Netherlands News in English

70 municipal reports on demolition and tree felling in Haarlem last week

The municipality of Haarlem processed a total of 70 permit applications last week regarding demolition and tree felling. These reports were released to keep residents informed about upcoming activitie...

Festivals ban techno DJs following misconduct allegations

Several techno DJs have been barred from major Dutch music festivals, including Verknipt, DGTL, Awakenings, and Dominator, following allegations of sexual misconduct. Organizers confirmed the decision...

Major fire in Hoofddorp apartment building

A large fire broke out in an apartment building on Manenburgdreef in Hoofddorp, prompting emergency services to scale up to a Grip-1 level. Firefighters have rescued several residents from balconies, ...

Health inspectorate investigates lidocaine post-COVID treatment at Velsen-Noord clinic

The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) is investigating a clinic in Velsen-Noord for potentially violating medical research regulations while treating post-COVID patients with lidocaine. T...

Fred helps toads and salamanders cross safely. 'Just after sunset is rush hour. We want as few road casualties as possible'

In late February, Fred assists toads and salamanders as they migrate from hibernation to water pools for reproduction. The effort aims to protect these amphibians from traffic accidents during their p...

85 years after the February Strike: What the underground Parool wrote about the start of mass protests against Jewish persecution

City and Film Fund aim to bring European counterpart to the Oscars to Amsterdam

Henri Bontenbal (CDA) defends ‘freedom contribution’: ‘I’m not proud it was in my program either’

Premier Rob Jetten faced significant criticism during the first parliamentary debate on his new minority government's policy statement, specifically regarding the proposed increase of the retirement a...

House majority wants to soften state pension plans, opposition takes the floor

The Dutch governing parties D66, VVD, and CDA have agreed to soften planned increases to the state pension age by supporting an opposition motion. This decision aims to provide Prime Minister Jetten w...

Brekelmans (VVD) under fire over tax hike for ‘hard-working Dutch’

New Prime Minister Rob Jetten faced significant criticism during his first parliamentary debate regarding the government's policy statement and proposed increases to the retirement age. The two-day de...

PM Jetten kicks off two-day debate: how will he lay the foundation for this minority cabinet?

Prime Minister Rob Jetten has launched a two-day parliamentary debate to outline his minority cabinet's plans for the next four years. Following the cabinet's swearing-in, Jetten faces the House to es...

Suffering from hay fever now? In February, it's often due to pollen from these trees

The hay fever season has begun in February as early spring weather brings tree pollen into the air. Biologist Arnold van Vliet explains that allergic reactions now occur nearly year-round, identifying...

Last chance: free lead check for your garden

Homeowners with private gardens can request a free soil check to test for lead until May 2026. This initiative is designed to help residents ensure the safety of their garden environment at no cost.

Households increasingly using air conditioning to heat their homes

An increasing number of households, particularly those with owner-occupied homes, are utilizing air conditioning units to heat their dwellings. This shift highlights a growing trend in alternative dom...

WOZ value of homes rises by more than 10 percent this year

The average WOZ value of residential properties in the Netherlands has increased by 10.6 percent this year compared to the previous period. This significant rise was reported by the Waarderingskamer, ...

Linnaeusstraat dates back to 1308

The Linneausstraat is scheduled to undergo a major renovation to improve its infrastructure. The historic street has a long legacy, with origins dating back to 1308.

Millions of Dutch people on edge: what happens if hackers publish Odido customer data Thursday?

Cybercriminals who claimed responsibility for a hack on telecom provider Odido are threatening to publish the personal data of millions of Dutch customers this Thursday. The potential leak has caused ...

Dozens of homes in Hyde Park still empty months after completion: 'Lower the rent and make it for regular students'

Housing corporation Duwo has decided to open up vacant apartments in Hoofddorp's Hyde Park district to regular students after only 26 of 116 units intended for PhD researchers were rented. The move ai...

Parking fines rain down on construction-plagued Meerwijk: 'Soon we’ll have to sell the street paper'

Residents of the Meerwijk neighborhood in Haarlem are facing a surge in parking fines of 139 euros each after parking illegally due to a lack of available spaces. The shortage is caused by an influx o...

Expensive glasses popular among criminals. 'Stop selling Cartier, then it's solved'

Opticians in the Netherlands are increasingly being targeted by criminals for high-end designer frames, with recent break-ins reported in Laren and Limburg. Industry experts note that eyewear has tran...

Dutch Safety Board investigates KLM collision at Schiphol

The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) and Air Traffic Control the Netherlands (LVNL) have initiated investigations following a collision between two KLM aircraft at Schiphol Airport. Both organizations are con...

Survey on IJtunnel closure: Potential hour of extra travel time during rush hour

Amsterdam has launched a survey to prepare motorists for the IJtunnel's year-long closure starting in summer 2027, which could add up to an hour of travel time during peak hours. The municipality is s...

NH Helps: who will help William get his 'therapy garden' back in order?

William Jansen, a stroke survivor living in Amsterdam, is seeking volunteers via the 'NH Helpt' initiative to help restore his overgrown 'therapy garden.' Due to mobility and speech issues, he require...

Saskia (42) has hair down to her bottom but hasn't bought hair ties for six years: They’re just lying on the street

Saskia Sampimon-Versneij, 42, has not purchased a hair tie in six years despite having hair that reaches her waist. She instead collects discarded ties from the street and sanitizes them by washing th...

Municipal elections on March 18: what OP Haarlem wants

Residents of Haarlem will vote in the municipal elections on March 18. This report focuses on the plans and candidates of the local political party OP Haarlem.

After training camp with F1 driver, rookie René Lammers (17) races straight to podium in debut weekend

Seventeen-year-old Dutch driver René Lammers secured two third-place finishes during his debut Eurocup-3 race weekend in Portimão, Portugal. Competing in the Spanish Winter Championship, the rookie ...

What weather! Send in your photos of summer in February

The Netherlands is experiencing unusually warm, spring-like weather this Tuesday, with temperatures expected to exceed 15 degrees Celsius. The forecast predicts a sunny day with light winds, prompting...

Birgit Schuurman, Robert van Hemert and Géza Weisz in new season of The Traitors

The new season of the reality competition show De Verraders is set to premiere on RTL 4 on March 10. Filmed at Château Jemeppe in Belgium, the cast features Dutch personalities including Birgit Schuu...

Comedian banned from Geesterhage Castricum over ‘polarizing statements’ in his shows. Is it justified?

Cultural Center Geesterhage in Castricum and four other Dutch theaters have banned comedian Rogier Kahlmann from performing, citing his material as overly polarizing. Kahlmann disputes the decision, a...

Nine months juvenile detention after Heemskerk explosion; teen also guilty of home robbery in Zuidoostbeemster

A 19-year-old man from Amsterdam has been sentenced to nine months of youth detention by the Haarlem district court. He was convicted for his involvement in an explosion in Heemskerk and a violent hom...