Politics News in English
Latest politics headlines from Dutch news, translated into English.
US cannot survive a day on Russian diesel: 'This will have zero effect on the price'
A trade deal between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to the US is unlikely to lower fuel prices because the volume is insufficient to meet even one day of national demand. The...
Silent march with name cloth for killed Palestinian children: ‘By writing down the names, we make it visible that every child has a life, a name and a story’
Led by Amnesty International, a silent march took place in Amsterdam to honor the memory of over 21,600 Palestinian children killed in Gaza since October 2023. Demonstrators carried a massive banner f...
Restaurant 95 on Amstelveenseweg receives death threats over ‘From the river to the sea’ mocktail
Restaurant 95 in Amsterdam is facing intense harassment and death threats after including a mocktail named with the controversial slogan ‘From the river to the sea’ on its menu. Although the estab...
Experts doubt effectiveness of new freelance law: 'Much remains a grey area'
The Dutch government plans to implement the Self-Employed Persons Act by 2028 to clarify the distinction between independent contractors and employees. Experts remain skeptical, however, arguing that ...
Chameleon Klaver: how the GroenLinks leader keeps reinventing himself
Jesse Klaver has maintained his position as the undisputed leader of the PRO party by consistently reinventing his political image over the past twelve years. Despite various challenges, his party cur...
Protest against genocide in Gaza on Dam Square, silent march from Amstelveld
Demonstrators are gathering in Amsterdam today for a silent march starting at the Amstelveld followed by a nationwide protest at Dam Square. The events aim to protest against the situation in Gaza and...
US to investigate TV stations that stopped covering Trump
The U.S. government is investigating major television networks for possible antitrust violations after they briefly coordinated a boycott of coverage concerning President Trump. The networks had initi...
German nitrogen rules much more lenient than ours, but we cannot adopt them
Germany uses a much higher nitrogen threshold for construction permits compared to the strict 0.005 mole limit enforced in the Netherlands. Although this appears to offer a solution to the Dutch nitro...
Civil servants are busy with storytellers and sounding boards, yet we still have too few of them
The Dutch cabinet is planning significant budget cuts for the civil service, a move supported by some officials who criticize current administrative inefficiencies. However, analysts suggest these sav...
House squatted on Vinkenstraat following housing protest at Dam Square
Following a housing demonstration at Dam Square, squatters occupied a building on Vinkenstraat in Amsterdam to protest the city's housing shortage. While a separate group of activists clashed with pol...
"Manosphere is mega scary": men march against violence against women
Around two hundred men held a protest march in Amsterdam to advocate for women's safety and denounce violence against women. The organizers emphasized that men have a collective responsibility to addr...
Possible discrimination at UWV is no incident: 'I was afraid of this'
Recent reports suggest that the Dutch employee insurance agency, UWV, may be unfairly targeting individuals with non-Dutch backgrounds for stricter fraud penalties. While the agency has launched an ex...
NSC members walk out during Mona Keijzer's speech at party conference: 'Luckily it's not raining outside'
A NSC party congress in Breda was marked by internal unrest as dozens of members walked out in protest during a speech by Mona Keijzer. The invitation of Keijzer sparked significant controversy, resul...
Council questions regarding aggressive resident at Startblok Elzenhagen
JA21 council member Sytze Rijpkema has demanded answers from the Amsterdam municipal executive following reports of an aggressive resident causing safety concerns at the Startblok Elzenhagen complex. ...
Yesilgöz wants to be VVD leader again in next elections
VVD leader Dilan Yesilgöz has confirmed she intends to remain the party's lead candidate for the next general elections. The announcement came during a meeting in Veghel where she addressed internal ...
Trump strikes deal with Russia for direct supply of 300,000 tons of diesel
President Donald Trump announced a deal to import 300,000 tons of diesel from Russia, with additional large shipments expected in the near future. The U.S. Treasury has authorized a temporary permit f...
Trump says Russia will supply 300,000 tons of diesel to US immediately
President Trump announced that Russia will provide 300,000 tons of diesel to the United States immediately, with several million more tons scheduled for delivery in the coming months. The agreement fo...
City of Amsterdam permanently ends subsidies for Weekend Academy Foundation
The City of Amsterdam has permanently cut ties and subsidies to the Weekend Academie following a fraud investigation into its founder, Oguz Dulkadir. The municipality took this action after the founda...
It may seem like a play on words, but the issue surrounding Yeşilgöz's Russia rhetoric means more
Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgöz has formally designated Russia as an enemy, a move that carries significant political implications. The situation is being analyzed in three distinct parts to understa...
Netherlands returns diamond from Rijksmuseum and other objects to Indonesia
The Netherlands is returning various historical artifacts, including the diamond of Banjarmasin, to Indonesia following evidence that they were acquired through involuntary loss during the colonial er...
Three new arrests in Belgium in investigation into violence in Overasselt
Belgian authorities have arrested three men linked to a violent drug-related conflict that occurred in Overasselt last September. The suspects, residing near Ghent, are expected to be extradited to th...
Yesilgöz surprises with Russia policy, but how wise is it?
The Dutch cabinet is struggling to maintain cohesion as a minority government, facing legislative gridlock on issues like box 3 taxes. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgöz has created uncertain...
New setback for housing in Amsterdam-Noord: Parliament supports preservation of Damen shipyard
Plans for a major residential development in Amsterdam-Noord are currently stalled because the Dutch parliament voted to keep the site as a protected industrial zone for the Damen shipyard. While the ...
US imposes sanctions on ‘rogue’ ICC: new diplomatic row looms
The United States has imposed new sanctions on the International Criminal Court in The Hague, labeling the institution a rogue entity and seeking to halt its operations. In response, the Dutch governm...
US pushes ahead with sanctions and aims to cripple 'rogue' ICC, risking new diplomatic row
The United States has imposed new sanctions against the International Criminal Court in The Hague, aiming to disrupt its operations and prevent the prosecution of American citizens. In response, the N...
EU selects 46 raw materials projects to reduce dependence on China
The European Commission has launched 46 projects across sixteen countries to reduce reliance on China for vital raw materials like lithium and copper. These initiatives, supported by prioritized permi...
Prince Andrew receives damages after early lease termination
Prince Andrew has secured compensation after his housing contract was terminated decades early, though he previously faced a large fee for property maintenance. Meanwhile, a judge has declared that th...
Jetten calls parliamentary debate on rainbow flag 'a pity'
Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed disappointment over the political division in the House of Representatives regarding the decision to hoist the rainbow flag for Coming Out Day. Despite opposition f...
Politics on the Amstel: Bridge across the IJ falters further and leave Amsterdam while you can
The Politiek aan de Amstel podcast reports on budget criticisms, potential mismanagement of parking funds, and further delays to the Oostbrug project. The episode also reviews local policies, includin...
Regional bus drivers to strike all day Wednesday, impacting city public transport too
Regional bus drivers plan a one-day strike next Wednesday following stalled collective agreement negotiations, impacting several bus lines operating within Amsterdam. The unions are demanding higher w...