Netherlands News in English

Video | Gerard Joling on carriage in promo for new reality series season: 'Hilarious'

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot continues to generate pornographic images: Dutch aid organizations sue Grok

Dutch organizations Offlimits and Fonds Slachtofferhulp are filing a summary injunction to ban Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, from the social media platform X. The legal action follows reports that the...

TV goes black during skating final: wouldn't you lose it?

A television failure during the finale of a speed skating competition can cause significant frustration for viewers missing the finish. The article describes the emotional reaction when technical issu...

Urban farming and sustainable eating increasingly popular (and how you can join in)

Urban farming and sustainable food initiatives are gaining popularity in Amsterdam as ways to contribute to a more sustainable city. The article highlights various local projects and provides tips for...

Dutch Safety Board on fatal Lochem bridge accident: mutual oversight was lacking

The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) concluded that parties involved in a bridge construction project in Lochem failed to adequately assess risks, leading to a fatal accident in February 2024. During the hois...

Haarlem heads to the polls! Take the voting aid for the municipal elections here

Residents of Haarlem will go to the polls on Wednesday, March 18, to elect a new city council. A StemWijzer voting aid is available to help voters determine which political party aligns with their vie...

ACM approves US acquisition of DigiD manager Solvinity

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has approved the acquisition of Solvinity by the American company Kyndryl. Following an investigation, the regulator concluded that the takeov...

From shelf stacker to fresh produce manager: Peter from Haarlem marks 50 years at Albert Heijn. 'Back then there was only white and brown bread'

Peter van Agteren from Haarlem is celebrating 50 years of employment at the Albert Heijn supermarket chain, where he began as a shelf stocker in 1975. Now serving as a fresh manager, he reflects on ho...

Duncan Laurence to perform two shows at Carré: 'Long-cherished wish'

Singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence is scheduled to perform two shows at the Royal Theater Carré in Amsterdam on September 19 and 20. During these concerts, he will debut new music and share personal s...

Vellesan College opens two school libraries: ‘Reading is the foundation for students’

Vellesan College in IJmuiden is set to open two new school libraries next week to encourage students to read more frequently. The school initiative aims to support students by emphasizing that reading...

Unions suspend talks with government until pension plan is off the table

Dutch trade unions FNV, CNV, and VHP have suspended negotiations with the new cabinet until plans to accelerate the increase of the state pension age are withdrawn. The unions stated that merely softe...

Returning empty plastic bottles and cans to neighbors for an instant deposit: It’s super accessible

A new initiative allows individuals to return empty plastic bottles and cans to local private collection points to receive their deposit refunds immediately. This system aims to provide a more conveni...

Klaver attacks Jetten over NATO tax: ‘Make companies pay more’

Opposition leader Jesse Klaver criticized Prime Minister Rob Jetten during a debate regarding corporate taxes and the proposed increase in the retirement age. Despite criticism from unions and the opp...

Wilders withdraws confidence in ‘Thieving Cabinet’, Jetten counters: ‘Trust is not easily earned back’

Prime Minister Rob Jetten is defending his government's policy statement during a parliamentary debate where opposition leader Geert Wilders has already expressed a lack of confidence. Jetten faces th...

Haarlem Bird Hospital hosts free nature activities for children Wednesday afternoon

The Vogelhospitaal in Haarlem is hosting a free nature activity for children called the 'Creepy Crawly Expedition' on Sunday, March 1st. From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, participants can explore the garden to...

Beware of unnecessary insurance when buying a washing machine or TV

The Dutch Consumers' Association is warning shoppers against purchasing unnecessary insurance policies when buying appliances like washing machines or televisions. These policies are often described a...

Skating in shorts at Boerderij Zorgvrij in Spaarnwoude: ‘And on the first warm day we also have an ice cream’

Residents in Spaarnwoude and Santpoort celebrated the first warm day of the year with outdoor activities like skating and cycling. The arrival of spring weather encouraged locals to visit Boerderij Zo...

Temptation Island returns to Prime Video, hosted by Rijk Hofman

Temptation Island Benelux is returning to Prime Video, with Rijk Hofman and Annelien Coorevits serving as the hosts. Although a specific start date has not yet been announced, the show marks the comeb...

Moerdijk residents launch fund and fundraiser over uncertain future

The Moerdijk Residents' Collective has established a legal protection fund to raise money for legal defense and expert advice. This move comes as the village faces possible displacement due to the pla...

'Do I have UF foam in my cavity walls?' Increasing demand for testing

Intra-Air is experiencing a significant increase in requests from Dutch residents concerned about urea-formaldehyde (UF) foam insulation and potential formaldehyde gas exposure in their homes. Althoug...

Anger over employers tampering with ‘too expensive’ schemes for older workers: ‘The timing is bizarre’

Dutch employers' association AWVN is proposing changes to regulations for older workers to reduce costs and keep them employed longer. The FNV labor union has strongly criticized the proposal, calling...

The Collection | The Lepers of Lazarus

The story of Lazarus, the patron saint of lepers, teaches that wealth should be shared with those in need. In contrast, the regents of the Leper House historically disagreed with this principle, creat...

Police chase from Amsterdam ends in Haarlem

Police initiated a high-speed pursuit of a Mercedes on Wednesday evening starting in Amsterdam. The chase continued along the N200 highway and concluded in Haarlem.

Premier De Wever announces air defense for Port of Antwerp

Belgian Premier Bart De Wever has announced that the Port of Antwerp will be equipped with a new NASAMS air defense system to protect against aircraft, drones, and missiles. The systems have already b...

Municipal scanning car hits lamppost in Haarlem

A scan car belonging to the Haarlem and Zandvoort municipality crashed into a lamppost on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred at the corner of Julianastraat and Stolbergstraat in Haarlem.

Griekspoor beats Bublik to reach Dubai quarter-finals

Dutch tennis player Tallon Griekspoor advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dubai tennis tournament after defeating world number 10 Alexander Bublik on Wednesday. The victory secures Griekspoor a place...

Driver without valid license and under the influence arrested

A driver was arrested in Amsterdam's Westelijk Havengebied on Tuesday after being caught driving under the influence of cannabis with a license that had been expired for ten years. Police also discove...

Large attic fire in Hillegom

A large attic fire broke out at a residence on Burgemeester Hermanslaan in Hillegom on Thursday morning. Local authorities responded to the blaze in the residential building.

Two friends start a guesthouse in Portugal with no experience: Another classic Ik Vertrek moment

Accident on A9 towards Uitgeest causes major delays, one person injured

An accident involving two cars on the A9 motorway towards Uitgeest led to a complete road closure and significant traffic delays on Wednesday evening. One person was injured in the collision, which al...