Netherlands News in English

Construction wholesaler staff threatened with knife during robbery in Nieuw-West

Construction wholesaler in Osdorp robbed for the second time in a month

A construction wholesaler in Osdorp, Amsterdam, was robbed by a man with a knife on Monday morning, marking the second robbery at the location in a month. The suspect fled with cash from the register,...

Gas power plants were used more often last year during dips in solar and wind energy

Gas-fired power plants in the Netherlands significantly increased their natural gas consumption last year to compensate for fluctuations in solar and wind energy supply. This led to a 6.2 percent incr...

Mike (35) competes in flower arranging championship: 'I train intensively with fellow florists'

Mike Boerma, a 35-year-old florist from Haarlem, will compete in the Dutch Championship Floral Art in Ede on March 9 and 10. Boerma, who considers flower arranging a form of art, has been training int...

Queen Máxima visits NS Train Modernization in Haarlem

Queen Máxima and Minister Stientje van Veldhoven visited NS Train Modernization in Haarlem on Wednesday as part of Circular Economy Week. They observed how old double-decker trains are being refurbis...

Netherlands wants to join mission near Iran: is it consistent with international law?

The Dutch government is considering participating in a mission involving Iran, prompting discussions about its legality under international law. This debate focuses on the justification for military a...

Around 450,000 political party members, highest since 1982

The number of Dutch political party members has reached 448,100, marking the highest level since 1982. According to the Documentation Centre for Dutch Political Parties, the total grew by nearly 15 pe...

Diesel price reaches record high, gasoline price also nears peak

The national recommended price for diesel in the Netherlands has reached a record high of 2.375 euros per liter, matching levels seen four years ago. Gasoline prices are also increasing, though at a s...

Eventful skating year was a major life lesson for Joy Beune: 'I've had to take a lot'

Dutch speed skater Joy Beune reflects on a challenging and eventful year as she prepares to defend her title at the World Allround Speed Skating Championships. Despite the unusual timing of the compet...

'Find ten ladies for a pilgrimage!' Gerrie shouted. Fourteen joined.

In this installment of the 'For Life' series, Gerrie Groot, Roos Beers, and Irma Kuilboer share the story of their walking group's deep friendship. The group formed after fourteen women joined a pilgr...

Only pedestrians and cyclists allowed on Verfroller this weekend; maintenance on Langebrug later this month

The Langebrug in Haarlem, locally known as 'De Verfroller,' will be closed to motorized traffic for maintenance from the evening of March 6 until the morning of March 9. During this time, only pedestr...

No drinking water around Vondelkerk due to leak

At least 99 addresses near the Vondelkerk in Amsterdam are without drinking water following a pipe leak discovered on Wednesday. Waternet has provided bottled water to affected residents and expects r...

Museum of the Mind closes Amsterdam branch due to disappointing visitor numbers

The Museum van de Geest is closing its Amsterdam branch on the Amstel due to disappointing visitor numbers and a lack of financial surplus. Moving forward, the institution will operate exclusively fro...

Choose your occupier: Russia, America, or China?

On March 10, former generals Peter van Uhm and Mart de Kruif will host a live event to discuss the geopolitical influence of Russia, the United States, and China. Accompanied by Eastern Europe expert ...

Deborah fed up with caterer: why did it take months for her mother to get her money back?

Deborah expressed her frustration after a catering service took months to refund her mother for meal deliveries. While such services are a convenient option for the elderly or those who cannot cook, t...

CKV Rapid finds permanent home in Haarlem-Noord after multiple moves: 'We are almost back to pre-pandemic levels'

Korfball club CKV Rapid has established a permanent location in Haarlem-Noord following several moves. The club is reportedly returning to its pre-pandemic activity levels as it operates from its base...

Camiel Kesbeke, Pieter Valley and Bankzitters win at Best Social Awards

The 12th edition of The Best Social Awards took place on Thursday evening at Theater Amsterdam to celebrate top social media content creators. Notable winners included Camiel Kesbeke, Pieter Valley, a...

Green Heart digs in heels against wind turbines ahead of elections

Municipalities in the Groene Hart region are united in their opposition to provincial plans to install dozens of tall wind turbines in the open landscape. Local political parties are calling for these...

Three cars damaged by fire in Haarlem, police investigating

A car fire on Schubertstraat in Haarlem damaged three vehicles during the night between Thursday and Friday. Police are currently investigating the incident and have not ruled out the possibility of a...

Daan Buringa (24) stars in Joe Speedboot: ‘I had no time for my spinal cord injury, I wanted to act!’

Remembering the cycling philosopher: Gerrie Knetemann would have turned 75

Friday marks the 75th birth anniversary of the late world champion cyclist Gerrie Knetemann. Known as the "cycling streetmaker," he was a celebrated sports icon and ambassador for the sport, recognize...

Lower revenue for auto industry in 2025, but more electric cars sold

The automotive and motorcycle industry saw a 2.6 percent decrease in revenue in 2025 compared to the previous year, with importers and heavy vehicle sectors experiencing the most significant declines....

'Sadness' and 'pride' at the last Beverwijk council meeting before the elections. 'Why is nobody worried about missing deadlines?'

The Beverwijk municipal council held its final meeting before the upcoming elections, which concluded with conflicting motions of pride and sadness. Mayor Martijn Smit declined to provide answers rega...

Five people taken to hospital after major house fire in Amsterdam

A large house fire on Herculesstraat in Amsterdam-Zuid overnight resulted in five people being hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The fire, which was preceded by a loud bang according to witnesses, le...

Solutions for housing shortage and strengthening neighborhoods in Beverwijk and Heemskerk: New performance agreements between municipalities and housing corporations

The municipalities of Heemskerk and Beverwijk have established new performance agreements with housing corporations and tenant organizations for the 2026–2029 period. These agreements prioritize add...

Bulb grower Rob stranded in Sri Lanka with wife and friends: ‘The first option to fly back is March 12 and even that is very uncertain’

Dutch bulb grower Rob Burger and his companions are among many tourists currently stranded in Sri Lanka due to severe flight disruptions. While some travelers are attempting complex routes through mul...

Part of the 'new' Maerelaan in Heemskerk to reopen early next week. Renovation delayed: everything finished by start of summer

A section of the Maerelaan in Heemskerk is scheduled to reopen next week following the application of a new asphalt layer. While winter weather has delayed the overall renovation project, the entire r...

Hum keeps IJmuiden resident awake: ‘The sound is described so well online, I’m increasingly thinking it’s the wind turbines’

Mascha Levasier-Neijenhuijs from IJmuiden reports being kept awake by a persistent, rhythmic humming noise that she suspects is caused by wind turbines along the North Sea Canal. She describes the sou...

The Zandvoort coalition promised it four years ago, but governance culture did not improve

The Zandvoort coalition, consisting of Jong Zandvoort, CDA, VVD, and OPZ, has failed to improve the local administrative culture despite making it a top priority in their 2022 agreement. This goal was...

Ministry forbids municipalities from restricting steel slag themselves

The Dutch government has prohibited municipalities from implementing their own bans on the use of steel slag, requiring local restrictions to be reversed by the end of the year. Local officials have e...