Netherlands News in English
Dutch national news translated to English. Politics, economy, housing, immigration, and more for expats and internationals.
Council chamber back in use after nine-month renovation
After a nine-month renovation costing over 4.5 million euros, the council chamber at Amsterdam's Stopera city hall has reopened with updated technology and a new layout. The redesigned space encourage...
Youth workers Dimitri and Sem provide a safe place where young people can be themselves: ‘As a teenager, I didn’t always make the right choices myself’
Youth workers Dimitri van den Berg and Sem Zwart operate Zienhouse, a dedicated facility for young people in Uitgeest. The center provides a safe and supportive environment where local youth can be th...
Harsh life along a ragged Osdorperweg documented in book: ‘Anyone who wants to go back to the past is out of their mind’
Kees Schelling has authored a book documenting the historically harsh and simple life along the Osdorperweg in Amsterdam. While the work captures colorful memories of a bygone era, Schelling maintains...
IJmond municipalities launch campaign against elder abuse: ‘Don’t look away, talk about it’
The Dutch municipalities of Beverwijk, Heemskerk, and Velsen have launched the "Verborgen Leed" campaign to raise awareness about elder abuse. In collaboration with healthcare organization Zorgbalans,...
Ajax spent €21.5 million on football agents last season
Ajax spent 21.5 million euros on football agents during the 2024-2025 season, the highest amount of any professional club in the Netherlands. This expenditure underscores the significant financial rol...
Armed robbery at jewelry store in Amsterdam
Three armed men robbed a jewelry store in Amsterdam-Osdorp on Tuesday morning, fleeing the scene on fatbikes with stolen goods. No injuries were reported, though the suspects caused significant damage...
Arnhem city center arson suspect absent from trial
One of the three suspects in a major arson case in downtown Arnhem failed to appear at the start of the trial on Tuesday. Ricky N. informed his lawyer that he stayed home for self-protection, citing s...
Cycling with the Oer-IJ Foundation: bike tour through the unique nature reserve
Stichting Oer-IJ is organizing a guided cycling excursion through the unique Oer-IJ nature area. The tour provides an opportunity for participants to explore the landscape and learn about the region's...
Milder than normal: the weather forecast for Haarlem in April
Weather forecasts for Haarlem indicate that the first half of April will be milder than usual. Meteorologist Verena Mülder from weeronline.nl reports that temperatures are expected to stay above the ...
Apartment in North uninhabitable after washing machine fire
A washing machine fire in an apartment on Lohuis street in Amsterdam's Buikslotermeer neighborhood caused significant damage on Sunday night, leaving the home uninhabitable. Neighbors were briefly eva...
Former international Kuijs (94) dies
Former Dutch international footballer Kees Kuijs has passed away at the age of 94. Kuijs, who played for FC Haarlem and NAC Breda, earned 43 caps for the Netherlands between 1955 and 1962. He was reco...
Mobile data usage in the Netherlands reached a new record last year
Mobile data usage in the Netherlands reached a new record in the final quarter of 2025, according to the regulator ACM. Additionally, the country saw a significant increase in fiber optic connections,...
Haarlem civil servants reporting to confidential counselors more often: ‘Feel they are being bullied’
The number of reports made by Haarlem municipal employees to confidential counselors increased from 32 to 37 over the past year. These reports primarily concerned an unsafe work environment and feelin...
KLM sells catering subsidiary
KLM has reached an agreement to sell its catering subsidiary, KLM Catering Services, to Gategroup. The sale is part of the airline's ongoing strategy to implement cost-saving measures across the compa...
Another shooting in Kromme Mijdrechtstraat; Velsen mayor reinstalls camera
A shooting incident occurred on Sunday morning in the Kromme Mijdrechtstraat in IJmuiden. In response, Mayor Dales has ordered the installation of surveillance cameras in the area for a period of thre...
Many homeowners with interest-only mortgages may face trouble: ‘Undermines housing security’
The Dutch Homeowners Association warns that many homeowners with interest-only mortgages may face financial difficulties due to stricter bank policies. These regulatory changes could potentially under...
Threats, assault, coercion and murder: number of honor-related violence cases in the Netherlands rises sharply
A 24-year-old Syrian woman named Boushra was found dead in August 2025 after leaving a women's shelter in Almere to meet her husband. Her case highlights a broader trend in the Netherlands, where auth...
Atmosphere at the Stopera live at 12:30 PM: new council chamber and farewell to 26 council members
Twenty-six members of the Amsterdam City Council are stepping down this afternoon during a ceremony that also marks the official opening of the newly renovated council chamber at the Stopera. The even...
Explosion in De Pijp: significant damage to front door on Talmastraat
An explosion occurred early this morning on Talmastraat in Amsterdam's De Pijp neighborhood, causing significant damage to a building's entrance and several nearby parked vehicles. While the blast sha...
Fire in Southeast basement storage unit, one injured
One person was hospitalized following a fire in a basement storage unit at the Haag en Veld apartment complex in Amsterdam-Zuidoost early this morning. Four other residents were treated for smoke inha...
Deal between Unilever food division and McCormick may be announced Tuesday
Unilever and the American spice company McCormick are in advanced talks regarding a merger of Unilever's food business operations. A formal announcement about the potential deal could be made as early...
New homes needed, but no carpenters or bricklayers to be found: ‘Not enough young people for vacancies’
Nearly three-quarters of construction employers in the Netherlands are struggling to find workers as the number of retirees outpaces new talent entering the field. This labor shortage is creating a si...
Dutch Consumers' Association calls on Albert Heijn to end bulk-buy discounts
The Dutch Consumers' Association is urging supermarket chain Albert Heijn to end bulk discounts that encourage overconsumption and unnecessary spending. The group is particularly focused on stopping t...
Study: Groningen residents more anxious and depressed due to earthquakes
A study by the UMCG and the University of Groningen has established a direct link between earthquakes caused by gas extraction and increased mental health issues among residents. Researchers found tha...
Two cars damaged by fire in Haarlem, arson not ruled out
On Monday evening, a car caught fire on Polenstraat in Haarlem, which also damaged a nearby vehicle. Authorities are investigating the incident and have not ruled out arson as a potential cause.
Dutch shop slightly less online in 2025: 35.7 billion spent
Dutch consumers spent 35.7 billion euros on online purchases last year, representing a 1 percent decrease compared to the previous year. This slight decline reflects a shift in shopping habits across ...
Consumers spend less online on travel and events
Dutch consumers are spending less money online on travel and events according to the industry association Thuiswinkel.org. While overall online shopping remains high, there has been a notable shift in...
Osdorp Garden Centre leaves city to make way for housing
Tuincentrum Osdorp is set to move out of Amsterdam's Nieuw-West district to make way for a new residential neighborhood and retail space. The popular 66-year-old family business expects to relocate to...
Brain injury after electric cargo bike collision: Driver admits drinking six beers but blames scooter rider
A driver of an electric cargo bike caused a collision with a scooter rider that resulted in the victim suffering serious brain injuries. Although the driver admitted to consuming six specialty beers b...
Inflation rises to 2.7 percent in March due to higher energy prices
Inflation in the Netherlands rose to 2.7% in March, up from 2.4% in February, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The increase in the cost of living was primarily drive...