Politics News in English

StemWijzer voting tool for municipal elections completed over a million times

The StemWijzer voting aid for the Dutch municipal elections has been completed more than one million times since its launch two weeks ago. Developed by ProDemos for 258 municipalities, the tool featur...

EU and Gulf states condemn Iranian attacks, call for them to stop

EU foreign ministers and the Gulf Cooperation Council have issued a joint statement condemning Iran's unjustified attacks on Gulf states. They warned that these actions threaten regional and global se...

Haarlemmermeer must speed up Bolstoren apartment complex permit: 'Frustrating it took so long'

The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has until the end of April to decide on a permit for converting the historic Bolstoren in Nieuw-Vennep into an apartment complex. This deadline was established durin...

Travelers pay top price: direct flights to Far East nearly unaffordable

Direct flight prices to Far East destinations like Bangkok and Singapore have skyrocketed, with tickets often costing between 2,000 and 3,000 euros. This price surge is attributed to reduced capacity ...

Court acquits FvD MP Gideon van Meijeren of incitement

The Court of Appeal in The Hague has acquitted Forum for Democracy MP Gideon van Meijeren of charges of incitement. Van Meijeren had previously been sentenced to community service for public remarks s...

Amsterdam Red Light District business owners: Do not implement coffeeshop ban for foreigners

Entrepreneurs and residents in Amsterdam's Red Light District have urged the city council not to implement a ban on foreign tourists in coffeeshops. They warn that the proposed measure would lead to a...

Mayor closes home on Archipelstraat after explosion

Mayor Jos Wienen has closed a residence on Archipelstraat in Haarlem following a series of incidents, including an explosion, to restore public order. The residents have been relocated while police in...

Sneevliet Committee holds commemoration for resistance fighters at Westerveld cemetery again this year

The Sneevliet Commemoration Committee is organizing a memorial service on April 12 for revolutionary socialist resistance fighters executed during World War II. The event will take place at the Wester...

Haarlem council committee members set for 30 percent pay raise: 'Better reflects the weight of the work'

The Haarlem city council is considering a 30 percent pay increase for committee members to better reflect the demands of their work. If approved during Thursday's meeting, compensation will rise to 22...

Iran state media: War death toll rises to 1,230

Iranian state news agency Tasnim reports that 1,230 people have been killed following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran. The military actions against the country have been ongoing since ...

Wendy and Frank still unable to leave Qatar as loud explosions are heard

Wendy and Frank Hoorn from Haarlem have been stranded in Doha, Qatar, for nearly a week due to airspace closures caused by regional conflict. While the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs organizes repa...

Heavy explosions in Qatar's capital

Heavy explosions have been reported in Doha, the capital of Qatar, as Iran targets the city with drones and missiles. Qatar's Ministry of Defense stated it is working to repel the attacks, which are r...

Moerdijk residents demand perspective and compensation from politicians

Residents of the village of Moerdijk met with the Dutch House of Representatives to demand clarity regarding the future and livability of their community. They advocated for financial compensation for...

Sri Lanka reports another Iranian navy ship approaching

A Sri Lankan minister reported that a second Iranian naval vessel is currently positioned just outside the country's territorial waters. This development follows the sinking of another Iranian warship...

Female judges discriminated against by lower salaries

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights ruled that female judges in training were previously discriminated against by receiving lower salaries than their male counterparts. The institute declared t...

Opposition seeks concessions from cabinet on healthcare cuts

Dutch opposition parties are calling on the cabinet to reconsider planned healthcare budget cuts during the national budget debate. Several parties requested that Minister Sophie Hermans show willingn...

Ukraine and US discuss postponing negotiations with Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine and the United States have discussed postponing the next round of negotiations with Russia due to the conflict in the Middle East. The two na...

Heintje Hoekssteeg to be closed at night after years-long campaign: ‘Surprised it worked’

EU considers aid for Gulf states against Iran

EU foreign ministers and representatives from the Gulf States are holding a video conference to discuss how the European Union can support defense efforts against attacks from Iran. EU foreign policy ...

Council of State gives green light for construction at De Hangkous site in Hillegom: 'No parking nuisance feared'

The Dutch Council of State has approved the construction of an apartment complex at the former site of the De Hangkous restaurant in Hillegom. The ruling clears the way for the project after concludin...

Simone Weimans explores colonial past in new docuseries

NOS presenter Simone Weimans explores the colonial history of the Netherlands in her new documentary series 'Simone en de Roofstaat.' Premiering on April 2, the show follows Weimans as she visits four...

French minister urges Iran to de-escalate

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East during a recent phone call. Barrot condemned Iranian attacks and deman...

Possible conflict of interest in investigation into Muslim discrimination

An investigation by the newspaper Trouw suggests a possible conflict of interest in recent research focused on the discrimination and exclusion of Muslim youth. The findings raise concerns about the o...

City air getting cleaner, yet quality still comparable to passive smoking 4 cigarettes a day

Air quality in Amsterdam has improved significantly since 2010, yet current pollution levels are still equivalent to smoking four cigarettes a day. The city aims to achieve zero-emission mobility by 2...

Groninger Bodem Beweging: reopening Groningen gas field is not an option

The Groninger Bodem Beweging (GBB) has rejected a proposal by the political party JA21 to maintain the Groningen gas field as a strategic reserve. The group argues that reopening the field for extract...

Advocacy group: major differences in cold-weather shelters for the homeless

A study by the coalition 'Dakloosheid Voorbij!' reveals significant inconsistencies and implementation failures in winter shelter provisions for homeless people across various Dutch municipalities. De...

Bart Overkamp (Pirate Party) warns against runaway AI: ‘People must continue to make the rules in Haarlem’

Bart Overkamp, leader of the Pirate Party, warns against the risks of artificial intelligence and digital dependency in Haarlem, emphasizing the need for human-led regulation. He also advocates for ke...

More neighborhood enforcement officers, less for low-income: Haarlemmermeer VVD expects to be the largest party again

The VVD party in Haarlemmermeer aims to remain the municipality's largest political group, emphasizing a platform focused on extensive housing construction and increased neighborhood enforcement. The ...

Companies eye 178 billion mega-pot for defense contracts, but one hurdle remains

The Dutch government's plan to invest 178 billion euros in defense has triggered a surge in interest from companies seeking military contracts. Economists from Rabobank predict that revenue for these ...

More repatriation flights from Oman and Egypt on Friday

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced additional repatriation flights for Friday from Muscat, Oman, and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt. Operated by KLM and TUI, these flights require passengers ...