Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
All voting passes should have been delivered by now
Amsterdam residents who have not received or have lost their voting passes for the March 18 municipal elections can now apply for a replacement. Requests must be submitted by March 13 via the municipa...
Mahla (45) from Haarlem screams with joy hearing Khamenei is dead: 'But celebrating feels too early'
Mahla Cacaee, a Haarlem resident who lived for years under Iran's oppressive regime, expressed joy following news that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli and American attac...
Death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon rises
The Lebanese government reported that at least 53 people were killed and 154 others were injured during Israeli attacks on Monday. The casualty count continues to rise as hostilities in the region per...
Cabinet will not draft retirement age legislation for now
The Dutch cabinet has decided to temporarily halt the development of legislation intended to accelerate the increase of the retirement age. This decision follows a meeting with labor unions FNV, CNV, ...
Trump: this was our last chance to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that this past weekend was the last opportunity to attack Iran to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons. He further noted in a brief update that the op...
Lawyers allowed to bring laptops and phones to prisons again
Lawyers in the Netherlands will be allowed to bring laptops and mobile phones when visiting clients in prison starting after the summer. This policy change follows a successful consultation between th...
Unions threaten action, state pension pause insufficient
Dutch labor unions are threatening industrial action as the government continues with plans for state pension changes and social security cuts. After a meeting at the Catshuis, union representatives s...
Rutte calls Erdogan over Iran conflict and securing NATO's southern flank
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the conflict in Iran and the protection of NATO's southern borders. Turkey, which shares a border with Ira...
Iranian government calls for support protests in Tehran
The Iranian government has called for citizens to gather in Tehran on Monday evening to show support for the Islamic Republic and honor leader Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed last weekend. The...
Province tackles suffocating red tape for sports clubs
The province of Noord-Holland is taking action to reduce regulatory pressure on sports clubs and promote exercise among its residents. While the national government and municipalities hold primary res...
Coffee with Paul de Jong (Liberal Collective Amsterdam): Individual freedom is highly valued
Paul de Jong, leader of the Liberaal Collectief Amsterdam, outlines his party's goals for the upcoming municipal elections, which include building 7,500 new homes annually and professionalizing the ro...
Qatar shoots down two Iranian fighter jets
Qatar's Ministry of Defense announced that it shot down two Iranian fighter jets during a series of attacks by Iran against Gulf states. The hostilities, which began on Saturday, are reportedly direct...
Saloome lives between joy and fear: Iranian refugee from Velsen-Noord knows nothing of family's fate
Saloome Sheykhnia and her family, Iranian refugees living in Velsen-Noord, are experiencing mixed emotions following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei after 37 years of rule. While they celebrate the en...
Netherlands in talks with France on nuclear weapons cooperation
The Dutch government has accepted an invitation from France to discuss closer cooperation regarding nuclear weapons. Ministers Dilan Yeşilgöz and Tom Berendsen informed the House of Representatives ...
Trump on war with Iran: The big wave is yet to come
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that current military actions against Iran have not yet been "hard" and warned that a "big wave" of attacks is forthcoming. Speaking to CNN, Trump indicated that mor...
Jetten faces 'hot' spring: unions remain combative after Catshuis talks
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten faces ongoing opposition from labor unions following a meeting at the Catshuis regarding state pension (AOW) plans. Despite a positive introductory discussion, the cabi...
Imagine being named Vladimir Putin
The article explores the perspective of Vladimir Putin as the leader of a nuclear-armed superpower with a seat on the UN Security Council. It focuses on his potential concerns regarding a smaller neig...
Israel says it attacked 600 targets in Iran
The Israeli military reports it has carried out strikes on more than 600 targets across Iran. The operation reportedly destroyed over 200 air defense systems, 150 rocket launchers, and 20 sites associ...
Tallon Griekspoor stuck in Dubai due to Iran war
Dutch tennis player Tallon Griekspoor is currently unable to leave Dubai following his participation in an ATP tournament final. All flights from the city's airport have been grounded due to regional ...
Almere councilors shocked by sex crime allegations against former colleague
Former Almere city councilor Jan B. is under investigation for allegedly molesting two children, aged 2 and 13. The 66-year-old suspect is accused of abusing one of the children while working as a sub...
Rutte praises attack on Iran, points to Iranian terror threat
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed support for recent US-Israeli strikes against Iran, citing the Iranian regime as a significant threat to NATO members. He emphasized that Iran's activities ...
European economy most vulnerable to Iran conflict: ‘Timing could not be worse’
ING economists warn that the European economy is particularly vulnerable to the potential consequences of a prolonged conflict between Iran and the United States. The timing is seen as especially poor...
France to expand nuclear arsenal
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to expand the country's nuclear arsenal from its current stock of approximately 290 warheads. He also extended an invitation for NATO allies to par...
Berendsen: Repatriation from Middle East currently not possible
Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Berendsen stated that repatriating Dutch citizens from the Middle East is currently impossible due to the closure of airspace in the region. The Dutch government is active...
Khamenei's wife succumbs to injuries
Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, the 79-year-old wife of the late Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died from injuries sustained during recent airstrikes. Iranian state media confirmed her death fol...
Study: Housing and green space are the key issues at the Haarlem polls
A study by Citisens reveals that housing and environmental issues are the primary concerns for voters in Haarlem's upcoming elections. Residents are expected to support political parties based on thei...
Childcare sexual offense suspect was 50PLUS council member in Almere, formerly SP
A 66-year-old man suspected of indecently touching two children at a childcare facility has been identified as a former city council member for the 50PLUS and SP parties in Almere. The suspect served ...
Election van tours Amsterdam ahead of elections
An election cart is touring Amsterdam to engage with residents and answer questions ahead of the municipal elections on March 18. Organizers aim to increase voter turnout by explaining the local impac...
US Defense Secretary: this is not an ‘endless war’ like in Iraq
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the conflict in Iran will not become an "endless war" similar to the Iraq War. He emphasized that the United States has clear objectives and expects to ...
Travel advisory for Saudi Arabia tightened to orange
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to orange, advising against non-essential travel. This change comes after Iran launched multiple missile and dron...