Politics News in English

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...

Protesters removed from council chamber after displaying pro-Hamas banner: Halsema calls it an ‘absolute disgrace’

Haarlem municipality to co-fund TommyTomato lunch packages via special arrangement: 'Great example of impact entrepreneurship'

The municipality of Haarlem will support the local vegetable lunch delivery service TommyTomato using a social investment fund to bypass state aid restrictions. Alderman Diana van Loenen confirmed thi...

Brussels takes new measures to improve humanitarian aid

The European Commission is implementing new measures to strengthen EU humanitarian aid in response to record-high global needs. While other major donors have reduced their contributions, the EU pledge...

District chairs recommend keeping three executive board members per district

District chairs in Amsterdam have written to the city council advising against reducing the number of daily board members per district from three to two. They argue that three members are necessary fo...

District chairs recommend: keep three executive board members per district

District chairs in Amsterdam and Weesp have sent a letter to the city government advising against reducing the number of executive board members per district from three to two. They argue that maintai...

Ex-RAF terrorist sentenced to 13 years for robberies

Former Red Army Faction member Daniela Klette has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by a court in northern Germany. She was convicted for six violent armed robberies committed between 1999 and 2016...

670 cartons of illegal cigarettes found during check on Randweg and Industrieweg in Beverwijk

Authorities in Beverwijk seized 670 cartons of illegal cigarettes, 400 flavored vapes, and numerous fatbikes during a joint inspection on Randweg and Industrieweg. The operation involved the local mun...

Hungarian parliament blocks withdrawal from ICC

The Hungarian parliament has voted to reverse the country's withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This decision overturns an initiative started by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán...

65 municipal reports on construction and more in Haarlem last week

The municipality of Haarlem processed 65 permit applications last week, with 64 specifically for Haarlem and one for Spaarndam. These reports primarily involve construction and development projects, a...

Energy plans open for inspection: Where will the new high-voltage, transformer, and converter stations be located?

The Dutch government has released plans for offshore wind energy landing sites, targeting regions such as IJmond and the Kop van Noord-Holland for new infrastructure. While landing at Egmond is more c...

Israel claims death of Hamas leader Mohammed Odeh

Israeli authorities confirmed that Hamas commander Mohammed Odeh was killed Tuesday during a targeted airstrike in Gaza City. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pre...

Jetten: Change in relationship with US is ‘irreversible’

Prime Minister Rob Jetten stated that the relationship between the Netherlands, Europe, and the United States has undergone an irreversible change. In a major speech on foreign policy, Jetten warned t...

Police raid Spanish ruling party headquarters

Spanish police have searched the national headquarters of the ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) as part of an investigation into illegal party financing. The operation by the Guardia Civil target...

Netherlands and Germany set up NATO headquarters in Estonia

The Netherlands and Germany are planning to deploy several dozen soldiers to Estonia to establish a NATO defense headquarters. While the Dutch Ministry of Defense has yet to officially confirm the mis...

Provincial officials traveling to US to discuss Formula 1 cycling traffic, cost: 29,000 euros

A delegation of five provincial officials is traveling to California for a study trip focused on public transportation and cycling logistics for Formula 1. The visit, which costs 29,000 euros, aims to...

Right-wing opposition moves to repeal asylum distribution law

A group of right-wing opposition parties led by JA21 has introduced a bill to repeal the Distribution Act, which governs the fair distribution of asylum seekers across the country. The initiative is u...

This Amsterdammer blew up himself and his ship to avoid capture by the Belgians

During the Belgian Revolution, Amsterdam naval officer Jan van Speijk blew up his ship and himself to prevent the vessel from falling into the hands of Belgian rebels. His act of self-sacrifice remain...

Have your passport or ID card delivered to your home for free before the summer holidays

Residents can have their new passports or ID cards delivered to their home or workplace for free throughout June and early July. This service aims to provide convenience and eliminate the need for in-...

Ster expects record advertising revenue during World Cup despite unfavorable kick-off times and Trump effect

Ster, the advertising arm of the Dutch Public Broadcasting (NPO), expects record-breaking revenue during the upcoming football World Cup in North America. Despite challenges such as unfavorable kick-o...

French TV channel receives complaints over 'too red' weather maps

French TV channel BFMTV has received complaints from climate skeptics who claim its weather maps are "too red" and cause unnecessary panic. The controversy arises as France experiences a heatwave with...

Commercial waste in East ends up in household bins far too often

Authorities in the Amsterdam-Oost district are implementing stricter enforcement against business owners who dispose of commercial waste in household containers, leading to littered shopping streets. ...

Fewer permits for temporary housing despite housing shortage

In 2025, Dutch municipalities issued approximately 3,000 permits for temporary housing, which is a 50% decrease compared to the previous year. According to statistics bureau CBS, this decline comes de...

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon at lowest level since 2019

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached its lowest level since 2019, according to a report by monitor MapBiomas. The country lost 985,000 hectares of native vegetation last year, marking a 20.6 ...

Hundreds of residents desperate as heating systems fail for years in Haarlem and Amstelveen

Hundreds of residents in Haarlem and Amstelveen have faced persistent failures with their gas-free heat and cold storage (WKO) systems for years, leaving many without heating or cooling. The issues hi...

Expansion of national youth powers for special enforcement officers as of June 1

Starting June 1, 2026, special enforcement officers (BOAs) in the Netherlands will be authorized to reprimand minors or refer them to the Halt foundation for criminal offenses. This nationwide expansi...

Residents submit last-minute alternative plan for Kleine Houtweg: 'Cyclists must be able to cycle safely and independently'

Residents of the Kleine Houtweg in Haarlem have submitted an alternative street design plan to the municipality, calling for the inclusion of a separate bicycle path. The group argues that the current...

Trade associations ignore Castricum's request to ask members to stop using weed killer

The branch organizations LTO Noord and KAVB have refused a request from the municipality of Castricum to ask their members to stop using the herbicide glyphosate. The local government made the request...