Politics News in English

Starmer calls for Labour unity after rival's election win

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for unity within the Labour Party following a local election victory by his rival, Andy Burnham. The win by Burnham satisfies a key condition for potenti...

From formateur to the new finance alderman: this is Hendrik Jan Biemond

Hendrik Jan Biemond has been appointed as Amsterdam's new Alderman for Finance, Art and Culture, and Animal Welfare. A former city council member and coalition formateur, Biemond intends to focus on e...

Dutch frigate also heading to Strait of Hormuz after minehunter

The Dutch air defense and command frigate Zr.Ms. De Ruyter is repositioning from Southeast Asia toward the Strait of Hormuz to potentially assist in keeping the shipping route open. Defense Minister D...

Haarlem has a new city executive

Haarlem's city council officially appointed and swore in six new aldermen on June 18, 2026, to form the city's new executive board. Representing PRO Haarlem, D66, and CDA, the members will implement t...

Lane for free 'beach bus', one fewer lane for cars on the road to Zandvoort

Starting this weekend through August 30, a trial will reserve one lane of the N200 Zeeweg exclusively for a free "beach bus" to Zandvoort and Bloemendaal on weekends. Car traffic will be restricted to...

Italian minister cancels US trip after Trump's comments on Meloni

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cancelled a planned visit to the United States following what he described as insulting remarks by President Donald Trump. Trump reportedly claimed he only agre...

Inspector: hospital may have experienced code black during pandemic

Former Inspector-General Marina Eckenhausen testified during a parliamentary inquiry that some hospitals may have experienced conditions equivalent to "code black" during the COVID-19 pandemic. She cl...

No trains Wednesday morning due to strike

The NS has confirmed that no trains will run on Wednesday morning between 04:00 and 08:00 due to a strike by the FNV union. Travelers are warned that disruptions may continue throughout the morning as...

Heemstede speeds up housing for status holders like Haarlem; temporary site on Kerklaan until housing is available

Heemstede will temporarily house approximately twenty permit holders in a former police station on Kerklaan before they move into permanent local housing. This approach mirrors a strategy used in Haar...

Israel attacks Lebanon despite tentative US-Iran agreement

Israel conducted heavy airstrikes on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, targeting approximately 80 sites and killing dozens of Hezbollah fighters. The military stated the attacks were a response t...

Unrest within Schiphol advisory board, members step down

Several members of the advisory council for Schiphol Airport residents have resigned in protest, claiming the body can no longer effectively represent local interests. The resigning members warn that ...

Online purchases must be easy to cancel starting today

Webshops and apps across the European Union are now legally required to provide a clear function that allows consumers to easily reverse online purchases. This new regulation, which stems from EU legi...

Inspector urged De Jonge to take broader view of COVID crisis

In June 2020, former head inspector Marina Eckenhausen urged then-Health Minister Hugo de Jonge to adopt a broader perspective on the COVID-19 crisis. She argued that the government response was overl...

Rutte to visit Trump this Wednesday, two weeks before key NATO summit

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump this Wednesday. The meeting will take place two weeks before a significant NATO summit held in Turkey.

Schiphol Council MRS collapses: Amsterdam representatives resign in protest against ‘distributing flight nuisance’

Another fine for Tata Steel over excessive emissions

Tata Steel faces potential fines of up to 1 million euros after the North Sea Canal Area Environmental Service issued a penalty for exceeding nitrogen oxide emission limits. The company has until Apri...

Inspectorate blindsided by decision to close nursing homes

The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) was caught off guard by the Dutch cabinet's decision to ban visitors from nursing homes during the first COVID-19 wave. Former chief inspector Marina Ecken...

Forum for Democracy's political career in Amsterdam is over, but its business model is not

Berendsen: definitive peace agreement between US and Iran needed soon

Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen has called for a final peace agreement between the United States and Iran to ensure regional stability. While acknowledging the current preliminary agreement as a ...

No asylum seekers in emergency night shelter for the first time in a month

For the first time since May 20, no asylum seekers spent the night in the emergency night shelter facility in Westerbork. The Red Cross reported the vacancy at the site, which is scheduled to remain o...

Jetten: EU cannot continue with 1990s budget

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten called for a modernized EU multi-annual budget for 2028-2034, emphasizing a shift in focus toward competitiveness and security. Jetten argued that the current budgetary...

Israeli minister says all of Lebanon must burn

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated that "all of Lebanon must burn" following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in the country. These casualties mark the first Israeli military...

Watch live: COVID inquiry with healthcare inspector and professor of elderly care

The tenth day of the Dutch parliamentary inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic focuses on the state of elderly care during the crisis. Former health inspector-general Marina Eckenhausen and professor Bia...

France not yet in agreement on lifting UN sanctions against Iran

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France will not support the removal of UN Security Council sanctions against Iran until nuclear program negotiations meet specific expectations. T...

Pump prices slightly lower Friday, but refueling ‘still more expensive for months’ than before Middle East war

Fuel prices at the pump are expected to remain higher than they were before the conflict in the Middle East, despite a slight decrease on Friday. Experts predict that refueling will stay more expensiv...

Noord-Holland and Zandvoort want quick clarity on circuit authority

The municipality of Zandvoort and the province of Noord-Holland are seeking clarity on which government body is responsible for enforcement requests at the Zandvoort circuit. The confusion follows a r...

Cleaners also to strike next week against social security cuts

Cleaners in the Netherlands are planning to strike next week to protest the government's proposed cuts to social security. The industrial action includes a 24-hour strike in Utrecht on Wednesday and w...

Part of Leidsevaart in Vogelenzang closed for rest of summer for Bekslaan intersection redesign

A section of the Leidsevaart in Vogelenzang will be closed to car traffic from June 22 until September 30 for the redesign of the Bekslaan intersection. The project aims to improve safety and clarity ...

Public Prosecution chief Rinus Otte slams Marco Borsato’s defense: ‘Bad signal to young girls’

Rinus Otte, the head of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, has criticized the defense strategy used in the Marco Borsato case, stating it sends a negative message to young victims. In a rare public...

Various sectors continue to suffer from aftermath of Middle East war

According to a new sector forecast by ABN AMRO, various economic sectors in the Netherlands continue to experience the negative effects of the conflict in the Middle East. Despite recent steps toward ...