Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Far-right protesters throw fireworks in central Utrecht
Dozens of far-right protesters from the group Defend Netherlands gathered in Utrecht for a memorial for a French activist. The demonstration near the ACU political center turned hostile as participant...
Man killed on speedboat near Cuba wanted to spark uprising
One of the men shot dead by the Cuban coast guard on a speedboat this past Wednesday was allegedly planning to initiate an uprising on the island. A political ally of the man shared this information w...
Iran-US negotiations in Geneva end
Negotiations between the United States and Iran in Geneva have concluded with significant progress reported by the Omani mediator. The talks are scheduled to resume next week in Vienna.
Group of antifascists at ACU in Utrecht over Defend Netherlands
A group of 150 to 200 anti-fascist demonstrators gathered in downtown Utrecht to protest against the far-right organization Defend Netherlands. The protesters chanted slogans such as "never again fasc...
Afghanistan claims retaliatory attacks on Pakistan
Afghanistan has launched retaliatory strikes against Pakistan, claiming to have captured several military bases along the border. Pakistan countered that the attacks were unprovoked and stated that it...
Fierce, restrained, calm, then a trick: how Jetten handled his first major debate as prime minister
Rob Jetten participated in his first major debate as the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands, exhibiting a measured and controlled demeanor. During the session, he remained cautious with his promise...
Czech Republic distances itself from NATO agreement on higher defense budget
The new Czech government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, is distancing itself from NATO defense spending targets by implementing budget cuts. Babiš stated that the country is currently not on t...
Judge allows Trump to continue White House ballroom construction
A judge has ruled that U.S. President Donald Trump can proceed with the construction of a ballroom at the White House. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by a heritage organization that sought to bl...
Too beautiful to leave in a shed: Karen from Heemskerk wants model of historic village center in town hall
Karen Vleugel from Heemskerk is advocating for a historical scale model of the village center to be permanently displayed in the town hall. The model, which offers a glimpse into the town's past, is c...
EU anti-fraud office to investigate Mandelson
The European Commission has requested that the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) conduct an investigation into former European Commissioner Peter Mandelson. This decision follows the release of a sign...
Zandvoort Catholic church considers legal action over noise from neighboring theater
The parish board of St. Agatha Church in Zandvoort is considering legal action against the municipality due to concerns about noise pollution from the adjacent Theater De Krocht. The two buildings sha...
Hillary Clinton says she has no information about Epstein
Hillary Clinton testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee on Thursday regarding the crimes of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In an opening statement shared on X, the former First Lady...
Unidentified drone shot down near French aircraft carrier
The Swedish armed forces disrupted the control of a suspicious drone discovered near a French aircraft carrier visiting Sweden. The military intervention occurred while the vessel was on a scheduled v...
D66 Haarlem demands answers over paving stones after lead candidate Steven Jonker takes a tumble
Three D66 council members in Haarlem have submitted formal questions to Alderman Robbert Berkhout regarding the maintenance of city sidewalks. The inquiry was prompted by an incident where party leade...
Tubes and cameras for traffic count on Laan der Nederlanden. Beverwijk investigates road redesign
The municipality of Beverwijk is conducting a traffic count on the Laan der Nederlanden from March 2 to March 15 using cameras and sensors. The data collected will be used to redesign intersections to...
Klaver on Jetten's Gaza stance: Schoof could have said that too
During a parliamentary debate on the government's policy statement, Jesse Klaver criticized Rob Jetten's stance on the Gaza Strip, claiming it mirrored Prime Minister Dick Schoof's position. Klaver no...
Russia may block Telegram in early April
Russian authorities may block the messaging app Telegram starting in early April, according to reports from news outlet RBC. The government has cited the presence of illegal and extremist content on t...
Jetten won't say if Sjoerdsma can join trade mission to China
Minister Rob Jetten has not confirmed whether Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma can participate in trade missions to China due to Sjoerdsma's presence on a Chinese sanctions list. Jetten stated that Sjo...
Cabinet will no longer provide promised extra money for Ukraine
The Dutch government will not provide an additional 2 billion euros in aid to Ukraine this year, despite a previously passed motion in the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Rob Jetten announced...
New round of dismissals in Chinese politics, including minister
A Chinese minister and nineteen parliamentarians have been removed from their positions following a parliamentary committee vote on Thursday. The dismissals were carried out as part of a major ongoing...
Acting PM Jetten on PVV no-confidence motion: ‘Since it’s the first, I’ll frame it’
Prime Minister Rob Jetten faced his first motion of no confidence from the PVV during a parliamentary debate on the new cabinet's government statement. Despite tensions surrounding the administration'...
Parents surprised by voting passes for 16- and 17-year-olds, but it's not a mistake
Parents in Amsterdam were surprised to receive voting passes for their 16 and 17-year-old children, but city officials clarified that this is not a mistake. Following a 2021 council decision, minors a...
Court temporarily blocks AfD extremism label
A German court in Cologne has issued a preliminary ruling preventing the domestic intelligence agency (BfV) from labeling the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party as extremist for the time being. The d...
London's famous Oxford Street to become a pedestrian zone
London's famous Oxford Street will be converted into a pedestrian zone following a decision by Mayor Sadiq Khan. The project aims to pedestrianize over 900 meters of the iconic shopping street located...
Amsterdam to get dedicated bicycle bridge to Zeeburgereiland
Amsterdam is planning to construct a dedicated bicycle bridge next to the existing Amsterdamsebrug to facilitate travel to Zeeburgereiland. The new bridge is intended to alleviate congestion, as curre...
Civil servants to strike, DUO and Tax Administration less accessible
National civil servants across the Netherlands are staging a 24-hour strike this Tuesday to protest the lack of a pay raise this year. The industrial action is expected to make services such as DUO an...
Controversial plan proceeds: free abortion care for millions of women in Europe
The European Commission will provide funding to support women from EU countries where abortion is illegal by subsidizing care in other member states. Countries like the Netherlands will be able to acc...
UN World Food Programme chief McCain resigns
Cindy McCain, the 71-year-old director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), has announced her resignation due to health concerns. She stated that she can no longer properly fulfill the demanding role...
Started with three aldermen and finished together: Jan, René and Judie hope this course continues
Aldermen Jan Schouten, René Oud, and Judie Kloosterman are concluding their terms in Uitgeest as upcoming elections approach. The trio expressed hope that their current policy direction will be maint...
Security for Lale Gül will not be discontinued after objection after all
The security protection for writer Lale Gül will continue after her lawyer successfully challenged a previous decision by the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) to end it. ...