Politics News in English

No clarity yet in Music On debate, council and Halsema await evaluation

The Amsterdam city council debated the last-minute cancellation of the Music On festival, which was called off due to permit issues and communication failures regarding tent safety. Mayor Femke Halsem...

Halsema wants all information on Music On tent before final judgment: ‘I am responsible for what went wrong’

Why attacks on Forum are back again

Political party leaders in the Dutch House of Representatives have ended their period of ignoring the Forum for Democratie by actively attacking the party's ideology. This strategic shift includes cri...

Al Ikhlaas Islamic primary school in Meerwijk to expand significantly with four new classrooms

Islamic primary school Al Ikhlaas in Haarlem's Meerwijk neighborhood is set to expand with the addition of four new classrooms. The 2 million euro project, approved by the city government, aims to add...

'Serious negligence' at broken IJmuiden locks: Lock island was inaccessible for days

Residents and volunteers are criticizing Rijkswaterstaat for 'serious negligence' after broken locks in IJmuiden left the lock island inaccessible for several days. The issues come four years after th...

Warffum to house Ter Apel asylum seekers for four nights from Thursday

The municipality of Het Hogeland will provide emergency shelter for asylum seekers from Ter Apel at the Op Roakeldaishal in Warffum for four nights starting Thursday. This temporary measure was initia...

Another Aldi supermarket threatens to leave Amsterdam due to city rules: ‘We have a real neighborhood function’

Leiden extends emergency shelter for asylum seekers by several months

The municipality of Leiden has extended the emergency shelter for asylum seekers located in a former church by several months. This decision aims to alleviate the ongoing pressure on the Ter Apel regi...

Inspectorate investigates youth care after child abuse in Stadskanaal

The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) has launched an investigation into youth care providers and Veilig Thuis Groningen in Stadskanaal. The probe follows a serious child abuse case involving t...

Increased enforcement in Westerpark after reports of spitting and gel blaster shootings

Police have increased patrols and enforcement in Amsterdam's Westerpark following reports of women being harassed by spitting and shot with gelblasters. Local authorities are also implementing educati...

Solar farms in Haarlemmermeer allowed to stay five years longer

The municipality of Haarlemmermeer has extended the maximum lifespan of solar parks from 25 to 30 years. Local officials hope this extension will improve the financial viability of solar energy projec...

Uganda closes border with Congo due to Ebola outbreak

Uganda has closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo to prevent the further spread of an Ebola outbreak. The decision follows reports of over 900 suspected cases and 220 deaths in Congo,...

Gerard Metselaar potential partner in new Bloemendaal coalition; Zelfstandig Bloemendaal and Liberaal Bloemendaal also still in the running

The VVD, D66, and CDA parties in Bloemendaal have reached a coalition agreement, allowing the existing governing alliance to continue. Independent councilor Gerard Metselaar and the groups Zelfstandig...

Almost 16,000 Amsterdam social housing units face mold issues, but fixing them is harder than expected

These are the three possible names for the neighborhood between Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and Duivendrecht

Israel orders evacuation of south Lebanese city Tyre

The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of the South Lebanese city of Tyre and its surrounding areas on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the military announced that the order precedes planned str...

D66 nominates Ivor Balke as new candidate alderman

D66 has nominated Ivor Balke as the new candidate for alderman in Castricum, replacing Erik Hordijk who withdrew from the position a month ago. The local coalition, consisting of Lokaal Vitaal, VVD, a...

No fine for Fletcher for now over asylum reception in Epe hotel

The municipality of Epe has decided not to fine the Fletcher hotel chain for continuing to house asylum seekers past the May 26 deadline. Although the deadline was missed, the municipality is allowing...

Help shape the future of hospitality in the Red Light District

The city of Amsterdam is developing a future plan for the catering industry in the Wallen district to ensure the area remains attractive for local residents. The initiative encourages public participa...

Former court employee sentenced to four years for selling data

A former employee of the Amsterdam district court has been sentenced to four years in prison, with one year suspended, for selling confidential data from judicial systems. The court also convicted the...

No money for public toilets in Velsen despite Accessibility Platform request

The municipality of Velsen has announced it lacks the budget to install 24-hour public toilets. This decision comes despite formal requests for increased accessibility from the Platform Accessibility ...

Dutch minehunter en route for possible deployment in Hormuz

A Dutch minehunter is departing for a NATO deployment in the Mediterranean Sea to be positioned for a potential mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, preparations are being made to send a spe...

Parliament wants pubs to show World Cup matches for free

A majority of the Dutch House of Representatives wants the public broadcaster NOS to allow hospitality entrepreneurs to screen World Cup matches of the Dutch national team for free. The proposal sugge...

Psychiatric treatment for former Heemskerk resident extended by another two years

The court in Haarlem has extended the involuntary psychiatric treatment (TBS) of a 40-year-old man for an additional two years. The individual, a former resident of Heemskerk, has already spent fourte...

Dam Square again the scene of state visit, this time German President visits

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will begin a state visit to the Netherlands on June 9, starting with a ceremonial welcome on Amsterdam's Dam Square by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima....

Province of Groningen commemorates Keti Koti with adjusted flag protocol

Groningen province has announced it will officially fly its flag on Ketikoti to commemorate the abolition of slavery. It becomes the third Dutch province to adopt this flag protocol, following similar...

Holocaust Museum and ICC on itinerary for Steinmeier state visit

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife will conduct a state visit to the Netherlands from June 9 to 11. Accompanied by the Dutch royal couple, the program includes visits to the Nationa...

Frustration in Parliament over costly and delayed ERTMS rail system

The Dutch House of Representatives expressed frustration on Wednesday over the significant costs and delays associated with the new ERTMS rail safety system. A recent report suggests the project could...

Blocked DigiD takeover poorly received; US ambassador in frantic talks with Washington: ‘We are concerned’

U.S. Ambassador Joseph Popolo is in urgent consultations with Washington after the Dutch government blocked the acquisition of the company behind DigiD by the American firm Kyndryl. Popolo expressed c...

Health Council: No meningococcal B vaccine in national program

The Dutch Health Council has advised Health Minister Sophie Hermans against including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Vaccination Program. The council concluded that the benefits of the va...