Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Rutte calls Romania, pledges to strengthen drone defenses
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed absolute solidarity with Romania after a Russian drone struck a residential building. He assured Romanian President Nicușor Dan that the alliance is commit...
Romania says it will invest in drone defense starting today
Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced that the country will take immediate steps to strengthen its drone defense systems. The expansion will be funded through the European SAFE program, which...
Romania summons Russian ambassador after drone incident
Romania has summoned the Russian ambassador after a drone crashed into a residential complex overnight. Foreign Minister Oana Ȑoiu confirmed that the device was identified as Russian, leading to the ...
Drone incident in Romania sharply condemned in Europe
European leaders, including EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, have strongly condemned a drone strike on a residential building in Romania. Von der Leyen characterized the incident as a further escalation...
Escape rooms, games and a mirror saying NO: this approach to juvenile crime ‘is pointless’
US wants American Ebola patients treated in Europe
The U.S. government plans to quarantine Americans exposed to Ebola in Africa within Kenya and transport them to Europe for treatment if they become infected. This strategy, reported by several U.S. me...
NATO condemns drone incident in Romania
NATO has condemned a drone strike on a residential complex in Romania, attributing the incident to Russian recklessness. The alliance announced that it will continue to strengthen its defenses against...
Is Haarlem losing its grip on demonstrations? 'No one has a guarantee that dangerous things won't happen'
Concerns are growing over the safety and management of demonstrations in Haarlem following several dangerous incidents involving police interventions and threats to protesters. Dirk Lammers of Protest...
Finally hitting the jackpot in Brussels: Dutch scientists secure €5 billion from EU funds
Dutch scientists have secured 5 billion euros from a European innovation fund since 2021. This marks a rare instance where the Netherlands, typically a net contributor to EU budgets, receives more mon...
This American worked for Trump on the Iran deal until last year: how does he view the conflict now?
Nate Swanson, a former US negotiator who worked on the Iran nuclear deal until last summer, provides insight into the ongoing conflict and Iran's current geopolitical standing. Having been removed fro...
Kleine Houtweg to be greened, and Kamperlaan u-turn to remain after all
The Haarlem city council has approved the renovation and redesign of the Kleine Houtweg, which will replace a traffic lane with more greenery and include sewer repairs. In an unexpected move, the coun...
Romanian apartment building near Ukraine border hit by drone
A residential complex in the Romanian city of Galati, near the border with Ukraine, was struck by a drone, causing a fire on the tenth floor. The Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that th...
Dutch House of Representatives highly critical of EU-Asian aviation agreement
The Dutch House of Representatives has expressed strong criticism regarding a new aviation treaty between the European Commission and Southeast Asian nations. While some political parties are concerne...
Vance: No deal with Iran yet, parties close to agreement
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that while a deal between Iran and the United States has not yet been finalized, negotiators are very close to reaching an agreement. Speaking to reporters in Washi...
Van den Brink visits Ter Apel and repeats call for shelter spaces
Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink made an unexpected visit to the overcrowded registration center in Ter Apel on Thursday evening to assess the ongoing reception crisis. During the visit, he spoke wi...
Minister postpones disability care cuts until after 2027
Minister of Long-term Care Mirjam Sterk has announced that budget cuts to long-term disability care will be postponed until after 2027. By shifting internal ministry funds, the government will reverse...
Harassed asylum center supporters leave Uithoorn protest
Proponents of an asylum reception center in Uithoorn ended their protest on Thursday evening after being harassed by opponents. The situation escalated as opponents threw bottles and eggs and set off ...
Hundreds demonstrate for and against asylum center in Uithoorn
On Thursday evening, hundreds of people gathered in Uithoorn to demonstrate both for and against the establishment of a new asylum seeker center. Anti-center protesters marched to the town hall to hea...
Brother of murdered Ryan files complaint from prison against PVV member over AI-edited courtroom sketch
Muhanad Al N., who is currently imprisoned for the murder of his sister Ryan, has filed a legal complaint against PVV MP Maikel Boon for using AI to alter a courtroom sketch. The politician allegedly ...
UvA must reverse changes to former VOC room
Van den Brink relaxes asylum policy for Afghan women
Dutch Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink has relaxed asylum policies for Afghan women and girls, making them eligible for residence permits in the vast majority of cases. This decision significantly i...
'Speeds higher at night on average than during day'. Beverwijk recognizes Laan der Nederlanden as a racetrack, but awaits renovation
Residents of Beverwijk have raised concerns about frequent speeding on the Laan der Nederlanden following a fatal accident last Sunday. The local municipality acknowledges the safety issues and intend...
Corona hearings begin today: these are the six unanswered questions (and the start of an answer)
The Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic begins today to address unresolved questions about policy choices. The committee aims to provide clarity on seve...
Axios: Iran and US near deal on truce extension
Negotiators from Iran and the United States have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to extend an existing truce and initiate talks on Iran's nuclear program. The deal currently awaits formal s...
Permanent end to parking at antique market around the Dreef
The Dutch Council of State has ruled that the municipality of Haarlem is allowed to ban parking on the grass during antique markets at the Dreef. This decision concludes a legal dispute between market...
Gas storage levels lag, state-owned EBN steps in
Dutch Minister Stientje van Veldhoven has informed Parliament that energy companies are currently failing to store sufficient gas for the coming winter. At the government's request, state-owned compan...
MBO students will be able to take a board year by 2028 at the latest
Dutch Education Minister Rianne Letschert announced that all vocational education (MBO) students, including minors, will be able to participate in a board year by 2028. This initiative aims to align M...
Opinion: ‘Area around Amsterdam Central is the city's calling card, cleaning must be prioritized there’
Is the leniency for Inez Weski fair when others faced the full brunt?
Haarlem children, let's play! City doubles playground equipment at 29 locations
The municipality of Haarlem will begin major maintenance on 29 playgrounds this autumn, doubling the number of play equipment items from 64 to 128 over the next 18 months. In addition to the new equip...