engage with chronically ill residents: 'We want to see what we can learn from each other'
The municipalities of Beverwijk, Heemskerk, and Velsen are launching a pilot program from April 1 to July 1 offering health conversations for residents with chronic illnesses. Participants have the op...
PostNL to deliver letters within two days from July 12
Starting July 12, PostNL will shift its standard letter delivery from next-day to within two days to ensure service reliability and manage high operational costs. This change follows a government deci...
House in Soest almost completely burnt out
A major fire broke out in a house on Valeriaanstraat in Soest on Wednesday night, causing extensive damage. The residents are currently unable to return home as the building was severely affected by t...
Stuck in a ‘foreign’ city: many people can no longer return to their roots
Many people are finding it increasingly difficult to move back to the regions where they grew up due to a lack of affordable housing. This trend leaves individuals stuck in cities away from their root...
NATO chief Rutte to visit Trump next week
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to visit U.S. President Donald Trump next week. The report of the meeting comes from The Wall Street Journal, citing insider sources.
Chocolate company De Bonte Koe looks beyond the holidays: ‘Chocolate connects’
The Schiedam-based family business De Bonte Koe has been nominated for the National Entrepreneur Prize for its innovative approach to chocolate making. The company focuses on year-round customer engag...
Schagen Mayor Marjan van Kampen-Nouwen (63) is the new informateur in Beverwijk
Marjan van Kampen-Nouwen, the mayor of Schagen, has been appointed as the new informateur for the municipality of Beverwijk. She will meet with the nine local council factions to begin the process of ...
Amsterdam bans fatbikes in Vondelpark from May 11
Amsterdam will ban fatbikes in the Vondelpark starting May 11, marking the city's first such restricted area. After a two-week grace period to allow riders to adjust, the municipality will begin enfor...
Former BBB member Van Gasteren to continue independently in the Senate
Robert van Gasteren will retain his seat in the Dutch Senate as an independent member after leaving the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) party. BBB faction leader Ilona Lagas confirmed the move on Wednesday, ...
Yet another energy crisis, now we’re finally buying that heat pump
A second energy crisis in five years has triggered a significant surge in demand for heat pumps in the Netherlands. The high volume of interest has led some companies to scale back their advertising e...
No more cutting off, wheelies, and close passes: Amsterdam's Vondelpark to ban fatbikes
Amsterdam's Vondelpark will become the city's first area to implement a total ban on fatbikes starting May 11. The measure aims to address dangerous riding behaviors such as wheelies and close passing...
Zelensky discusses ceasefire plans with US and Rutte
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed plans for an Easter ceasefire with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, following Russia's rejection of the proposal. NATO Secretary General Ma...
Fatbikes banned in Vondelpark from May 11
Starting May 11, fatbikes with tires wider than seven centimeters will be prohibited from entering Amsterdam's Vondelpark to improve safety and reduce nuisance. Following an initial two-week warning p...
Residents of Kromme Mijdrechtstraat terrified after another shooting; suspected revenge for mild sentence in Eric Sekiza killing
Residents of the Kromme Mijdrechtstraat in Amsterdam are in fear following a shooting on Sunday, marking the third such incident at the same residence in four years. Some locals suggest the attack was...
OPZ, Jong Zandvoort and VVD to explore coalition possibilities in Zandvoort; possible room for fourth party
The political parties OPZ, Jong Zandvoort, and VVD have agreed to explore the possibility of forming a coalition in Zandvoort. The announcement was made by OPZ leader Patrick Berg during the first mee...
KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX and WNL to collaborate in new broadcasting house
Broadcasters KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, and WNL have announced plans to collaborate and share a new broadcasting house. While discussions are ongoing and the facility's name is yet to be determined, the or...
KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX and WNL want to form joint broadcasting house
Dutch broadcasters KRO-NCRV, Omroep MAX, and WNL have announced plans to establish a joint broadcasting house. The organizations shared their intention for this collaboration on Wednesday.
Michael (50) from Bergen lost everything, but now wins Zuiderkerk Prize: ‘This feels like recognition’
Architect Michael van Bergen has been awarded the Zuiderkerkprijs 2025 for designing the best residential building in Amsterdam. After moving to the city following significant personal setbacks, Van B...
How (un)healthy is chocolate really? ‘This variety is sometimes low in sugar’
As Easter approaches, dietician Sanne Mouha explores the health implications of various types of chocolate, noting that the average Dutch person consumes about five kilograms per year. She provides gu...
Nature photographer Ilse Koks receives honorable mention from De Groene Camera for painterly photo at Zuidpier: 'I wanted to show the roughness of the sea'
Nature photographer Ilse Koks received an honorable mention in the coastal category of the Groene Camera awards for her artistic photo taken at the Zuidpier in IJmuiden. Her work was recognized for it...
iDeal successor protects consumers, but businesses fear high costs
Wero, the successor to the iDeal payment system, aims to enhance consumer protection, but businesses and payment providers express concern over potential cost increases. In response to these developme...
Minister expands asylum policy for Eritrean conscripts
Dutch Minister of Asylum Bart van den Brink has expanded the asylum policy for Eritreans facing mandatory national service in the Netherlands. The new policy removes the requirement for those facing c...
Cabinet accommodates startups in new Box 3 system after fierce criticism
The Dutch cabinet is planning to introduce tax benefits for startups and scale-ups following criticism of the new box 3 tax system. The proposal includes redefining early-stage companies and easing ta...
Weekend tips: things to do in Amsterdam (April 3 to 5)
Amsterdam offers a variety of activities for the weekend of April 3rd through 5th, including local markets, DJ sets, and spring blossom viewing. The city provides options for both those seeking a rela...