Politics News in English

Youth detention for 17-year-old boy who supplied cobras for failed attack on De Pizzabakkers

Amsterdam made over 1,800 homes habitable again last year

In 2025, the city of Amsterdam successfully returned over 1,800 vacant or fraudulently occupied homes to the housing market. These efforts are part of the municipality's ongoing strategy to combat hou...

From Haarlem to Nieuwegein by a single bus: Ministry study shows it is possible and profitable

The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has explored the potential for a new rapid bus route connecting the Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem to Nieuwegein. Research indicates that such a ...

Quint: COVID debate should have been broader in politics and media

Romy Quint, founder of the group Women for Freedom, testified before the parliamentary inquiry committee on Friday. She stated that a broader political and media discussion regarding COVID-19 policies...

Corona-critical group felt like a 'type of people's representative'

Romy Quint, a founder of the corona-critical group Vrijheid voor Vrouwen, stated to a parliamentary inquiry committee that her organization acted as a representative for citizens during the pandemic. ...

Jan-Bert Vroege leaves Amsterdam politics for alderman role in Almere: "Time for something else"

After sixteen years in Amsterdam politics, Jan-Bert Vroege has been installed as a new alderman in Almere. He will oversee a diverse portfolio focused on the city's future, including economy, innovati...

Iran begins series of mourning ceremonies for Ali Khamenei funeral

Mourning ceremonies have begun in Tehran for the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who passed away in late February. The funeral proceedings are being held at the Imam Khomeini Mosque comple...

Cabinet invests 450 million euros in underground hydrogen storage

The Dutch cabinet is investing 450 million euros from the Climate Fund into the construction of underground hydrogen storage facilities. This initiative aims to support the transition to renewable ene...

FNV welcomes ban on temporary agency workers in meat sector

The trade union FNV has welcomed Minister Hans Vijlbrief's decision to ban temporary workers in the meat sector starting in June 2028. While the union views this as a breakthrough against structural a...

Politics on the Amstel: PRO gaslights the city council and the 'little train' is back in council

The podcast Politiek aan de Amstel discusses recent political tensions in the Amsterdam city council, including controversy surrounding the party PRO and the performance of mayor Femke Halsema. Journa...

NATO countries agree on 140 billion euros for Ukraine over two years

NATO member states have agreed to provide 140 billion euros in aid to Ukraine over the next two years. The 32 leaders are expected to formalize this commitment during an upcoming summit.

EU adds six Russians to sanctions list over Navalny poisoning

The European Union has imposed sanctions on six Russian individuals, including military scientists, for their alleged involvement in the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. These measures i...

Letschert proud of plan for mandatory internship compensation

Dutch Minister of Education Rianne Letschert has expressed pride in a new cabinet proposal to legally mandate internship compensation for vocational and higher education students. She stated that inte...

Minister still has no plan for housing vulnerable groups

Minister Eleanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan has not yet formulated a concrete plan to provide housing for vulnerable groups facing critical needs. While various stakeholders have developed preliminary buil...

Spectacular: judges find traffic fines too high, potential consequences for cabinet policy

Three judges have ruled against the government's decision to increase traffic fines for 2024 and 2025. These rulings could significantly impact national traffic fine policy in the Netherlands.

Cabinet wants more control over government cloud usage

State Secretary Willemijn Aerdts has announced plans to reduce the Dutch government's reliance on American tech companies for cloud services. The initiative aims to enhance data sovereignty and securi...

Holiday park residents allowed to stay, government introduces new rules

The Dutch cabinet has reached an agreement with municipalities to allow permanent residents of holiday parks to remain in their homes. Additionally, the government is developing new regulations to fac...

Vijlbrief: Meat might be 'a bit' more expensive due to temp agency ban

Dutch Minister Hans Vijlbrief suggests that meat prices may increase slightly starting in June 2028 due to an upcoming ban on temporary employment agencies in the meat sector. He defends the policy as...

Flash powder on suspect could link to explosive attack

Provinces once again urge municipalities to house status holders

Dutch provinces are resuming their oversight role by calling municipalities to account for failing to meet housing targets for refugees with residency permits. While provinces have a legal mandate to ...

Polish PM believes Ukraine wants to de-escalate after row

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Ukraine is committed to improving its tense relationship with Poland. This announcement followed discussions between the foreign ministers of both countri...

Uproar in Belgium over exam question describing Leopold II as a 'shrewd strategist'

A controversy has emerged in Belgium over a school exam question that describes King Leopold II as a 'shrewd strategist'. Critics are upset because the question fails to mention the atrocities committ...

Mandatory internship compensation, but no minimum amount

The Dutch cabinet has decided that all students will be entitled to a mandatory internship allowance in the future. However, the government has not set a minimum amount, allowing for significant varia...

Former top official: curfew was proposed due to student housing

Former senior official Hanneke Schipper-Spanninga testified that the implementation of a curfew was first considered in September 2020 due to difficulties in enforcing coronavirus regulations within s...

Interpol seeks Ukrainian woman (39) after Monaco bombing

Interpol has issued a red notice for 39-year-old Ukrainian national Anastasiia Berezovska in connection with a recent bombing in Monaco. Reports suggest the suspect was recently spotted in Germany, wh...

Possible traffic fine increases may violate European law

The Advocate General has advised the Supreme Court that significant increases in traffic fines may conflict with European law. The advice argues that individuals who are unable to pay should not be su...

Former senior official: logical that OMT advice was leading

Former senior civil servant Hanneke Schipper-Spanninga testified before the parliamentary inquiry committee on coronavirus that it was logical for OMT recommendations to guide government policy. She e...

Former senior official: cabinet had to deal with clashing fundamental rights

Former senior official Hanneke Schipper-Spanninga testified to the parliamentary inquiry committee that the Dutch cabinet faced the challenge of balancing conflicting fundamental rights when formulati...

Ironically, the appointment of the district administrators will likely prove the simplest part of the reform

Much criticism of Castricum coalition agreement: 'many ambitions, but few real choices'. 'This is emptying the municipal treasury'

Opposition parties in Castricum have criticized the new coalition agreement for being overly ambitious while lacking clear decision-making. Despite the criticism regarding financial management, all pa...