Netherlands News in English

One last cheese and a chat as Peter and Joan retire their cheese van

Peter and Joan, a couple from Velsen-Noord, are retiring and closing their mobile cheese bus business after years of service. On their final day, many loyal customers expressed their sadness and share...

'I always saw others getting diplomas and felt useless,' now Donald, who has an intellectual disability, has earned his first practical certificate

Donald, a 37-year-old man with a mild intellectual disability from Haarlem, has earned his first vocational practice certificate. He and five others completed the Assistant Service Provision training ...

We fall madly in love twice in our lives on average, even in old age: ‘Boom! Really. It was right from the start’

Scientific research indicates that people typically fall passionately in love twice in their lives. This can occur even in later stages of life, as evidenced by a couple in their seventies who recentl...

Mayor Wienen: Support for Haarlem refugees remains 'responsible' despite budget cuts

Mayor Jos Wienen stated that refugees in Haarlem continue to receive sufficient support for their asylum applications and integration, despite national budget cuts. This response follows concerns rais...

Experts surprised by cabinet response to US VAT software: ‘Distraction’

Experts are criticizing the Dutch government's decision to hire an American software company to manage VAT collection, calling the official justifications a diversionary maneuver. While State Secretar...

Netherlands works with other countries on asylum seeker return hubs

The Netherlands is collaborating with a group of EU countries, including Austria, Greece, Germany, and Denmark, to establish return hubs for rejected asylum seekers outside of the European Union. Mini...

Juvenile detention and behavioral measure demanded for teen who hung explosive on De Pizzabakkers door

Build, build, build: Hundreds of new homes per year in Velsen

The municipality of Velsen has prioritized housing and livability in its 2022-2026 council program. Since 2022, 530 new homes have been completed, with an additional 1,250 units planned for the coming...

100 hours community service for garbage truck driver in fatal accident involving American woman

A garbage truck driver has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service following a fatal accident in Amsterdam that killed 69-year-old Cindy Charles. The court ruled the driver was responsible fo...

Haarlem has the best climate policy in the Netherlands according to the Climate Alliance. BUCH municipalities also score relatively high

Haarlem has been recognized by the Climate Alliance as having the best climate policy in the Netherlands during the 'De Toekomst Telt' conference. The BUCH municipalities also received high scores, po...

‘Does anyone care about noise and shadow flicker?’ Large turnout at meeting against Schoteroog wind turbines

Residents of Haarlem-Noord gathered at the Haarlemsche Jachtclub on Schoteroog to voice their concerns about the planned installation of wind turbines in the area. The meeting was well-attended by loc...

14-year-old suspect hung explosive in bag on Pizzabakkers door: Approached via Snapchat

A 14-year-old boy has confessed in court to placing an explosive at a Pizzabakkers restaurant in Amsterdam after being recruited via Snapchat. The prosecution has requested a sentence of time already ...

Hermans refuses to yield to opposition over deductible hike

Dutch Healthcare Minister Sophie Hermans has rejected opposition requests to reconsider the planned increase of the healthcare deductible. During a budget debate, she maintained her position despite c...

Mainline Foundation, dedicated to drug users' welfare, to close after funding cut: ‘We are needed now more than ever’

Klaas Otto confiscation case postponed

The asset seizure case against Klaas Otto, founder of the motorcycle club No Surrender, has been postponed until March 31 because the court ran out of time for a substantive hearing. The Dutch Public ...

Royal Family notably absent from start of Winter Paralympics

It remains unclear if King Willem-Alexander or other members of the Dutch Royal Family will attend the Paralympic Winter Games in Italy to support the nation's athletes. Advocacy groups have expressed...

Anass (30) proudly gives tour of new day center WerkLokaal Heemskerk: 'We are all friends'

WerkLokaal Heemskerk has relocated to a larger facility at the De Trompet industrial estate to consolidate several day care services under one roof. The move provides participants with more space for ...

Van Weel: Netherlands on alert for Iranian cyberattacks

Justice Minister David van Weel stated that the Dutch government is on high alert for potential Iranian cyberattacks following a meeting with EU justice ministers. The minister declined to specify whe...

Speed limit reduced to 30 km/h at thirteen dangerous locations

Starting March 11, the municipality of Beverwijk will reduce the maximum speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour at thirteen high-risk traffic locations. This initiative aims to enhance road safety in a...

Dance, theater, music, photography and adventure flood Zandvoort during ‘Vloed’. New cultural festival on Ascension weekend

The new cultural festival 'Vloed' will debut in Zandvoort during the Ascension Day weekend in mid-May, featuring a variety of dance, theater, music, and photography activities. Organizers announced du...

Irving’s wife sparked his love for horses: ‘After a hard day’s work, I love being here at the stables’

Irving Mooijekind visits the Vario Hippique riding school to spend time with the horses he shares with his wife. He finds relaxation at the stables after a hard day's work before returning to his job ...

Iranians in The Hague call for attention to situation in their country

On Thursday afternoon, dozens of Iranians gathered in The Hague to protest against the current Iranian regime. The demonstrators assembled near the British embassy to raise awareness about the situati...

Next of kin want no delay in Lucky appeal

Relatives of the victims of a fatal shooting at a shopping mall in Zwijndrecht are urging the Court of Appeal in The Hague to proceed with the trial next Monday. They are opposing a delay in the legal...

Is it wise to look to Groningen again in the gas crisis? This is what the gas expert says

Following a 67 percent increase in gas prices due to Middle East unrest, the Dutch House of Representatives is considering resuming gas drilling in Groningen. Expert Martien Visser addresses key quest...

Enexis significantly expands power grid, but electricity demand grows even faster

Grid operator Enexis invested a record 1.9 billion euros in the electricity grid last year to support the energy transition. Despite this investment, the grid remains congested in many areas as demand...

Repatriation flight from Oman also on Saturday

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arranged a third repatriation flight for stranded citizens, scheduled for this Saturday. In collaboration with Corendon, the flight will transport passengers ...

Coffee with Heemstede councilors on International Women's Day

Heemstede municipal council members will host a coffee event for female residents at Theater De Luifel this Sunday to mark International Women's Day. The meeting, scheduled from 10:30 to 12:00, aims t...

Council candidate Mertcan Dilber (19) misses the youth perspective in Beverwijk: 'I want to represent that voice'

Mertcan Dilber, a 19-year-old Artificial Intelligence student at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, is running for local council in Beverwijk representing the party Samen Lokaal Beverwijk. He aims to p...

Hamer: Cabinet must do more to combat violence against women

Mariëtte Hamer, the Dutch Government Commissioner for sexual misconduct, has called on the cabinet to increase efforts and funding to combat violence against women. She argues that the current coalit...

Eva de Raadt from Haarlem named Football Alderman of the Netherlands

Eva de Raadt, an alderman from Haarlem, has been named the Football Alderman of the Netherlands by the KNVB. The jury recognized her achievements in creating innovative football fields and providing s...