Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
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...
Heemstede errs in granting monument status to former post office
The Dutch Council of State ruled that the municipality of Heemstede was careless in its 2022 decision to grant monument status to a former post office on Binnenweg. The municipality has been ordered t...
Foreign ministers of 'Hormuz coalition' meet for the first time
Foreign ministers from a 35-nation coalition are holding their first video meeting to discuss strategies for ending the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Dutch Minister Tom Berendsen and his i...
Enkhuizer Almanac begins new chapter with Arend van den Berg and Bert Wiggers after death of publisher Fransje Jongert: ‘Surprising within predictability’
Following the death of publisher Fransje Jongert, Arend van den Berg and Bert Wiggers have taken over the centuries-old Enkhuizer Almanak. The new successors intend to maintain the traditional content...
No NOC*NSF funding for Zandvoort figure skating pair Tsiba and Danilova, but support for Alkmaar bobsledder Wesselink
NOC NSF has announced the distribution of Olympic winter sport budgets for 2026-2030, with no financial support allocated to figure skaters Michel Tsiba and Daria Danilova. In contrast, Dave Wesselink...
Mega data centers near Haarlemmermeer villages to be operational in three years
Plans for four large data centers in Haarlemmermeer are moving forward, with the facilities in Rozenburg and Schiphol-Rijk expected to be operational within three years. The projects have sparked loca...
Record number of hospitality businesses forced to close immediately due to pests
A record number of catering establishments in the Netherlands were forced to close due to pest infestations during the first quarter of 2026. Inspectors expressed concern after a video of rats in an A...
Netherlands' largest pension fund exits tech firm doing business with ICE
The Netherlands' largest pension fund, ABP, has announced its decision to divest from the American technology firm Palantir. The move follows concerns regarding Palantir's contracts with the U.S. Immi...
Remko Trompetter (Actiepartij) wins Golden Pat on the Back for best council committee member in Haarlem. 'Know what you're talking about'
Remko Trompetter of the Actiepartij received the Gouden Schouderklop Award for the best-performing council committee member during the farewell of the Haarlem city council. The award recognizes Trompe...
Four men sentenced for threatening Venlo mayor and COA
Four men from Baarlo and Venlo have received fines and community service for threatening the mayor of Venlo and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) on social media. The incide...
One victim of Castricum fatbike accident back home, other in intensive care
One of the two boys injured in a fatbike accident in Castricum last Friday has returned home, while the other remains in the hospital receiving intensive care. Both victims are students at the Vonk Ca...
New council debates: Big Left Energy sounds cute, but what about metro 53?
Following local elections, Amsterdam's city council debated the start of coalition negotiations between the PRO alliance and D66, while addressing a record-low voter turnout of 47.1 percent. Oppositio...
Attention to Ali B case triggers trauma for other sexual assault victims
The high-profile legal appeal of Dutch celebrity Ali B is causing significant emotional distress for victims of other sexual offenses. Media coverage of the case is reportedly triggering past traumas ...
House in North closed due to illegal prostitution: "Constant stream of men"
Mayor Femke Halsema has ordered the three-month closure of a residence in Amsterdam-Noord that was being used for illegal prostitution. Neighbors reported constant nuisance, including noise and intimi...
Possible fourth suspect involved in Amsterdam jewelry store robbery
Amsterdam police are searching for four suspects involved in an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Osdorp neighborhood. The suspects fled on fatbikes after smashing display cases and stealing jew...
MPs Zalinyan and Kostić clash with ministry over steel slag: 'Who protects the children along polluted ditches?'
Dutch MPs Ani Zalinyan and Ines Kostić have challenged the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management regarding the safety of children near areas polluted by steel slag. State Secretary Bertram ...
IT providers unite against Big Tech to reduce Dutch dependence on US
Seven Dutch IT providers have formed an alliance to offer a local cloud alternative to American technology firms, aiming to reduce the Netherlands' dependency on US providers. By collaborating on larg...
Dutch korfballers playing for Suriname unconcerned by ‘passportgate’: ‘There is so much money in football, it wouldn’t happen here’
Dutch professional athletes representing countries like Suriname risk losing their Dutch citizenship in a controversy known as 'passportgate.' While the issue has caused significant concern in the foo...
CDA Heemstede again pushes for council-wide agreement, HBB less certain. ‘Expect opposition won’t be there just for show’
The CDA party in Heemstede has issued an open letter calling for a council-wide agreement involving all six local political parties to collaborate on municipal plans. This proposal comes as election w...
Psychiatric treatment demanded for man who stabbed 85-year-old with screwdriver
Prosecutors have demanded mandatory psychiatric treatment for a man who stabbed an 85-year-old victim multiple times with a screwdriver in Amsterdam. The attack occurred last July on Riekerweg, where ...
Bizarre twist in investigation into death of Karin (59): AD reporter finds stabbing weapon and alerts police
An AD reporter discovered a stabbing weapon in Nieuw-Vennep near the location where a 59-year-old woman was found dead on Monday. Following the discovery, police conducted a new investigation at the s...
Royal honor and Uitgeest pin for Guus Krom; Mark Wouters and Bertus Berghuis honored in Heemskerk; Mariska El Ouni receives special brooch in Castricum
Guus Krom has retired from the Uitgeest municipal council after 28 years of service, receiving both a royal decoration and a municipal award. Other departing council members in the neighboring towns o...
Former SBS6 boss Tina Nijkamp: 'TV world has always been a snake pit'
Former SBS6 director Tina Nijkamp described the television industry as a "snake pit" in a recent interview with Nouveau. She noted that the competitive and challenging nature of the TV world has remai...
North Holland investigates regional heating company and fund
The province of Noord-Holland is exploring the creation of a regional heating company and a dedicated fund to support the development of heating networks. The initiative aims to address the shortage o...
Douwe Egberts parent company JDE Peet's falls into American hands
Keurig Dr Pepper has acquired a 96 percent stake in JDE Peet's, the parent company of Douwe Egberts. This move brings the coffee giant almost entirely under the ownership of the American beverage comp...
Record number of Easter baptisms in Catholic churches
Catholic churches in the Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam are reporting a record 160 baptisms during this year's Easter celebrations. The increase is particularly significant among young adults who are re...
VVD candidate Monique de Koning-de Rijk declines council seat after being elected via preference votes
VVD candidate Monique de Koning-de Rijk has declined her seat in the Velsen municipal council despite being elected through preference votes. Although she rose from an unelectable seventh place to fou...
Alternative Passion in Heemstede: Stations of the Cross through Mary's eyes at Our Lady of the Assumption Church
The OLV Hemelvaartkerk in Heemstede will host an alternative version of 'The Passion' on Holy Saturday. This production recounts the traditional Easter story through the eyes of Mary, repeating a succ...
Dylan (16) and Damiën (15) do carpentry for De Vlinder Children’s Center in Heemskerk. Noor is impressed: ‘He’s really not going to make that’
Teenage students Dylan and Damiën from Skills vmbo in Heemskerk built custom storage solutions for Kindcentrum de Vlinder. The project successfully addressed the school's issue with stray bags in the...