Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Judge seizes passport of Spanish PM's wife
A Spanish judge has ordered Begoña Gómez, the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to surrender her passport and remain in the country ahead of her trial. The travel restriction also applies to on...
New PvdD leader Teunissen wants to stand up for animals and people
Christine Teunissen, the new leader of the Party for the Animals (PvdD), pledged to advocate for both animals and people during her first party congress in Den Bosch. She emphasized that the party's m...
Japanese imperial couple received in Belgium after visiting the Netherlands
Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrived in Belgium on Saturday to begin a two-day state visit following their stay in the Netherlands. They were welcomed at Melsbroek military airport by ...
UN human rights chief concerned over European return rules
UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk expressed concern over the European Parliament's recent approval of stricter rules for returning rejected asylum seekers. He urged the EU and its member state...
The man who mobilized 300,000 protesters warns: ‘How to bring a government to its knees’
Former FNV leader Lodewijk de Waal provides guidance to current trade union leaders as they launch a week of actions against the Dutch cabinet. Having previously mobilized 300,000 protesters, De Waal ...
Councilor Bas de Ruig reviews documents during dinner: ‘Sometimes there is little time between work and council’
Bas de Ruig, the 32-year-old floor leader for D66 in the municipality of Velsen, discusses the challenges of balancing his political duties with a 32-hour work week. He currently serves in the local c...
Councilor Moussa Aynan wished he had spent more time with his newborns: ‘I wasn’t well prepared’
Haarlem council member Moussa Aynan reflects on the difficulty of balancing his twenty-year political career with the birth and upbringing of his three children. He notes that he was not well prepared...
World Cup quickly becomes political minefield, former minister Conny Helder knows all about it
Former Dutch sports minister Conny Helder reflects on the political complexities and pressures involved in representing the Netherlands at the World Cup. Political reporter Hans van Soest notes a shif...
Former SP chairman and co-founder Hans van Hooft (84) dies
Hans van Hooft, a co-founder and former chairman of the Dutch Socialist Party (SP), has passed away at the age of 84. A prominent figure in the party's history, he served as a national lead candidate ...
Bolivia declares state of emergency over blockade crisis
The President of Bolivia has declared a state of emergency following weeks of public unrest and road blockades. This measure grants the government increased powers to restore order, including the depl...
Removing insulation beads makes room for bats: ‘A pleasant climate is always created between the walls’
Alderman Judith Schram participated in bricking up a wall at a residence in Castricum to create a new nursery habitat for bats. The initiative involves removing insulation materials to provide a suita...
Deaths reported in Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon
At least five people have been killed in southern Lebanon following Israeli strikes involving drones, fighter jets, and artillery. According to the Lebanese state news agency NNA, the attacks specific...
Coalition has good ideas but panel members doubt city will become quieter and cleaner
A survey of 1,700 Amsterdam residents shows mixed reactions to the new PRO Amsterdam and D66 coalition agreement, which cancels controversial plans for an erotic center and a tourist weed ban. While t...
Municipalities build asylum seeker centers in protected landscapes: only as a last resort
Several municipalities in North Holland are seeking or have received permission to build temporary asylum seeker centers on protected provincial land due to a lack of space within urban borders. The p...
Why does a Haarlem city councilor earn more than twice as much as those in Velsen or Bloemendaal?
As new municipal councils begin their terms in the Netherlands, questions have arisen regarding the time commitment and financial compensation for local officials. The article investigates the signifi...
Beverwijk takes extra security measures during city festival
The municipality of Beverwijk is implementing extra security measures for its upcoming City Festival to prevent further incidents. This decision follows an evaluation of previous editions, which were ...
Saskya (59) returns to Amsterdam after 30 years in the US: 'I lived in a dictatorship there'
Amsterdam struggles to find drug consumption rooms despite urgent need
A Damrak without Bijenkorf traffic jams but with wide sidewalks: ‘We can do without those cars’
Why Amsterdam welcomed migrants, the unemployed and the homeless with open arms in the 19th century
Zelensky: Belarus must remove drone signal boosters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given Belarus one week to remove signal boosters near the border that he claims are used to assist Russian drone attacks. Zelensky warned that Ukraine will t...
Trump shows Qatari 747 to join Air Force One fleet
US President Donald Trump inspected a modified Boeing 747 at an airbase in Maryland that was gifted by Qatar. The aircraft is slated to become part of the presidential Air Force One fleet.
Dutch historian discovers first portrait of the States-General from 1608
Dutch cultural historian Joris Oddens has discovered the first portrait of the States-General, which dates back to 1608. The artwork is significant as it commemorates the first recognition of the Neth...
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences faces further cuts: 600 jobs at risk
Poland strips Zelenskyy of award over diplomatic row
Polish President Karol Nawrocki has stripped his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian honor. The decision follows a diplomatic dispute ...
Abdullah helps the homeless with water and sunscreen on the hottest days of the year
Field workers in Amsterdam are distributing water and sunscreen to homeless people as part of the city's summer heat protocol triggered by high temperatures. The initiative includes extending hours at...
Anti-torture committee: Care in immigration detention centers insufficient
The Council of Europe's anti-torture committee (CPT) has reported that care for foreigners in Dutch detention centers is partially insufficient. Following an October visit to facilities in Rotterdam, ...
More than 100,000 people bought summer train passes
Approximately 105,000 people have purchased a discounted summer train subscription in the Netherlands. State Secretary Annet Bertram announced the figures during an interview on the NPO Radio 1 progra...
Washington Post: Israel a threat to ceasefire according to US report
A U.S. intelligence report indicates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may jeopardize a truce between the United States and Iran due to internal pressure to continue military operations. ...
Times: PM Starmer to decide on resignation this weekend
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to decide this weekend whether to resign from his position. This follows reports from The Times that several ministers called for his departure on Frida...