Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
Elco Brinkman (78), former minister and CDA leader, dies after short illness
Former CDA leader and government minister Elco Brinkman has passed away at the age of 78 after a short illness. A prominent political figure in the 1980s and 1990s, he served as a cabinet minister, pa...
ON! pulls program offline after complaints about Hitler speech segment
The Dutch broadcaster ON! has removed a program from its online platform after a segment featuring a speech by Adolf Hitler caused significant public outrage. Lawmakers and the Media Authority have cr...
Suspect in plot to attack Princesses Amalia and Alexia acquitted
A man accused of planning attacks against Princesses Amalia and Alexia has been acquitted by a Dutch court. The defendant, who suffers from schizophrenia, claimed he held a delusional belief that he w...
Rutte's legacy, Jetten's underestimation, a formation error: this is why the cabinet is divided
The Jetten cabinet is facing significant internal division and difficult negotiations ahead of Prinsjesdag. Disagreements between D66, CDA, and the VVD regarding various policy issues have caused majo...
Municipality will not open IJtunnel to cyclists and pedestrians during major public transport strike on September 9
Amsterdam will not open the IJtunnel to cyclists and pedestrians during the September 9 public transport strike due to significant safety concerns. Local officials decided against the measure followin...
IJtunnel closed to cyclists, microcars, and pedestrians during 24-hour public transport strike
Public transport workers across the Netherlands will hold a 24-hour strike on September 9, leading to a complete service shutdown in Amsterdam including the city's ferries. Officials have rejected ope...
UN committee calls for extensive reparations for transatlantic slave trade
A UN committee has called for comprehensive reparations to address the persistent economic and psychological damage caused by the transatlantic slave trade. The committee argues that current governmen...
COVID-19 inquiry of then-Deputy Prime Minister Schouten (CU)
The Dutch COVID-19 parliamentary inquiry is nearing completion, having recently examined former Deputy Prime Minister Carola Schouten regarding cabinet decision-making during the pandemic. Testimony a...
Committee cites text message about Rutte, Grapperhaus and De Jonge: ‘They are whitewashing themselves’
The parliamentary inquiry into the Dutch COVID-19 response has entered its final stage, focusing on internal cabinet friction and the dominance of a small decision-making core. Evidence presented incl...
Budget talks head into the evening as time runs out
Coalition parties D66, VVD, and CDA are in urgent negotiations to finalize the national budget before the Monday deadline. The government is struggling to reconcile internal disagreements while simult...
GL-Senate leader Rosenmöller (70) to step down after elections: 'Time to pass the baton'
Paul Rosenmöller, the leader of the Progressief Nederland faction in the Dutch Senate, will retire from politics after the elections in May 2027. The 70-year-old politician, who previously led GroenL...
Mayor Halsema sounds the alarm over homeless people and drug nuisance in Amsterdam: 3,644 troublemakers identified
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema is urging the national government to assist with a mounting homelessness and drug crisis that is threatening the city's livability. With over 3,600 individuals identified...
Opinion: To combat human trafficking, sex workers must be treated as partners in dialogue
This article argues that initiatives to combat human trafficking in Amsterdam often exclude the input of sex workers, relying instead on controversial methods like increased police surveillance and AI...
NBC News crew attacked by settlers in the West Bank
An NBC News crew was physically attacked by a group of Israeli settlers while filming in the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the violence, calling the perpetrators criminals who...
Energy shortage looms, but The Hague is in no rush with new nuclear power plant
Despite acknowledging the necessity of a new nuclear power plant to ensure energy security, the Dutch government is failing to make progress due to political disagreements over costs and potential loc...
Minister apologizes for abuses in closed youth care
The Dutch government has formally apologized for the systematic abuse and repressive conditions experienced by tens of thousands of young people in closed youth care facilities. Officials announced a ...
Raid on home of lead investigator of leaked report into municipal misconduct
Police have raided the homes of former lead investigator Bernadette Verheggen as part of an investigation into the leaking of a sensitive report on Amsterdam's municipal integrity office. The original...
Dozens dead and injured reported after Russian attack near Kyiv
A Russian drone strike on a storage site in the village of Myla, Ukraine, has resulted in 37 deaths and widespread damage to nearby residential areas. President Volodymyr Zelensky has launched a crimi...
Police raid home of author of leaked report on misconduct at Amsterdam municipality
Police have raided the homes of lead investigator Bernadette Verheggen on suspicion of leaking a controversial draft report regarding misconduct within the Amsterdam municipality. The original report,...
Tennessee governor wants to rename airport after Dolly Parton
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is proposing to rename the state's airport in honor of the late country music legend Dolly Parton. The initiative follows a petition with nearly 160,000 signatures, and the...
Trump announces 'historic' oil deal with Venezuela
President Trump has announced a new partnership to manage 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves in an effort to stabilize U.S. gas prices and aid Venezuela's economic reconstruction. The deal ...
Almere surprised by North Holland's future plans: 'This is essential'
The municipality of Almere is urging the province of North Holland to include the IJmeer connection between Almere and Amsterdam in its future infrastructure plans. This connection is considered essen...
Stefano (13) went to Germany with a firearm, fifty rounds, and two addresses – presumably for an attack on a Hells Angel
A 13-year-old boy from the Amsterdam region was arrested in Hamburg, Germany, after being found with a gun and fifty bullets. He allegedly intended to target a prominent Hells Angel member following r...
Education Alderman Lahlah: Tackling inequality of opportunity can sometimes take generations
Amsterdam alderman Esmah Lahlah is focusing on reducing educational inequality, noting that the issue is deeply rooted and may take generations to address. She plans to tackle persistent teacher short...
Jetten struggles with the issue that was always simmering: there are three blood types in his cabinet
The Dutch cabinet is struggling to secure opposition support for the upcoming budget, and coalition parties D66, VVD, and CDA have also failed to reach an internal agreement. This discord suggests tha...
Election of bishop in Old Catholic Church of Haarlem: "Truly exciting"
The Old Catholic Church of Haarlem is holding a public election this Saturday to select a new bishop, a process currently characterized by significant uncertainty regarding the outcome. Following the ...
Full council speaks out against intimidation and aggression toward local politicians
The Amsterdam city council has issued a joint statement condemning the rising levels of intimidation and aggression faced by local politicians. Council members declared that using legal threats or tar...
Haakon to be sworn in as new King of Norway on Tuesday
Haakon will officially become the new King of Norway, known as Haakon VIII, during a swearing-in ceremony at the parliament on Tuesday. He has chosen "Everything for Norway" as his royal motto, succee...
Politics on the Amstel: Alderman Lahlah pulls a 'Moormannetje' and Nicolaï has lice
Journalists discuss the recent committee debuts of aldermen Esmah Lahlah and Araya Sumter alongside other political matters in Amsterdam in the latest Politiek aan de Amstel podcast. Topics include up...
New rules for onshore wind turbines introduced after much debate
The Dutch government has established new national regulations for onshore wind turbines to resolve years of legal and political deadlock regarding noise and distance standards. While the rules provide...