Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Princess Amalia brunches with Mayor Femke Halsema
Princess Amalia traveled to Amsterdam for a meeting with Mayor Femke Halsema at the mayor's invitation. The visit began with a brunch before the princess continued her busy schedule in the city.
Parliament seeks clarification on data vault containing benefits scandal documents
The Dutch House of Representatives has called for clarification regarding a data vault containing millions of documents related to the childcare benefit scandal that remained hidden for years. Politic...
Council of State: give more consideration to future generations
The Dutch Council of State has advised the cabinet to prioritize the interests of future generations when drafting legislation, particularly concerning long-term issues like climate change, housing, a...
Council of State extends priority for housing construction cases
The Dutch Council of State announced it will continue prioritizing housing construction cases until at least the summer of 2027 to address the country's housing shortage. Since the policy began in 202...
Iran reports rapprochement with US, but differences not yet resolved
An Iranian official reported progress in diplomatic negotiations with the United States, facilitated by a visit from Pakistan's army leader to Tehran. While the countries have moved closer together, s...
Australia increases defense budget under US pressure and China threat
Australia plans to increase its defense budget to 3% of its GDP within the next seven years in response to China's growing regional influence. The decision also follows pressure from the United States...
Petrol and diesel slightly cheaper again due to negotiation optimism
Fuel prices for petrol and diesel in the Netherlands decreased on Thursday morning following weeks of record highs, with prices reaching 2.546 and 2.589 euros per liter respectively. This decline is a...
Israeli minister: Netanyahu to speak with Lebanese president
Israeli Minister Gila Gamliel confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. This follows an earlier announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, ...
France releases Russian shadow fleet tanker after payment
The French navy has released the oil tanker Deyna, suspected of being part of the Russian shadow fleet, after nearly four weeks of detention. The vessel was permitted to continue its journey once its ...
Turkey issues arrest warrants after online posts about shootings
Turkish police have issued arrest warrants for 83 individuals following social media posts concerning two recent deadly school shootings. The authorities stated the warrants were based on inappropriat...
Heemstede residents on Leidsevaartweg are fed up with rumble strips: ‘It’s a buildup of noise’
Residents of the Rivierenbuurt neighborhood in Heemstede are frustrated by persistent noise pollution caused by rumble strips on Leidsevaartweg. Despite two years of discussions with the municipality,...
UWV assigns different staff to calculation work as it's not getting any easier yet
The Dutch employee insurance agency UWV has established a specialized team to prevent further errors in calculating WIA disability benefits, as detailed in its 2025 annual report. The agency continues...
UWV chief issues warning to cabinet before departure: Intervene
UWV chairman Maarten Camps has warned the Dutch cabinet that the agency can no longer handle the increasing volume of disability benefit applications. He predicts that 200,000 people could face waitin...
Amsterdam East: Cannot rule out drug bus staying at OLVG after all
The drug user bus located at the OLVG hospital in Amsterdam East may remain at its current site past June 30th because no alternative location has been found yet. Although the facility has helped redu...
German band Alphaville wants Trump to stop using hit Forever Young
The German band Alphaville has issued a legal demand for Donald Trump to stop using their hit song 'Forever Young' in his posts on Truth Social. The band shared the cease and desist notice on Instagra...
Death toll in Ukraine from Russian attacks continues to rise
At least twelve people were killed in Ukraine during Russian attacks that took place overnight from Wednesday to Thursday. Local authorities confirmed the casualties on Thursday as the death toll from...
Residents of Groningen earthquake zone remain critical of recovery
Residents in the Groningen earthquake zone remain highly critical of the lengthy and complex process involved in repairing and reinforcing their homes. This ongoing uncertainty is causing significant ...
Domus Plus back on Haarlem political agenda after years-long lawsuit. ‘How do we arrange 24-hour security for addiction shelter?’
Following a multi-year legal battle, the debate over the Domus Plus addiction care facility has returned to Haarlem's political agenda. While construction of the complex proceeds, local politicians ar...
Trump: Israel and Lebanon to talk on Thursday
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to take place this Thursday. The discussions mark a potential diplomatic engagement between the ...
Rijkswaterstaat on tunnel and on-ramp closures: 'Actually better for traffic flow'
Rijkswaterstaat is closing access ramps to the Velsertunnel to prevent significant traffic congestion in the regions of Velsen, Beverwijk, and Haarlem. While intended to improve overall traffic flow, ...
Education Inspectorate concerned by youth violence in Beverwijk-Haarlem: 'The context collapsed'
The Dutch Education Inspectorate's annual report highlights the youth violence that broke out between groups from Beverwijk and Haarlem in September 2025. The report cites the incident and accompanyin...
US kills crew in attack on suspected drug boat
The U.S. military killed three suspected drug traffickers during an attack on a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean. According to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the operation targeted individuals t...
Increased traffic in Bakkum, Limmen, and Akersloot due to A9 roadworks, but municipality takes no extra safety measures
Roadworks on the A9 motorway scheduled between May 18 and June 29 are expected to cause increased traffic in the villages of Limmen, Akersloot, and Bakkum. The local government of Castricum acknowledg...
Russian missiles hit Ukraine: 12-year-old child killed
Ukraine reported multiple Russian missile attacks across the country during the night of Wednesday to Thursday. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a 12-year-old child was killed during the str...
Amalia's working visit marks strong ties with Amsterdam, but it was once very different
US threatens sanctions against buyers of Iranian oil
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Wednesday that the United States is threatening to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil. The statement was made during a briefing with reporters a...
Woman (27) forced into prostitution, prosecutors demand 4 years for suspects
The Public Prosecution Service has demanded four-year prison sentences for a man and a woman accused of forcing a 27-year-old woman into prostitution in Amsterdam-Zuidoost for over a year. The victim ...
Russia threatens European drone sites, including in the Netherlands
The Russian Ministry of Defense has identified several European drone manufacturers as potential targets, warning that their support for Ukraine brings conflict with Russia closer. The list includes t...
White House: extension of ceasefire with Iran not requested
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt denied reports that the United States requested an extension of the ceasefire with Iran. Despite this, U.S. officials remain optimistic about reaching a deal ...
Cabinet considers phased accession of new EU member states
Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Berendsen expressed willingness to explore a phased approach for new countries joining the European Union. During a parliamentary debate, he stated the Netherlands i...