Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
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...
200-meter wind turbines must be 400 meters from homes, new government standard announced
The Dutch government has established a new minimum distance rule for land-based wind turbines, requiring them to be located at least twice their tip height away from residential homes. The policy seek...
How Jetten is cobbling his budget together with spit and duct tape
Prime Minister Rob Jetten is facing difficulties preparing the national budget ahead of Prinsjesdag, leading to claims of a political crisis from the opposition. Meanwhile, Mona Keijzer has announced ...
Ferry operators to strike on September 9: no ferry service between North and the rest of Amsterdam all day
GVB employees in Amsterdam, including ferry operators, will strike on September 9, causing a total halt to public transport services. The action is a protest against proposed government budget cuts to...
Naomi Italiaander steps down as JA21 Amsterdam councilor
Naomi Italiaander has resigned from her position as a JA21 city councilor in Amsterdam to prioritize her career in the cyber security sector. Her council seat will be filled by Stef Keij, who was the ...
Entire Amsterdam city council speaks out against Groep Markuszower's questions about SP member Angelo Delsen: 'Unacceptable'
The Amsterdam city council has condemned Groep Markuszower for questioning the professional status of SP member Angelo Delsen due to his political statements. Council members described this move and s...
Secret services get more powers for 'national security': 'Our knife is becoming sharper'
The Dutch government has introduced new legislation to grant the AIVD and MIVD intelligence agencies greater powers to combat threats like cyberattacks and foreign espionage. The proposal aims to incr...
Reporter Tobias on budget tensions: ‘You do think: if they can’t even reach an agreement among themselves...’
Dutch coalition parties D66, VVD, and CDA are currently deadlocked over budget negotiations, struggling to agree on a fiscal direction before the Prinsjesdag deadline. Due to their minority status, th...
With nine aldermen, the big question is: where does one person's mandate end and another's begin?
Political reporter Tim Wagemakers examines the challenges posed by having nine aldermen in the Amsterdam city government. He highlights how this expansion has led to fragmented portfolios and raised q...
Coalition still not discussing budget after hours of talks, new meeting on Friday
Leaders of the D66, VVD, and CDA coalition parties failed to reach an agreement on the national budget after lengthy talks on Thursday. Negotiations are scheduled to resume on Friday, with a final dea...
It is not the voter that has shifted right, but politics
Recent research suggests that Dutch voters have not become increasingly right-wing over time despite political narratives to the contrary. Mona Keijzer aims to attract right-wing voters with her new p...
Repression or care? Council divided on how to tackle drug user nuisance
The Amsterdam city council is debating how to manage the increasing nuisance caused by homeless drug users, struggling to balance repressive enforcement with necessary social care. Mayor Femke Halsema...
Halsema defends plan to lift outdoor sleeping ban but points to The Hague for structural solutions
Urgent advice: Tax authorities must do more to prevent lawsuits with citizens
The first independent advocate for taxpayers has advised the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration to prioritize conflict resolution to avoid lawsuits with citizens and entrepreneurs. The report also r...
Motions to make Haarlem playgrounds more accessible for children with disabilities
Local political parties in Haarlem are introducing four motions to the city council to improve the accessibility of public playgrounds for children with disabilities. The proposed measures include ins...
Halsema closes shop on Reguliersbreestraat due to illegal trade
Mayor Halsema has ordered the six-month closure of a shop on Reguliersbreestraat in Amsterdam after police discovered illegal items including cannabis, snus, and unauthorized medication. The decision ...
Huzaren van Boreel capture Haarlem for special ceremony
Sixty young soldiers from the Huzaren van Boreel regiment held a public oath-taking ceremony on the Grote Markt in Haarlem, preceded by a military parade through the city. The event aimed to increase ...
ON! members revolt against broadcaster board over alleged mismanagement
Members of the broadcasting organization Ongehoord Nederland have demanded the resignation of the board and supervisory councils due to allegations of mismanagement. They have also requested that Mini...
CCTV surveillance at Kortvoort in Zuidoost following explosion
Mayor Halsema has implemented emergency camera surveillance at Kortvoort in Amsterdam-Zuidoost following an explosion at a residence on August 25. While no injuries occurred, authorities are investiga...
Fed governor Cook again resists dismissal by Trump
Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook is challenging President Donald Trump's attempt to remove her from office over allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook's legal counsel maintains that the President l...
Political reporter Elodie on Mona Keijzer’s new party: How distinctive can she be on the right
Independent member of the House of Representatives Mona Keijzer is launching a new social-conservative movement called Project 2029. Following her departures from the CDA and BBB, Keijzer is scheduled...
Without a ‘total deal’ by Budget Day, the cabinet is heading for mini-agreements
The Dutch minority cabinet is struggling to reach a comprehensive budget agreement with opposition parties ahead of Prinsjesdag. With time running out, the government currently faces the prospect of s...
Not a culture of silence but reporting fatigue: Southeast critical of Halsema’s security approach
Mayor Halsema of Amsterdam has called for residents in the Zuidoost district to break an alleged culture of silence to help reduce violent incidents. However, local residents and politicians argue tha...
No culture of silence but reporting fatigue: Southeast critical of Halsema's security approach
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema has called on residents of the Zuidoost district to report more violence incidents, citing a perceived culture of silence following an increase in crime. However, local r...
Advisory council sounds major alarm: we are losing industry and thousands of jobs to China and the US
The Netherlands and the broader European region risk losing significant industry and thousands of jobs to China and the United States. In response, the Scientific Council for Government Policy advises...
Amsterdam-Noord expects GVB ferry operators to join major public transport strike on September 9
Are new nitrogen rules truly unfeasible? Desperate farmers fear ‘battlefield’
Farmer organizations in the Netherlands claim that new nitrogen regulations proposed by Minister Jaimi van Essen are unachievable for dairy farms, even among industry leaders. The Ministry of Agricult...
'Slow' Heemstede commits to asylum center for 160 people on the edge of the village
The municipality of Heemstede has identified a meadow near the Cruquiusbrug as the preferred site to host an asylum seeker center for 160 people. While the project faces potential delays due to its lo...
