Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
End of the road for Haarlem nature garden? "Ten years of work gone"
Board members of a permaculture garden in Haarlem fear their decade of ecological work will be destroyed by municipal plans to raise the site's ground level with a meter of sand. While the city argues...
North Holland municipalities fined for investigating Muslim residents
The Dutch Data Protection Authority has fined ten municipalities a total of €250,000 for conducting secret investigations into the religious and political backgrounds of their Muslim residents. Thes...
Ray of hope for new Westeinder campsite owner: municipality issues permit after all
The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has granted an operating permit to Kleen Estate for camping De Westeinder, reversing an earlier refusal based on past asbestos violations. While this is a legal vict...
Unrest in Uithoorn over removal of sensitive Schiphol enforcement point
Residents of Uithoorn are protesting the removal of a key noise enforcement point used to monitor Schiphol Airport's aircraft noise, fearing it will mask structural violations and reduce financial com...
Amsterdam to get monument for guest workers: "People who helped build the city"
Amsterdam is planning to build a monument to honor guest workers for their historical contributions to the city, following strong support from the Moroccan and Turkish communities. The project has a b...
Haarlemmermeer Lyceum discriminated against student by preventing prayer at school
The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has ruled that Haarlemmermeer Lyceum in Hoofddorp discriminated against a Muslim student by preventing her from praying and refusing to establish a quiet roo...
Haarlem takes extra step against discrimination
The city of Haarlem has introduced a new action plan for 2026-2028 aimed at preventing discrimination by improving reporting awareness, establishing an organizational "allies network," and honoring co...
Disclosure of documents and information regarding diversity and inclusion Part 2
The City of Haarlem has disclosed documents and information regarding diversity and inclusion following a request made under the Open Government Act (Woo). The request was originally submitted by an i...
Business premises closed after discovery of drugs and fireworks
Mayor Jos Wienen has closed three business premises in the Waarderpolder industrial area of Haarlem after police discovered 666 hemp plants and nearly 1,100 kilograms of illegal fireworks. The illegal...
Mayor closes house after drugs found
Mayor Jos Wienen has closed a residence in Haarlem for one year after authorities discovered nearly 10 kilograms of soft drugs, weapons, and evidence of trafficking following an anonymous tip. A court...
Should the civil service be swept clean or is bureaucratic bloat exaggerated?
Amsterdam is planning to reorganize its civil service following criticism over "administrative obesity" and concerns that its 22,000-person workforce, the largest in the Netherlands, is inefficient an...
Street safety a top priority, but unclear where exactly it is unsafe
Following high-profile violent incidents in Amsterdam, street safety has become a top priority, yet research reveals that official data fails to clearly identify specific unsafe locations. Although a ...
Many nightlife businesses worried about the future: Fishing in the same pond
A survey of 26 Amsterdam nightlife businesses reveals that nearly half of entrepreneurs fear for their survival due to declining visitor numbers and falling revenues. This downturn is attributed to ri...
Lease signed: Ruigoord can stay for another 25 years
The Ruigoord artist village near Amsterdam has secured its future for the next 25 years after signing a new lease agreement with the Port of Amsterdam and the city municipality. Effective from January...
Council criticizes GVB over treatment of staff: GVB finds apologizing quite difficult
Amsterdam city council members have sharply criticized public transport operator GVB for its poor treatment of employees and a culture of intimidation, with several political parties calling for the i...
Suriname Museum opening live on AT5 this afternoon
King Willem-Alexander will officially open the Suriname Museum in Amsterdam-Oost today as part of the celebrations marking 50 years of Surinamese independence. Accompanied by Mayor Femke Halsema, the ...
The multi-headed waste monster: why fines alone won't clean up the city
The City of Amsterdam has expanded its team of waste enforcement officers to 53 members to crack down on illegal trash dumping by searching for identifiable information on items left outside container...
Growing criticism of GVB, yet it is always granted the right to operate here: why?
Despite mounting criticism over service disruptions, safety incidents, and mismanagement, Amsterdam’s public transport provider GVB was recently granted a new 11-year exclusive operating contract. W...
More than 500 malfunctions: why the bicycle conveyor belt at Central Station keeps failing
The moving walkways at Amsterdam Central Station’s €91 million underground bicycle parking facility have recorded 506 malfunctions since opening in early 2023. These frequent disruptions are cause...
City cleaning to return to neighborhood-based approach soon, says alderman
Amsterdam's city cleaning and garbage collection services will return to neighborhood-based work schedules in 2024 to combat high sick leave and a loss of local expertise. Alderman Van Buren announced...
You can't peak too early in your career: 'As long as you have a goal'
Recent high-profile political successes, such as Rob Jetten's potential premiership in the Netherlands and Zohran Mamdani's mayoral win in New York, have raised questions about peaking too early in a ...
Nuisance from illegal street races in the port area: It's life-threatening
Illegal street racing and drifting in Amsterdam’s Westelijk Havengebied are causing significant safety concerns, noise, and litter for local businesses, some of which handle hazardous materials. Des...
NU+ | Emotion when voting: what you sacrifice by voting strategically
The article examines the practice of strategic voting, where individuals choose a candidate or party based on potential political outcomes rather than their primary personal preference. It explores co...
NU+ | Taking a 'ballot selfie'? What is and isn't allowed at the polling station
Ahead of the Dutch general elections this Wednesday, voters are being informed of the specific rules and regulations to follow at polling stations. These guidelines cover permissible actions such as t...
NU+ | The elections are around the corner: how do you decide who to vote for?
With the Dutch House of Representatives elections scheduled to take place in less than a week, voters are currently navigating a wide array of political positions and voting aids. This article explore...
NU+ | Voting in another municipality? You must arrange a voter pass now
Voters wishing to cast their ballot in a different municipality during the Dutch general elections must apply for a special voter pass now. Since standard polling cards only permit voting within one's...
More than 11,000 Amsterdammers without a permanent home, including 1,500 children
A comprehensive new census has identified 11,065 homeless people in the Amsterdam-Amstelland region, including 1,446 children. The data reveals that only 12% live on the street, while the majority are...
Mayor Halsema closed 431 buildings in five years: excessive measure or necessary for peace?
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema ordered the closure of 431 buildings between 2020 and July 2025 to restore public order following incidents involving drugs, weapons, or violence. While the measure is in...
From factory to porch #3: The explosion-free city
The third episode of the AT5 documentary series "Van fabriek tot portiek" explores potential solutions to the surge of explosive violence in Amsterdam, highlighting the recruitment of children as youn...
South Tyrol hotel owners fear empty rooms due to unusual tax
Starting in 2026, the Italian region of South Tyrol plans to introduce a tourist tax for dogs brought along by vacationers. Local hotel owners are expressing concern that the new fee will lead to vaca...