Politics News in English

PVV threatens to vote against Faber's asylum laws in Senate

PVV Senator Alexander van Hattem has threatened to vote against asylum legislation proposed by his party colleague, Marjolein Faber, in the Dutch Senate. Van Hattem expressed dissatisfaction with the ...

Cabinet announces support package of up to 1 billion euros to mitigate impact of war

The Dutch cabinet will announce a support package of up to 1 billion euros on Monday to mitigate the economic impact of the war in Iran. The measures include an increase in the untaxed travel allowanc...

Israel and Lebanon hold rare direct talks in US

Israel and Lebanon have commenced their first direct high-level talks since 1993 at the U.S. State Department in Washington. Ambassadors from both nations met to engage in rare diplomatic discussions ...

From fire safety to noise nuisance: Heemskerk FvD bombards council with questions about asylum seekers' center

The Heemskerk faction of the Forum for Democracy (FvD) has submitted a series of questions to the local government regarding plans for a new asylum seekers' center. The party's concerns include fire s...

Europe takes Trumpian measures to support steel industry

The European Commission is implementing quotas, import tariffs, and state aid to support the European steel industry. These protectionist measures mirror strategies previously used by the United State...

Foreign ministers: Solution in Lebanon would help entire region

Foreign ministers from 17 countries, including the Netherlands, have urged Lebanon and Israel to utilize the current ceasefire opportunity to end their conflict. The joint statement warns that the ong...

Parking no longer free in Gein: "I'll have to pay, because I don't want that fine"

The neighborhood of Gein has become the final area in Amsterdam-Zuidoost to transition from free to paid parking this week. While some residents are unhappy with the new permit costs for multiple vehi...

Nieuw-West replaces old hotel with housing and new luxury hotel at Osdorpplein

These departments score lowest in satisfaction at the Municipality of Amsterdam: ‘A lot of work to be done’

Civil servants give municipality solid marks, but social safety scores low

Employees of the municipality of Amsterdam gave their employer an average rating of 7.5, though concerns remain regarding social safety and high work pressure. A recent survey found that 22% of staff ...

Civil servants give municipality high marks, but it scores low on social safety

Municipal employees in Amsterdam gave their employer an average rating of 7.5, though a recent survey highlighted serious concerns regarding social safety and high work pressure. Reports of internal u...

Prosecutors demand four years for man for financing Hamas

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has demanded a four-year prison sentence against 58-year-old Amin A. for allegedly financing Hamas. Prosecutors claim that between 2010 and 2023, A. raised over 8....

Fossil fuel phase-out summit approaches, expectations diverge

The Netherlands and Colombia are co-hosting the first international conference on phasing out fossil fuels at the end of this month in Santa Marta, Colombia. Ministers from approximately fifty countri...

Italy suspends defense agreement with Israel

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the suspension of a defense agreement with Israel that had been in place for more than twenty years. The announcement was made during Meloni's official ...

Trump 'shocked' by Meloni's stance on Iran war

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed shock and disappointment after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly refused to assist the United States in the conflict with Iran. This tension marks ...

25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of planning an attack

A 25-year-old man from Den Bosch was arrested last Friday on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service announced the arrest on Tuesday, following investigations i...

Former Turkish opposition leader sentenced to prison for insulting Erdogan

Former Turkish opposition leader Kemal Kiliçdaroğlu has been sentenced to nearly a year in prison for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kiliçdaroğlu led the main opposition party, the CHP,...

IMF warns of global recession if Middle East war escalates

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that a global recession is highly likely if the conflict in the Middle East escalates and keeps oil prices above $100 per barrel through 2027. This economic...

Defense agreement for innovative Ukraine and rearming Germany

Germany and Ukraine have agreed to a defense partnership focused on weapon production and knowledge exchange. Germany will finance the procurement of Patriot missiles and anti-aircraft systems for Ukr...

IMF fears worst year for global economy since start of pandemic due to Middle East war

The IMF warns that the global economy may face its worst performance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Citing high uncertainty regarding the dura...

Red Cross workers supply Iran by land

International Red Cross and Red Crescent aid workers are delivering humanitarian supplies to Iran via land routes instead of the usual air or sea transport. This change is due to the current conflict ...

Haarlem almost got the trolleybus: costs too high and Heemstede fiercely opposed

In 1945, a proposal was made to replace Haarlem's tram system with electric trolleybuses, which would have provided quiet and clean public transport decades ago. However, the plan was ultimately rejec...

Administrative court rejects planning compensation for Waterakkers residents. Plaintiff: ‘Outrageous how Heemskerk treats residents’

An administrative court in Haarlem has rejected a claim for damages from residents in Heemskerk who argued that nearby housing construction decreased their property value. The residents expressed frus...

Minister: Undocumented migrants only punishable if they fail to cooperate

Dutch Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink clarified that undocumented migrants will only face criminal prosecution if they fail to cooperate with their deportation process. This assurance was given dur...

Child Mayor Kiyaro: ‘Once you put on your chain of office, you are someone’

Amsterdam is preparing to elect a new child mayor and child council for the upcoming term. The outgoing child mayor, Kiyaro, reflected on his experiences and the importance of the role during his year...

Iraq has agreements with US and Iran on Hormuz blockade

Iraq's Ministry of Oil has reached agreements with both Iran and the United States to ensure the continued transport of Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz. Although specific details were not discl...

Council of State critical of Jetten cabinet's financial choices

The Dutch Council of State has criticized the financial policies of the Jetten cabinet, stating that current decisions are insufficient to address future economic challenges. Additionally, the advisor...

Demonstration at Senate against proposed asylum laws

Protesters from Extinction Rebellion and other organizations gathered outside the Senate in The Hague to demonstrate against proposed asylum legislation. The protest occurred as the Senate held furthe...

PRO Haarlem, D66 and CDA want to talk to residents

Following the March 2026 municipal elections, the political parties PRO Haarlem, D66, and CDA are inviting residents to share their ideas to help shape the city's plan for the next four years. Communi...

Justice leaves Carlo Heuvelman’s family in the cold, Mallorca case compensation still unpaid five years later

The parents of Carlo Heuvelman are still waiting for a court-ordered compensation of over 69,000 euros five years after his fatal assault in Mallorca. Despite legal confirmation of their entitlement a...