Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
RMS president calls for transfer of former Moluccan leader's body
John Wattilete, the president of the Republic of the South Moluccas (RMS), has called for the return of the remains of former leader Chris Soumokil. The request was made during a speech at the unveili...
Jetten apologizes for treatment of Moluccan migrants
Prime Minister Rob Jetten apologized on behalf of the government for the historical treatment of Moluccan migrants following the Indonesian War of Independence. The statement was made during the unvei...
‘Little Local’ grant scheme for small-scale projects
The 'Little Local' subsidy scheme is now open for applications from individuals with small-scale projects that benefit their neighborhood or region. This initiative aims to support community-driven id...
US-Iran talks begin in Switzerland
Talks between Iran and the United States, mediated by Qatar, have commenced in Switzerland. The discussions focus on the situation in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Israeli minister: We can still take action in Lebanon
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli troops in Lebanon maintain the authority to eliminate threats without any restrictions. He emphasized that the unconditional priority remains t...
Harbor festival on Java Island: "Impressive to see"
Amsterdam is hosting the Zeehavendagen festival this weekend on Java-eiland to showcase its identity as a port city. Port industry director Kees Noorman emphasized the harbor's significance, covering ...
Sky News: British Foreign Secretary asks Starmer to leave
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure to resign after Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and several other ministers reportedly called for his departure. Multiple British medi...
Parents demand safe playground in Santpoort-Zuid as only play area is closed for renovation: 'Now they mostly just hang around the square in front of the Deka'
Parents in Santpoort-Zuid have petitioned the Velsen municipality for a safe playground after the renovation of Brederode Daltonschool left local children without a designated play area. Currently, th...
Ria Heemskerk still not tired of council work in Hillegom after 25 years: 'Council members in smaller municipalities should actually get more'
Ria Heemskerk, the longest-serving council member in Hillegom, is currently serving her seventh term after 25 years in office. The 69-year-old leader of the Bloeiend Hillegom party remains dedicated t...
Iran calls Lebanon situation main topic in talks with US
Iran has identified the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon as the primary topic for upcoming discussions with the United States. Additionally, the Iranian Foreign Ministry plans to addre...
Province wants Limburgers to speak Limburgish more often
The province of Limburg has launched a campaign to encourage residents to speak the regional Limburgish language more frequently in public. To facilitate this, speakers are encouraged to make an 'L' h...
'Nature should be the foundation of new construction plans': Ecologist Richard on taking bats into account in housing development
Ecologist Richard Witte argues that nature should be a fundamental component of housing developments rather than an afterthought, following news that nine homes near Heemskerk station were removed fro...
End of net metering hits hard: energy bills up by hundreds, but these tips help you recoup solar costs quickly
Dutch households with solar panels will face significantly higher energy bills starting in 2027 due to the termination of the national net metering scheme. Despite these costs, experts suggest specifi...
Life behind the barrier with poor education: Augustien (76) prefers recognition over apologies
Augustien Matulessy-Souisa reflects on her childhood experiences living in a Moluccan residential camp, highlighting the isolation and poor education faced by her community. As Prime Minister Jetten p...
Bob Deen: 'War is not a natural phenomenon that you can't do anything about'
Security expert Bob Deen has been appointed as the new director of Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, starting next month. Deen, who became a prominent figure for his a...
Mystery solved: The impressive story behind this statue
This article explains the history and significance of the statue located at the Anton de Komplein, a site known for its regular markets. It identifies the figure depicted and shares the impressive sto...
'Council work should not be based on money,' says Marielys Roos (HvB) about her compensation
Marielys Roos, a council member for Hart voor Bloemendaal, emphasizes that serving in local government should be a way to give back to the community rather than a job motivated by money. Balancing fif...
Paint peeling from Reflecting Pool, Trump blames vandals
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that several individuals have been arrested for vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington. One of the suspects identified is 67-year-old Da...
Charles to be first monarch to make tax returns public
King Charles III will become the first British monarch to make his personal tax returns public in an effort to increase transparency. The decision by Buckingham Palace comes as the royal family's fina...
The Observer: British PM Starmer to resign Monday
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce his resignation on Monday, according to a report by The Observer. This follows previous media reports that he was weighing his future over t...
US Vice President to Switzerland for talks with Iran
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has traveled to Switzerland for diplomatic talks with Iran focused on regional stability. Vance expressed hope that the discussions would lead to progress in ending attack...
Al Jazeera cameraman killed in Gaza attack
An Al Jazeera journalist was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza. The attack, which targeted a house, reportedly killed two other individuals as well.
VVD’s Eric van der Burg returns to cabinet: ‘I laugh a lot, but I also wear my heart on my sleeve’
Eric van der Burg has returned to the Dutch cabinet after a brief hiatus due to conscientious objections regarding the PVV. The VVD politician, known for his outspoken nature, discusses his political ...
'No, it is fundamentally unfair that a Zandvoort councillor is paid less than in Haarlem': Belinda Göransson has been a councillor for 20 years
Belinda Göransson, a long-serving council member, argues that it is unfair for representatives in smaller municipalities to receive lower pay than their counterparts in larger cities like Haarlem. Sh...
Risk of unrest in Zandvoort: municipality declares emergency decree
The municipality of Zandvoort has implemented an emergency ordinance until Monday to manage high visitor volumes and prevent potential disturbances. This measure grants authorities additional powers t...
Pakistan: Sunday talks between Iran and US in Switzerland
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that talks between Iran and the United States will take place this Sunday in Bürgenstock, Switzerland. Pakistan continues to serve as a mediator to...
Another emergency order in Zandvoort to ensure safety through Monday
An emergency ordinance has been issued for Zandvoort, effective until Monday evening, to ensure public safety on the beach and in the town center. This measure follows previous safety interventions im...
MiGreat: Six people outside in Ter Apel during severe weather
Six people, including two children, were reportedly left outside in severe weather on Friday evening after arriving at the Ter Apel reception center. The aid organization MiGreat criticized official a...
Iran: Strait of Hormuz closed again over attacks on Lebanon
Iran has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli military strikes on Lebanon. Tehran stated that the attacks represent a serious violation of a recent agreement between Ir...
'Are you going to the mayor?' ask PRO councilor Kim’s children weekly: 'I rely heavily on my family to manage everything'
Kim van Goethem, a council member in Haarlemmermeer, discusses the challenge of balancing her political work with a job at the municipality of Haarlem and a family of two young children. She credits t...