Politics News in English

This is why COVID inquiry chair Daan De Kort is wearing an earpiece

Daan de Kort, the chairman of the Dutch parliamentary inquiry committee into the COVID-19 pandemic, explained why he wears an earpiece during public hearings. He addressed the topic on Friday after re...

Brussels pledges 16 billion in EU funds to new Hungarian Prime Minister

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced the release of 16 billion euros in EU funds to Hungary. This follows a meeting in Brussels with the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Péte...

Emergency ordinance in Zandvoort all weekend: 'Immediate action against nuisance'

The municipality of Zandvoort has implemented an emergency ordinance for the weekend to allow police to act immediately against public disturbances following a series of violent incidents. The measure...

Cabinet working on solution for Ter Apel, possible tent camps on government land

The Dutch cabinet is considering setting up tent camps on government land to alleviate overcrowding at the asylum seeker registration center in Ter Apel. This measure is being evaluated as local munic...

Arrest in security risk zone near Zandvoort beach

A person was arrested on Thursday for insulting behavior within a designated security risk area at Zandvoort beach. During the police operation, approximately one hundred individuals were stopped and ...

Russia says it will soon take countermeasures against Romania

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced that the Kremlin will soon implement countermeasures against Romania. No specific details regarding the nature of these measures were pr...

Jetten also shocked by cost of ministers' private jets

Dutch Minister Rob Jetten expressed shock at the nearly 2 million euros spent by the government on private jet rentals for ministerial travel over the past five years. According to reports, the Minist...

Cabinet finds Netanyahu's Gaza plan extremely concerning

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy more of the Gaza Strip as extremely concerning. The cabinet maintains that the proposal co...

Haarlem redesigns Kleine Houtweg for more greenery and safety

The municipality of Haarlem will begin the redevelopment of the Kleine Houtweg at the end of this year to improve safety and increase greenery. The project involves narrowing the road and converting i...

Investigation into Badhoevedorp express cycle route halted: 'We take residents' concerns seriously'

The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has halted its investigation into a proposed fast-cycle route in Badhoevedorp between Sloterweg and Schipholweg. Alderman Marja Ruigrok cited resident concerns and t...

Monitoring of municipal bridge conditions falls seriously short: ‘Keeping this bridge open would be negligent’

A joint investigation has revealed that the safety of 66,000 municipal bridges across the Netherlands is uncertain due to a lack of national legislation and oversight regarding inspections. There are ...

More room for greenery and cyclists on the Kleine Houtweg

The Haarlem city council has approved a redesign of the Kleine Houtweg to prioritize cyclists, pedestrians, and green space, with construction scheduled to begin in late 2026. The project will convert...

Zelensky also accuses Russia of drone incident in Romania

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of a cynical attack after a drone struck a residential building in Romania near the border. The incident occurred during a Russian assault on ...

Romania wants closure of Russian consulate after drone incident

Romania has ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Constanșa and declared the consul persona non grata after a drone struck a residential complex. President Nicușor Dan announced the diplom...

European industry must be better protected against Chinese imports

The European Commission has declared that the current trade relationship with China is unsustainable and requires stronger protection for European industry. While Brussels still considers China an imp...

Koopmans critical of Dutch pandemic preparedness

Virologist Marion Koopmans testified during a parliamentary inquiry that the Netherlands remains inadequately prepared for future pandemics. She emphasized that a similar lack of urgency existed prior...

Koopmans: politicians fueled ‘bizarre’ threats

Virologist Marion Koopmans testified before the Dutch parliamentary inquiry committee on COVID-19, stating that certain politicians fueled "bizarre" threats against her. She criticized the spread of c...

Oil prices dip on hopes of potential Iran-US deal

Oil prices declined slightly on Friday following reports of a potential agreement between Iran and the United States. The deal is expected to include an extension of the ceasefire and the reopening of...

'Why do Bachplein and Europaplein get a blue zone?' Frustration among residents and business owners in Heemskerk after council decision

Residents and business owners on Rijksstraatweg in Heemskerk are frustrated after the local council rejected their request for a blue zone parking area. The community proposed the measure to address p...

UN calls for safer internet experience for children

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has called on governments and companies to better protect children's rights and safety online. The UN is introducing new guidelines to address digital risks concerni...

Hungarian police will no longer ban Budapest Pride

Hungarian police have announced that they see no reason to ban the upcoming Budapest Pride parade, a reversal from last year's prohibition. This policy change follows the transition from the nationali...

Koopmans: Tougher early action against COVID was not realistic

Virologist Marion Koopmans stated that implementing restrictive COVID-19 measures earlier than February 2020 was not realistic due to a lack of available information at the time. Although earlier acti...

'Flying team' for asylum has started, says Van den Brink

Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink confirmed that a 'flying team' of civil servants is now active to assist Dutch municipalities with asylum reception issues. At least six municipalities have already ...

Koopmans: difficult that science was called a theory

Virologist Marion Koopmans expressed frustration that the scientific consensus regarding the animal-to-human origin of COVID-19 was often treated as a mere theory. She emphasized that researchers gene...

While formations in other cities stall, Amsterdam breezes toward an agreement – but then the real work begins

Even cautious dismantling of Werf Conrad goes too far for PRO, D66, VVD and CDA; developer given free hand

A majority of political parties, including PRO, D66, VVD, and CDA, have decided against a careful inspection of the historic Werf Conrad administrative building to uncover potential hidden heritage. C...

CIDI: Incomprehensible that rapper Ye is allowed to come to the Netherlands

The Center for Information and Documentation Israel (CIDI) has criticized the decision to allow American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to perform in the Netherlands. The organization descri...

More than 450 euros for texting while driving: Cabinet raises traffic fines again despite expert warnings

The Dutch cabinet is set to increase traffic fines, including raising the penalty for texting while driving to over 450 euros. Despite warnings from experts and opposition in Parliament, Justice Minis...

No large erotic center in new coalition agreement, PRO Amsterdam and D66 want to cut 350 million euros

Koopmans: Assessing danger of new virus takes time

Virologist Marion Koopmans testified during a Dutch parliamentary inquiry that the rapid global spread of COVID-19 could not have been predicted in early 2020. She emphasized that assessing the threat...